-
About
- Facilities
-
Programs
Pre-K (0-5 yrs)Youth (6-17 yrs)Adult (18+ yrs)
-
Parks/Beaches
ParksOutdoor Activities
- Events
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 rsaunders@pdhp.org 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 rgrill@pdhp.org.