The Park District of Highland Park had a mantra throughout the pandemic: health and safety above all; be innovative and deliver essential services to the community, and be fiscally responsible. This mantra is now starting to pay off.

Prudent financial planning and best practice cost-cutting solutions by the Board of Commissioners and Administration have put the Park District in an enviable position to fund maintenance and improvement projects across the community in the coming years. These projects will maintain and improve the Park District experience for generations to come.

The Park District has emerged from the pandemic shutdown on sure financial footing despite the restrictions and limitations in serving the community. And it has retained its Aaa bond rating. 

“The Park Board of Commissioners were diligent in keeping a watchful eye on the financials with semi-monthly Finance Committee meetings,” said Mari Lynn Peters, Director of Finance for the Park District. “A series of cost-saving measures were key in ensuring the Park District would remain viable throughout and after the pandemic. These included a salary freeze for all employees, the unfortunate furloughing of some employees and re-assigning others, reduced operating hours for numerous facilities, and the transition of the printed program brochure to digital.”  
 
Another factor that played a large part in the Park District’s solid financial situation was that “outdoor programs saved us,” said Peters. “Our outdoor tennis, athletics, and golf programs had record numbers. Staff put our thinking caps on and offered new online program content and purchased a tent to have fitness classes outside.”

“Our staff was more innovative than they’ve ever been, and their creativity allowed us to find ways to serve the community. Every single person who works for the Park District had to step up and, in many cases, do things outside their normal roles. They sacrificed a lot for the sake of our mission,” said Brian Romes, Executive Director for the Park District.  

He also credited the Park District Board of Commissioners for their “important role in getting us through this fiscally” and the residents for their support and trust. During the pandemic, he said, “the community supported our programs and trusted that we were safe and acting responsibly. That was a difference-maker.”

Planning for the Future

One of the top priorities cited by residents in a 2019 Attitude and Interest Survey was the continued maintenance of the District’s facilities that support its programs. The Park District’s financial planning makes it possible to map out critical projects included in its five-year capital plan, which runs from 2022-2026. These include repairing or replacing asphalt parking lots, replacing basketball and tennis courts, replacing vehicles and equipment around our parks and facilities. 

As the Park District is wrapping up GreenPrint Master Plan projects at Sunset Woods Park and The Preserve of Highland Park, the new 100-acre passive recreation and natural area, planning has also begun to renovate areas at Centennial Ice Arena, address erosion at Lakefront Properties, and much more.

Other large-scale projects are also now in the works. On Oct. 26, the Park District Board approved an ordinance to sell $17 million in debt certificates to initiate long-needed infrastructure projects. The time was right to sell the debt certificates to help the Park District attend to mission-critical infrastructure. Interest rates, Peters said, are at historic lows. The Park District is also retiring two previous debt certificates from 2012 and 2013, according to Peters. Paying them off early, she said, will save the Park District roughly $300,000. 

“While staff identified over $20 million in long-term capital improvement projects that remain unfunded, with help from the Parks Foundation of Highland Park, as well as state and federal grant opportunities, the Park District is in a good position to maintain what we have and make improvements where they are needed most,” Romes said. 

“This is a very exciting time for our Park District,” said Park Board Commissioner Jennifer Freeman. “We keep putting one foot in front of the other, trusting our staff, and making progress.” 

10/22/21 – New journeys are possible now that the “Connector Trail” linking both sides of The Preserve across the Skokie River is complete! The path heads west across a footbridge to a wetland overlook (still under construction) and joins with the Gateway Path leading south to the Golf Learning Center. 

Funding for the Connector Trail is provided in part by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources OSLAD Program.

Stay up to date on the project at The Preserve of Highland Park.

Membership to a dog park is a wonderful way for you and your dog to play and socialize freely in a safe environment with other dogs and owners. Debbie Gottlieb Beitler Dog Park at Larry Fink Memorial Park is Highland Park’s year-round dog park that features two off-leash exercise areas – one for big dogs and one for small dogs.  This park is available to registered dog park members. 

The decision to get a membership to a dog park requires careful consideration on your part to ensure you and your dog have a safe, healthy experience.

Membership is a Must to Enter

If you are considering taking your dog to a dog park, you must be prepared to become a member and keep your membership current.  Membership ensures that your dog and all the dogs in the park are fully immunized and have a current City of Highland Park rabies tag number.  Only current members are allowed into the dog park for everyone’s safety in the park.

