- Facilities
-
Programs
Pre-K (0-5 yrs)Youth (6-17 yrs)Adult (18+ yrs)
-
Parks/Beaches
ParksOutdoor Activities
- Rentals
- Projects/Planning
- Events
- About
Community is a simple word. “Our community.” “It’s a community effort.” “Let’s meet at the Community Center.” We all know what it means, and yet it means so many different things. July is “Where Community Grows” month here, which is this year’s annual theme from the National Recreation & Parks Association. We hope you’ve had a chance to watch our video below on how your Park District helps foster community.
We’ve also gathered a series of stories from your friends and neighbors who play, work, make friends, stay fit, and enjoy the real sense of community that the Park District provides. The stories will be shared over the next several weeks here on our website and on our Facebook page. Perhaps you’ll see yourself, your kids, and your family in these words. And we hope you’ll continue to be a part of the community that’s growing here.
Community is all about people. Here at the Park District, our community starts when kids enter ParkSchool as a Sprout (2-year-olds), like Mia Howard did, or as a Sapling, and then grow into Mighty Oaks. “The teachers and assistants are all so friendly and welcoming,” said Mia’s mom, Rachel. “Mia went to Sprouts 2 days a week, and was so happy when she was able to go 5 days a week as a Sapling. This fall she will be in the Mighty Oaks program, and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Caren Ettleman said that her son Jonah, who graduated from Mighty Oaks this spring, had “an amazing year in class,” and “we love Miss Ginny and Miss Samia.” “I really liked the combination of structured learning and play that ParkSchool has…and all of the kids just run to get to class every day, to be with their friends and their teachers.” Her older son, Lavi, had also been in Mighty Oaks, and she has a niece and a nephew who will be in the ParkSchool programs this year. That’s how it starts. One family, two new friends, a classroom full of joy.
Andrea Monek has been a member of the Recreation Center for 13 years, after moving to Highland Park and looking at other fitness facilities in the area. She has trained with Karen and Justin, worked out with weights, and studied Yoga. But the class she liked best was Kickboxing, where she made new friends. “Now we walk outdoors in the Preserve, and indoors on the track.” Some of the things Andrea particularly likes about the Rec Center are that “it’s not intimidating, and it creates a sense of community among those of us who go there at the same time every day.”
Both of Andrea’s children, daughter Amelia and son Will were ‘Park District kids,’ enjoying all the parks, programs at Heller Nature Center, going to summer camp, and “practically living” at Rosewood Beach. “My daughter Amelia was 5 when we moved here, and I would bring her to KidFit (now KidsClub) while I worked out.” Last year, Amelia worked as a Park District camp counselor, for 4-year-olds, which led to some babysitting opportunities. That’s one way community grows. Will has studied Karate and Taekwondo, and participated in the District’s Golf Camps. Andrea says, “The Park District is my sanctuary.” We hope many of you feel that way.
MaVe Ohlwein has one of the most important jobs at the Park District: She’s a lifeguard. She’s kept people safe at the pools for 7 years. Her job now includes planning the ongoing in-service trainings for the guards and making sure all stations are properly staffed. We trust her to make sure our guards are in the right place at the right time, with the right skills. You can trust her to look out for you and your family.
MaVe is also a recent college graduate, with a double major in Spanish and Education, and is about to spend the next year being a bilingual teacher in Spain. So, why has MaVe been a lifeguard?
In addition to caring about kids, she says “I get to meet a bunch of people my age who are not from Highland Park, and foster relationships with people from other communities—Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Deerfield, Palatine—which is something I’ve always liked, and I think it’s a great opportunity for everyone.” That’s how you build a larger community. MaVe grew up as a ‘Park District kid,’ playing soccer and field hockey, going to summer camp, taking swim lessons, doing gymnastics and ice skating. Of all those fun things to do, she said, “This was the first job I recommended to any of my friends.” That’s how our community stays strong.
