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There are so many things that make living in Highland Park special. We have an amazing and supportive community, beautiful landscapes, and the best location in the Midwest, right on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Big plans for a $2.5 million improvement at the Park Avenue Boating Facility are in the works. The project, is estimated to begin in Fall 2022 and be completed by Spring 2023 and will include a new breakwater and boat launch. The new breakwater will replace the existing structure that has outlived its useful life and the new launch will replace the existing launch that collapsed in 2021.
The Parks Foundation of Highland Park, the Park District, and a group of committed Highland Park residents are determined to see this project become a reality—funding will come from Park District funds, a potential grant from the state of Illinois, and $300,000 in individual donations.
A generous individual has stepped up to offer up to $150,000 in matching funds to see that you and I can safely enjoy walking and boating at Park Avenue Beach for years to come.
Including matching funds, right now, the Foundation is more than 66% of its way to the goal with $204,000 in individual donations.
As you consider your philanthropic giving for this year, please consider a gift of any amount to support the Park Avenue Breakwater & Boat Ramp. Donors will receive the following recognition:
You will be contacted in Spring 2022 with specific details on your donation recognition. For additional information, please get in touch with Liz Gogola at [email protected] or 847-579-3136.
About the Project
The new breakwater will have a sheet pile foundation, need little maintenance, and have an expected life of 50-70 years. Its “pedestrian-friendly” paved surface will be approximately 22 feet wide, with benches for residents to sit and enjoy the lake. The new concrete ramp will allow for two-way boat launches.
The new breakwater and boat launch will make our lakefront more enjoyable and safe by:
• Protecting the beach from erosion
• Protecting the cove that allows all watercraft to launch safely
• Providing a safe place for walking and fishing, powerboating, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and events
• Maintaining a rescue boat launch for the Fire Department and water safety personnel
• Enabling the Yacht Club to launch its safety boat team for classes and races
With the project complete, all Highland Park residents can safely enjoy everything their lakefront has to offer. The project will help ensure safe water recreation activities can continue in Lake Michigan.
In addition to boating activities, the improved Park Avenue will attract and support our downtown district use and tourism. Improvements to the breakwater and boat ramp will help Highland Park retain its reputation as a vibrant boating community, attracting new business and residents.
In response to the recent steep rise in COVID-19 cases and to keep our residents and staff as safe and healthy as possible at our facilities, the Park District of Highland Park wants to remind our patrons that the State of Illinois mandates that all individuals aged two and older are required to wear a face-covering when indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
Please follow these important guidelines:
In Lake County, the CDC Data Tracker reports a positivity rate of 16.24% over the past seven days. We appreciate our community’s understanding and cooperation as we work together to navigate these challenging times. Always, your health and safety are our top priority, and we will keep you updated as the situation evolves.
The Park District encourages all eligible patrons to get vaccinated against COVID-19. For more important information about the COVID-19 vaccines, best practices to protect yourself and others, and the proper way to wear face masks from the CDC, click here.
For updates on the Park District of Highland Park COVID-19 response, click here.
Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) will collect, transport, and dispose of holiday trees left curbside and free of decorations by all customers on their primary collection day, now through January 25. A sticker is not required. Contact LRS at 773.685.8811 with questions.
Residents may also drop off trees free of decorations, wires, or other recycling materials by the Park District through January 23. Drop-off locations are in posted areas of parking lots at Larry Fink Park, 1377 Deer Creek Parkway, and Danny Cunniff Park, 2700 Trailway. Park District crews chip the trees for use as mulch. Residents are welcome to use the mulch for their own gardens and landscapes. Contact Dan Voss, Director of Parks, at 847.579.3130 or [email protected] with questions.
Holiday lights may be recycled at the Highland Park Recycling Center, open every Tuesday and the first Saturday of the month from 7 AM – 1 PM, at 1180 Half-Day Road.
At the December 16th Park Board Meeting, the Park Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance for the levy of property taxes for the calendar year 2022. The ordinance provides a 5.76% increase from the actual property taxes collected for the Park District in 2020. The request with Lake County is for $12,381,667 in property taxes. The Park District’s portion of residents’ property tax bill is approximately 6.9%.
The 2022 Park District tax levy includes a combination of a 1.4% Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase in its “tax capped funds,” new growth estimated to be approximately $22 million, and an increase in the Special Recreation Fund levy from .0245% to .04%. The Special Recreation Fund is used for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) capital improvements, member fees for the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA), and to provide complimentary program inclusion aides for participants with special needs.
In 2021, the Park District did not increase its tax levy to provide relief for residents during the height of the pandemic. Operations were adjusted while providing safe and healthy recreational outlets. The Park Board felt it was the Park District’s responsibility to do more for our residents struggling with the financial ramifications of the pandemic. As the country and our community have slowly recovered, the Park District is now in full operation, and in many cases, seeing a record number of residents seeking recreational programs and services.