Is Your Dog a Social Animal?

It is important to know how your dog acts and plays with other dogs and humans before committing to a dog park membership. If your dog tends to bully or intimidate other dogs or not interact well with other humans, a dog park membership is not a good choice.

Once you have decided that you and your dog are ready to commit to a dog park membership, you should also familiarize yourself with proper dog park etiquette and be prepared to follow that etiquette every time you visit the dog park.

Exercise Your Dog Before Heading to the Dog Park

Believe it or not, you and your dog will have a better experience if you exercise him/her before you go there.  Running off a little steam beforehand will make him more attentive to your commands and a calmer, happier playmate for the other dogs in the dog park.

On-Leash on the Outside

Your dog is only allowed off the leash when you are both safely in the dog park. Keep your dog on a leash and under your control to and from the dog park.

Size Up the Area

If you have a small dog, take him to the “Small Dog (under 25 pounds)” area of the park.  Dogs over 25 pounds should go in the “Large Dog” area.  Sizing up the best area for your pooch allows your dog to play with dogs his size, and no injuries can happen.

Unleash the Hound & Remove Gear

Once you have safely entered the dog park, remove all of your dog’s gear, including choke or prong collars. A plain buckle collar is fine to leave on while at the park. Most dogs innocently nip and nibble at each other’s necks and shoulders during play. Having metal contraptions where another dog is roughly shoving its mouth is inviting broken teeth, broken jaws, broken paws and legs, and potentially a huge dog fight if a dog can’t detach itself from your dog’s neck. Also, take off your dog’s leash once you are safely in the dog park. A dog on a leash is essentially a tripping hazard, especially if the leashed dog begins to play. In addition, dogs on leashes can feel more insecure because they know they can’t escape if they need to, which can trigger fights.

Unplug & Play with Your Pooch

Your number one priority at the dog park should be your dog. Unplug and enjoy the time with your dog; your dog will be happier and safer for it.

Never Let Strangers In

For your safety, your dog’s safety, and the safety of your fellow members and their dogs, you should never open the door or allow non-registered members into the park.  Members must always have their Dog Park key fobs with them.  Even if they say they are a member, don’t let them in

Poop Scoop

For the cleanliness and sanitation of the park, you must clean up after your dog. It makes for a better park experience when the facility is clean.

More than 100 Oak trees in Sunset Woods Park were treated this fall to protect against damage caused by the Twolined Chestnut Borer. This treatment should provide two-year protection for vulnerable trees. 

Oak trees become susceptible to damage from the Chestnut Borer beetle when tree vigor is reduced by drought and/or other diseases. Infested oaks can die after 2 to 3 years of infestation. The District has worked with tree care experts to identify at-risk trees for treatment. 

For more information, contact Rebecca Grill at [email protected].

The Park District of Highland Park received state-wide recognition with an Illinois Association of Park District (IAPD) Best of the Best Award for Sportsmanship, honoring two of our outstanding volunteer coaches David and Andy Engle. Award winners will be recognized at the IAPD Best of the Best Awards Gala on October 15.

IAPD winners were selected from entries submitted throughout the state recognizing the “Best of the Best” park districts, forest preserves, conservation, recreation, and special recreation agencies in eight categories. For a complete list of winners, click here.

This award is truly an honor for the Park District, our Athletics Program, our fabulous coaches, and the Highland Park community!

Here is a synopsis of our winning Coaches:

Coaches Andy and David Engle have been with the Park District of Highland Park for three seasons as volunteer Travel Baseball Coaches. Both have volunteered well over 1000 hours throughout their three seasons. They have been instrumental to Highland Park’s baseball community on many levels. Andy and David embody what it means to be committed volunteers, from ensuring our playing fields are safe and adequate to recruit players to organizing home field tournaments. They instill teamwork, hard work, respect, safety, and a family environment while ensuring everyone is having fun. They do not coach to the scoreboard or concern themselves with the team’s record; however, their teams have been very successful. This past season, the 12U team they coached went 31-14 and won two out of five tournaments. They both are exemplary role models for their young players. They teach respect, dignity, sportsmanship, hard work, and pride in the community they represent. Andy and David are most deserving of the IAPD Good Sportsmanship Award.