We hope so. And, we hope you’ll share your story of Where Community Grows with us. You can find out about everything we do on our website.
See you around the parks!
Today, these buzzwords are de rigueur for every organization.
At the Park District of Highland Park, these are much more than just words. They are a philosophy we live by every day. In 2019, your Park District was one of the first in the state to implement a transgender policy, designed to create a safe and inclusive environment in which community members, visitors and participants can be honest and open about who they are. We want everyone to feel comfortable using our facilities, participating in programs, and attending Park District events.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are also at the core of the mission of our Climate Task Force.
The Task Force was an idea that Executive Director Brian Romes had in 2021, and which was soon headed by Executive Coordinator Roxanne Hejnowski. As the district began to open up after a full year of the pandemic, and driven to some extent by the civil unrest unfolding across the country, residents began to contact the district about “utilizing our parks as a safe space for free speech and to express their views about all that was going on,” said Hejnowski. While Park Districts have always worked to be inclusive places to work and play, the times clearly required a more proactive approach.
To help steer the course of their DEI journey, the Task Force identified four distinct areas for developing initiatives:
The Task Force has grown significantly in the last year, and now includes 15 members who are making a difference every day in every area of the district. “We’re now a well-oiled machine,” said Hejnowski. In 2023 alone more than 35 initiatives have been created to ensure that the DEI principles are part of the fabric of the district, and more than 15 of those have already been completed.
The district has made a serious commitment to offering DEI driven and low-to-no-cost seasonal programs and events. One was Earth Day at Heller Nature Center on April 22, where 10 school groups came to learn about the wide variety of plants and animal habitats that surround the center. That event also brought 45 people out to help woodchip and clean up trash on the trails. The community worked together with Park District staff to learn not only about nature, but about each other.
The district is collaborating with the City of Highwood to promote inclusivity of services to students, something that has been top of mind for the Board, the staff, and the Parks Foundation for many years. The Foundation fully funds Foundation Youth Initiative (FYI) grants for qualifying Highwood families, to help cover up to 50% of Park District program fees. The FYI Learn-to-Swim programs can cover 100% of the fees. We know that Swim Lessons Save Lives. Making them affordable makes young lives better.
Through the combined efforts of Park District staff and the community to support Zac’s Zoo, we collected 254 stuffed animals. The Highland Park Fire and Police First Responders will now be able to give one to a child who is caught up in a crisis situation.
On May 17 this year, the Park District donated 40 bags of non-perishable food items to Moraine Township to provide families in need, living in Highland Park and Highwood, with meals over the Memorial Day Weekend.
For more than ten years, area residents have been able to simply click a button and translate the Park District website into Spanish, Polish, or Russian, so that our communication with those communities is much more inclusive. To help make our face-to-face interactions more inclusive,
Park District staff is being offered training in Spanish, so that on-site we can be much more effective when talking with our diverse population of participants.
Recently, the Board of Park Commissioners took another significant step to make it easier for families in Highwood to take part in our Park District programs. Those families—and most importantly their kids, who go to the same schools as their friends who live in Highland Park— can now register at resident rates and on the same day as district residents. The kids are thrilled, the communities have been brought closer together, and everyone benefits.
Many of the Task Force’s initiatives are internal (“Incorporate mandatory diversity training into annual all-employee trainings/on-boarding”) and while the public may not be aware that they are taking place, the result is a district full of employees—full-time, part-time, and seasonal—who respond to members the community with greater care and understanding. When anyone comes to work with us at the Park District, we make sure they understand what our values are. Employees are treated with respect, and in turn our participants—and all members of the community—are treated with respect.
The Park District of Highland Park is an ally for inclusion and equitable access, where everyone is afforded the same rights and opportunities that result in a sense of belonging, and the ability to safely express themselves authentically, without judgment.
Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. We’re proud to champion these goals every day at your Park District.
We invite you to be a part of those efforts as we all build a better community, and a better world.