Installation begins next week on a new solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant at Deer Creek Racquet Club. The new system will provide an estimated energy savings of $4,000 or approximately 11% per year for the Club. The Park District entered into a lease agreement with Realgy, LLC in December 2020 to provide the new Deer Creek solar plant as part of the Park District’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint. The new system will generate 180,000kWh annually, equivalent to powering over 17 average Illinois homes per year. Utilizing solar also provides a clean alternative to coal. The new Deer Creek system will substitute 245 tons of coal burned which means removing 127,000 lbs. of CO2 into the environment annually, the equivalent of planting 9,800 trees.
In the agreement, the Connecticut-based Realgy will pay for the installation and ongoing maintenance of the Deer Creek PV Solar Power Plant. The term of the lease is 25 years. The new PV Solar Power plant is a 149 kW system. Based on Deer Creek’s 2019 usage, the system is estimated to produce 39% of the building’s energy needs. The remainder of the energy needs will come from the power grid and be supplied by Realgy, which averages 5% below ComEd rates. Annual credits are built into the agreement for additional savings.
It will take two to three weeks to install the new PV system on the Deer Creek roof. Once the system is inspected, commissioned, and tested, it will be operational in January 2022. During this time, Deer Creek will remain open for its regular hours of operation.
“The partnership with Realgy is another example of our Park District’s ongoing efforts to provide economic, environmental, and health benefits for our residents,” said Brian Romes, executive director for the Park District of Highland Park.
12/15/21 – New! Highwood residents can receive resident rates for 2022 Summer Camps. To receive resident rates:
The Parks Foundation of Highland Park “Foundation Youth Initiative (FYI) Grant-in-Aid Program” is also available to qualifying Highwood families, and can help cover up to 50% of camp program fees. For more information and to apply for an FYI scholarship, please call 847.579.3101 or email scholarships@pdhp.org.
All scholarships are awarded based on the need and availability of funds. Upon submission of a grant request, families will be notified in 15 working days of their status.
A Highland Park resident passionate about golf is determined to create a development center for young golfers in the community. He is willing to make a substantial donation, but he would like other golfers to get involved. Meanwhile, baseball parents lament that the communities’ diamonds are not up to tournament standards. At the same time, funds need to be raised to develop a plaza connecting new playgrounds at Sunset Woods Park.
Who ya gonna call? The Parks Foundation of Highland Park.
“The Parks Foundation is separate but aligned with the Park District of Highland Park,” explained Rafael Labrador, the Parks Foundation Board of Directors president. “It is a community-led, independent, all-volunteer non-profit. We raise money for scholarships for families in need to participate in Park District programs, help with summer camp tuition, and raise funds for the capital projects that are in the Park District’s long-range planning but are not fully funded.”
As to the former, the Parks Foundation has established two programs. The first is SMILE (Scholarships Mean Involvement in Leisure for Everyone), the Park District initially started in 1992 to benefit Highland Park residents, and FYI (Foundation Youth Initiative), established in 2019 for Highwood residents. Its inaugural initiative was FYI Learn-to-Swim, which provides free beginners’ swim lessons for dozens of children annually.
The Champions Banquet is the Foundation’s primary annual spring fundraiser to support the scholarship programs. It has featured speakers such as Chicago sports legends former Blackhawk and Hockey Hall of Famer Chris Chelios and “Da Coach” Mike Ditka.
The Parks Foundation is now in its fourth year and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants and donations. Its goal is “to raise funds to support and enhance exceptional Park District projects and provide scholarship funding to ensure that all community members can participate in Park District programs.”
Labrador suggests a more succinct tagline: “Helping our community connect through recreation.”
“There is a misconception,” Labrador said, “that the Park District has a ton of money and should be able to fund everything residents want. But from the upkeep and maintenance of the beaches, dozens of facilities, and 800 acres of parkland, there is a need to fill that gap that property tax revenue doesn’t provide. The Foundation can help bridge that gap. “
“The Park District is a taxing body, but only about half of our budget is funded from property tax revenue,” said Brian Romes, the Park District of Highland Park executive director. “The rest comes from programming fees, memberships, state and federal grants, sponsorships, and private donations. That is where the Foundation can be a valuable resource for our Park District to benefit our community.”
How does the Foundation choose projects for fundraising? “I wish I could tell you there was a scientific method, but I can’t,” Labrador said. “Some of it is based on need and some on opportunities that present themselves. We are a small volunteer organization, and we’re still in the process of establishing our presence in the community. Still, we are proud to have made significant contributions to our community in four short years.”
Individual donations are a vital piece of the puzzle, Labrador said. For example, the amateur golfer who approached the Foundation wanted to donate the seed money to build a youth golf development center on an undeveloped acre at the Sunset Valley Golf Club because golf had enriched his life. With grant money and additional private donations, the center opened last spring. The Foundation also provides golf scholarships to eligible middle school and high school applicants through the Michael Goldman Memorial Golf Scholarship Fund.
“Individuals can direct their donations to the Foundation’s general fund or choose a specific earmark,” Labrador said. “They can direct where they want their donation to go, and the funds will only be used for that purpose.”