Featured in the photo (L to R): Andy Engle, Sammy (Andy’s son), Noah (David’s son), David Engle

This fall, we encourage you to safely explore our beaches by following these important guidelines:

More than 50 volunteers joined Park District staff at Rosewood Beach for September’s Adopt-a-Beach clean-up on Saturday, September 18. Students from Highland Park High School Rotary Interact and members of Makom Solel Lakeside participated in this regional event sponsored by the Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Highland Park is one of the few communities in the area that is providing access to public beaches during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Park District has instituted policies, safety guidelines and protocols to allow this recreational access for the well-being of our community.  

Park ambassadors are onsite at Rosewood Beach, Millard Beach and Park Avenue North Beach to monitor beach activities, enforce parking, policies, and ordinances. Patrons are required to practice social distancing and safety measures.  

When visiting our beaches please be respectful of our neighbors and private property lines.  The boundaries of the Park District of Highland Park property are clearly marked at all our public beaches.  It is unlawful to go beyond those boundaries. 

We ask that you review the information below before visiting our beaches. Your cooperation and understanding will ensure we can continue to safely keep our beaches open for the remainder of the season.   

Rosewood Beach – NEW! Extended Swimming Season 

Post Season (September 8- September 27) 
    Weekdays:  No Lifeguard on Duty, Swim at Your Own Risk 
    Weekends: 10 am – 6 pm Guarded Swim 

Beach Hours: Dawn to Dusk 

Beach Access: Residents and Non-residents are permitted. 

Capacity:  275 people (beach access will be closed when at capacity. 

Parking:  7 am – 9 pm (gates close promptly at 9 pm)   

Millard Beach

Park Avenue North Beach

Moraine Beach

This is a dog beach.  Currently, this beach is closed for safety reasons, due to the path experiencing significant erosion.  

It’s that time of year!  Heller Honey is now on sale! Purchase your honey at Heller Nature Center (Mon and Wed, 8:30am-5pm) or at the Recreation Center of Highland Park (Mon-Fri 7am-5pm, Sat and Sun 7am-1pm). It’s $11/jar and $0.25/honey stick or five for $1.

Heller Honey is 100% natural and produced by our very own Heller bees. Try out these yummy kid-friendly Heller honey recipes to get the most out of this sweet local treat. Enjoy!!!

  1. Honey Apple Nachos: Give your nachos a makeover and swap out chips and cheese for apples and honey! Cut your apple slices nice and thin and then cover them with Heller honey and your kids’ toppings of choice. It’s a healthy alternative to your traditional nachos, and a sweet treat for snack time!
  2. Honey Cereal Bars: These are great on the go! Grab your kids’ favorite cereal, ¾ cup of peanut butter, and ½ cup of Heller honey. Throw the peanut butter and honey into a saucepan and let them meltdown until they’re fully combined. Once that’s done, take it off the heat and mix in your cereal until it is evenly coated. Press that mixture into an 8×8 pan and refrigerate it for 1 hour before serving them to your kiddos!
  3. Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups: These 3-ingredient roll-ups will have your family buzzing! All you need is 2-3 cups of your family’s fruit of choice, 2-3 tablespoons of Heller honey, and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Throw those 3 ingredients into a food processor and blend. Once smooth, pour your mixture onto a pan lined with plastic wrap and spread into a ¼ of an inch thickness. Let those dehydrate in the oven (what temperature?) for about 4-6 hours, and you have your very own fruit roll-ups!
  4. Honey Oatmeal Energy Bites: These no-bake bites are sure to make you the Queen Bee of the neighborhood! Combine 1 ½ cups of rolled oats, ¼ cup of honey, 1/3 cup of cashew butter, and 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed. Let this mixture chill out in the freezer for about 15 minutes and then roll them into bite-sized balls. Finish them off with a quick roll in some shredded coconut and enjoy!
  5. Honey Fruit Dip: This recipe is as easy as 1-2-3…which is exactly how many ingredients you need to make it! All you need to do for this yummy fruit dip is combine ¼ cup of plain Greek yogurt, ¼ cup of peanut butter, and 2 tablespoons of Heller honey. It’s really that easy!
Purchase your Heller Honey today!

Back open and now with pickleball! The three hard surface tennis courts at Sunset Woods Park were patched, colored, and striped this month and are now open for play. Additionally, two of the three courts are now lined for pickleball. Those wishing to play pickleball can adjust the net height with the center strap.