We have more words about our values and our purpose that we live by every day. You can read them here.
Staff presented possible renovation concepts for Lincoln Park Playground and the Moraine Beach Stairway.
Staff also presented possible concepts to increase the number of parking spots to support Deer Creek Racquet Club and the Larry Fink Memorial Baseball Field.
Staff reviewed the design concepts to build a new community center at West Ridge Park being submitted in the Illinois Department of Natural resource (IDNR) Park and Recreation Construction (PARC) grant application.
Staff reviewed the long-term design concepts to improve the locker rooms at Centennial Ice Arenas developed by Woodhouse Tinucci.
The Park Board of Commissioners approved the PARC Grant Resolution Authorization, allowing the Park District of Highland Park to apply for funding assistance to support the new community center at West Ridge Park project.
The Park Board of Commissioners accepted the Base Bid from Anderson Lock Company, Ltd. for the 2023 West Ridge Center Door Hardware Improvements and authorize the Executive Director to enter into an agreement in the amount of $39,120.00.
Staff provided construction updates on the Centennial Ice Arena Facility and Site Renovations project, Millard Park Playground Improvement projects, and the Park Avenue Breakwater and Boat Ramp project.
Staff reviewed the concept master plan for the new community center at West Ridge Park.
Staff provided a financial update for the Park Avenue Breakwater and Boat Ramp Project, noting that the project is estimated to come in under budget due community donations and the Boat Access grant funds from IDNR.
Staff reviewed the budgeted vs actual financial figures for storage, launch, and parking decal sales for the Park Avenue Beach and Boating Facility.
Staff received consensus from the Finance Committee to place a sole source purchase of a new multi-use turf maintenance and ballfield groomer on the consent agenda for the June 28, 2023 Regular Meeting.
Staff presented the bid results for the Recreation Center of Highland park Gym Floor Refinish and the Hidden Creek AquaPark Shell Replacement.
The Park Board of Commissioners adopted a Proclamation for the Designation of July as Parks and Recreation Month.
The Park Board of Commissioners approved Resolution 2023-07 Authorizing a Sole Source Contract for Procurement of the ABI Force Z-23 with Attachments, the Rejection of 2023 Larry Fink Memorial Park Baseball Field Improvements Bids, the Base Bid from Aqua Blue Pools, Inc. for the 2023 Hidden Creek Aqua Park Pool Shell Replacement and authorize the Executive Director to enter into an agreement in the amount of $444,050, Resolution 2023-06 Ratifying the Waiving of Competitive Bidding for Procurement of an Emergency Repair and award the contract for repair of the Arena to Air Comfort in the amount of $39,862, and the First Student Transportation Services Contract Extension for Summer Camp.
With over 700 acres of land, 45 parks, four beaches and nine facilities, the Park District of Highland Park is one of the largest and certainly one of the most diverse districts in Illinois.
To kick off Park and Recreation Month, we have put together a list of activities to celebrate how our community grows in Highland Park! All month long, we’re highlighting the ways our community is stronger, more vibrant and more resilient because of parks and recreation. Keep your July busy with these fun events and activities!
Now that air quality levels have improved to “unhealthy only to sensitive groups,” all programs and facilities have returned to regular activities and schedules.
According to Airnow.gov, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teens should choose less strenuous activities and shorten the amount of time while active outdoors. Everyone else may enjoy outdoor activities.
We will continue to monitor the situation carefully and make any necessary adjustments to our operations for the health and safety of our participants and staff. Please check our website and social media for the latest updates, and for up-to-date information about air quality status, visit airnow.gov
Due to continued “unhealthy” air quality levels this morning and predicted improvements over the course of the day, the following adjustments are being made to our programs and facilities:
A formal update on programs and facilities will be made by 10am.
According to Airnow.gov, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teens should reduce exposure by avoiding strenuous outdoor activities or keeping outdoor activities short. Consider moving physical activities indoors.