The Foundation is more than halfway to its fundraising goal for the new Sunset Woods playground seating plaza. And, one of the most ambitious Park District projects that the Foundation is helping raise funds for is the new Park Avenue breakwater and concrete boat launch. The Park District recently passed an ordinance allowing the sale of $17 million in debt certificates, $2 million of which will be used exclusively for the breakwater and the boat ramp. This money will be augmented by a state grant and community donations, for which the Foundation has set a target of $300,000.
None of this money, Labrador said, is coming from property tax revenue.
“The community has a significant role in making some of these cool things happen that will enrich all of our lives and add to the value and pride in Highland Park that many of us feel,” he said. “This community has demonstrated a solid commitment to helping people, whether it be retirees on fixed incomes who can’t afford to take a Rec Center exercise class or a child whose family cannot afford summer camp.
“We all benefit from having fantastic amenities in our town and having our community able to connect. It’s part of what makes Highland Park strong. We all have a vested interest in seeing it grow. What we do with our tax dollars keeps us where we are. It is our role to raise the funds that will keep Highland Park in a leadership position.”
To learn more about the Parks Foundation of Highland Park, become a volunteer, or donate, visit pfhpil.org or call (847) 831-3810.
Now this is something to howl about! Our winter dog park under the lights at the Highland Park Golf Learning Center is open for the season for all current dog park members and their pooches. There are two off-leash exercise areas available, depending on the size of your dog. The park is located at 2205 Skokie Valley Highway and the hours are dawn to 7pm.
For more information on our dog parks and to apply for a dog park membership, click the button below.
The Parks Foundation of Highland Park is seeking applicants for golf lesson scholarships aimed at helping local youth learn and grow through the game of golf. The 2022 Michael Goldman Memorial Golf Scholarship is available to Highland Park and Highwood middle and high school students who are facing economic, social, or emotional challenges. The opportunity includes one-on-one golf instruction by the Park District of Highland Park professional staff as well as loaner clubs and use of Sunset Valley Golf Club’s world-class practice facilities.
This third annual scholarship is available thanks to a generous $10,000 donation from the family of longtime Highland Park resident Michael Goldman, whose devotion to the sport throughout a time of illness demonstrated that golf is more than a game – but rather, a means to overcome obstacles and foster physical and emotional well-being. His family’s goal is to help young people develop the focus and discipline that golf inspires while enjoying a healthy, outdoor activity that offers lifelong benefits. Over the past two years, 12 students have participated in the program.
“Golf teaches each of us about ourselves. How we deal with the many aspects of the game gets us ready for what happens in our daily life,” said Rob Saunders, PGA professional and Park District of Highland Park Golf Program Manager. “We encourage kids who need some help to apply for this program and look forward to making these lessons a really enjoyable experience.”
Highland Park and Highwood students ages 12-18 who have an interest in learning to play golf and demonstrate need are eligible. Applications are currently available and will be accepted through April. Each participant will receive approximately eight private lessons plus practice time and the chance to develop a personal relationship with a caring golf pro and member of the Park District of Highland Park staff.
For more information, please contact Rob Saunders at [email protected] or 847-579-4162.
The Parks Foundation of Highland Park is dedicated to the belief that every resident deserves the opportunity for an enriched healthy life. The Foundation supports and enhances the Park District of Highland Park’s exceptional facilities and provides resources to ensure that all community members are able to participate in Park District programs. The Parks Foundation of Highland Park is an independent, community-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information, visit https://pfhpil.org
As the weather gets cooler, finding activities for the entire family might be getting harder. Check out these five fun activities to do at the Park District this weekend:
Bundle up and take your pooch on-leash for a walk around The Preserve of Highland Park. Temporary informational signs are posted throughout the park that detail the park’s new amenities. And, check out the new turtle climbing playground!
Stay up to date on The Preserve of Highland Park project
Meet friends and lace up your skates for public skating at Centennial Ice Arena. Public skate is open Saturdays between 11:25am-12:10pm. If you have time during the weekday, take a public skate lunch break Mon, Tue, Thu, or Fri between 11am-1pm.
If you have your own skates, it only costs $6 for children and $7 for adults. Need skates? Only pay $3 more.
Register for public skating online or in person
It’s time to get in shape before indulging in those holiday sweets, treats, and feasts! Did you know, the Recreation Center of Highland Park offers All Access 7-Day Passes for only $20? Passes include access to the fitness floor, Group Ex classes, and lap swimming.
Purchase the All Access 7-Day Pass
The whole family will enjoy Constance’s Story Trail at Heller Nature Center. Just follow the walking trail while reading our featured story: The Rainbow Fish. While you’re at it, discover nature and play at Wander Woods – a free play natural area designed to nurture a child’s sense of wonder and discovery.
More information on Heller Nature Center
Not ready to let go of summer? Join us for a splash at our indoor open swim times on Saturdays and Sundays between 12:30-5:30pm. It’s only $6/person for residents and $8/person for non-residents.