Everyone is recommended to reduce your exposure by choosing less strenuous activities or shortening the amount of time you are active outdoors.
We will continue to monitor the situation carefully and make any necessary adjustments to our operations for the health and safety of our participants and staff. Please check our website and social media for the latest updates, and for up-to-date information about air quality status, visit airnow.gov.
Due to “very unhealthy” air levels in our area reported by AirNow.gov, the following adjustments have been made to our programs and facilities:
According to Airnow.gov, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teens should avoid physical activities outdoors.
All others should avoid strenuous outdoor activities, keep outdoor activities short, and consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.
We will continue to monitor the situation carefully and make any necessary adjustments to our operations for the health and safety of our participants and staff. Please check our website and social media for the latest updates. For up-to-date information about air quality status, visit airnow.gov.
Though air quality has improved slightly, it continues to be at an “unhealthy” level, according to airnow.gov.
As a result, all summer camps will remain indoors (camp directors will contact camp families if pick-up locations change).
The following facilities are open: Hidden Creek AquaPark, Rosewood Swimming Beach (Open Water Triathlon Training will run at 6pm), Park Ave Boating Facility, Heller Nature Center, Sunset Valley Golf Club, and the Highland Park Golf Learning Center. Golfers are advised to play only within their comfort level.
Deer Creek Racquet Club is open for court bookings beginning at 3pm.
Additional formal updates on programs, including Athletics programs and games scheduled for tonight, will be made by 1pm.
According to Airnow.gov, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teens should reduce exposure by avoiding strenuous outdoor activities or keeping outdoor activities short. Consider moving physical activities indoors.
Everyone is recommended to reduce their exposure by choosing less strenuous activities or shortening the time they are active outdoors.
We will continue to monitor the situation carefully and make any necessary adjustments to our operations for the health and safety of our participants and staff. Please check our website and social media for the latest updates. For up-to-date information about air quality status, visit airnow.gov.
Due to continued “unhealthy” air quality levels this morning and predicted improvements over the course of the day, the following adjustments are being made to our programs and facilities:
A formal update on programs and facilities will be made by 10am.
According to Airnow.gov, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teens should reduce exposure by avoiding strenuous outdoor activities or keeping outdoor activities short. Consider moving physical activities indoors.
Everyone is recommended to reduce your exposure by choosing less strenuous activities or shortening the amount of time you are active outdoors.
We will continue to monitor the situation carefully and make any necessary adjustments to our operations for the health and safety of our participants and staff. Please check our website and social media for the latest updates, and for up-to-date information about air quality status, visit airnow.gov.
The boat ramp is now open! Power Boats and PWCs can now launch at Park Avenue. Construction fencing has been relocated and traffic can now resume on the east side of the water plant. Use of the west side road is no longer needed.
Please keep in mind, there will still be work occurring and construction equipment will remain on site. The breakwater is fenced off and access is not allowed at this time. Additionally, some areas will require temporary closures for construction, in which case we will send out an email update.
We will continue to send regular project updates until completion to inform facility users. Our goal is to provide all users with a safe, welcoming, and extraordinary experience. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please get in touch with Debbie Pierce at 847.579.4047 or Kari Acevedo at 847.579.4051.
About the Project
High lake levels accompanied by intense storms over the past few years caused damage to the breakwater wall/barge and concrete ramp at Park Avenue Boating Beach. These extreme weather conditions have affected communities all along the Illinois Lake Michigan shoreline.
At the April 27 meeting, the Park Board approved construction of Phase 1 of the Park Avenue Breakwater Project in the amount of $2,221,890. The base scope of this project includes removal of the existing barge breakwater and boat ramp, stockpiling and salvaging existing breakwater fill and armor stone, construction of a new steel sheet pile breakwater with a concrete crown wall and construction of a new concrete boat launch. Funding for the project includes $2,000,000 from the Park District’s capital fund and $400,000 from the Parks Foundation of Highland Park, made possible from community donations
The Park District heard the neighborhood’s concerns over losing a 5-12 playground due to the sale of Lincoln School. As such, the Park District of Highland Park is going back to the drawing board to develop plans for Lincoln Park that consider the inclusion of a 5-12 play space. The comments and data collected through the survey will be integrated into the plans for the improved 2-5 playground. There will be other opportunities to get involved in design as the Park District proceeds with planning. While the Park District will continue with the planning effort, the addition of a 5-12 playground is not currently budgeted in the Park District’s capital plan.
This change of direction will impact improvements scheduled for 2023. The tot lot, repaving of the path, and the patch/color of the basketball court planned for 2023 will be deferred to a future year and incorporated into the new plan.
The Park District will continue to follow the School District’s plans to coordinate efforts.
Please direct questions and comments to [email protected].
The Park Board of Commissioners adopted the Beach and Boating Week Safety Proclamation declaring May 20 – 29 as Highland Park Beach and Boating Safety Week.
The Park Board of Commissioners had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Fotana-Pasquesi at tonight’s meeting to thank him for the $250,000 donation he would like to make to rename Cloverdale Park to Fotana-Pasques Park, in honor of his family and other Italian families that settled in Highland Park.
Architects, Holabird and Root, provided a summary of the recreation program assessment of West Ridge Center developed by Consultant, BerryDunn, and presented a market study reconciliation to construct a new building on the same site.
Staff also provided construction updates for the Centennial Ice Arena Facility and Site Renovations project, the Moroney Park Playground Improvements project, the Park Avenue Breakwater and Boat Ramp project, and the Larry Fink Memorial Park Baseball Field Improvements project.
Staff reviewed a design proposal from Holabird and Root for the West Ridge Park and Site Project in an effort to apply for the IDNR PARC Grant. Staff received consensus from the Finance Committee to move forward with a Design Contract from Holabird and Root.
Staff provided an update on the locker rooms and gymnastics studio at Centennial Ice Arena.
Staff presented recommended improvements to the fitness floor at the Recreation Center of Highland Park to develop a multigenerational space.
Martha Trotter, from the accounting firm Sikich LLP, presented a draft version of the Park District of Highland Park’s audited financial statements for 2023. Sikich LLP issued an unqualified or clean opinion for the report.
Commissioner Grossberg was elected for President of the Park Board and Commissioner Freeman was elected for Vice President. Executive Director Romes was appointed as Secretary to the Park Board, Coordinator Hejnowski was appointed as Assistant Secretary acting under the general supervisor of the Secretary, Director Peters was appointed as Treasurer, Director Hall was appointed as the District’s IMRF authorized agent, Sikich LLP was appointed as the District’s auditor, and Ancel Glink was appointed as the District’s attorney.
The Park Board of Commissioners approved the Heller Nature Center Blue Trail Improvements Project Bid, Ordinance #2023-05: Authorizing and Providing for the Conveyance or Sale of Surplus Personal Property, the Illinois Mutual Retirement Fund (IMRF) Authorized Agent Appointment to Laurel Hall and Supporting Resolution, the 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Audit Report conditioned upon no materials changes that are required as a result of the IMRF Audit issuance, Resolution #2023-04: A Resolution Forming a Committee on Local Government Efficiency, and the Executive Director to enter into an design services agreement with Gewalt Hamilton Associates for the design of Larry Fink Memorial Baseball Field Improvements in an amount not to exceed $74,400.
Tick season is upon us, and with the warmer weather, outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers are eager to spend more time exploring the great outdoors. However, it is crucial to understand how to protect yourself and your pets from tick bites and minimize the risk of tick-borne illnesses. Follow these tips to ensure your safety and make your outdoor experiences more enjoyable.
By following these tick safety tips, you can significantly reduce the risk of tick bites and tick-borne illnesses. Enjoy your time outdoors while keeping yourself and your loved ones safe from ticks!