The Park District of Highland Park Board of Commissioners signed an agreement with the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) to receive a portion of 2019 Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (lllinois EPA) 319 grant funding to enhance the shoreline of the north pond located at the Community Park at the Recreation Center of Highland Park.  Funding for this project is provided, in part, by the Illinois EPA through Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.  The project will include planting of native plants and minor regrading to improve water quality, contribute to flood reduction and enhance wildlife habitat in keeping with the conservation values of the property.

The total cost for the project is $289,344.86, half of which is reimbursable by the grant upon project completion and approval from the Illinois EPA.  The SMC will administer the Illinois EPA 319 grant funds in the amount of $144,672.73 and will partner with the Park District to complete the project to include:

The Park District match for the project is budgeted in the 2020 Park capital budget. Park District staff will incorporate the design, engineering and implementation of this work into the overall community park project. According to the agreement, the Park District has two years from the date of the agreement to complete the project.  

In the coming weeks, work will begin to design the project and incorporate it into the overall master plan of the park which already features an additional 50 acres of native plantings designed to create new wetland savanna and grassland habitat.   

Did you know that every winter, weather permitting, the Park District creates a skating area at Sunset Woods Park? Starting in November, Parks crew members construct the outer shell of what will become the hockey rink.  That process typically takes two to three days to complete. Then it is a waiting game for Mother Nature to deliver five consecutive days of below-freezing temperatures for the ground to become hard enough to begin creating the ice.

Crews spray water over the frozen ground 24 hours a day over five to six days to create the thick ice floor for the hockey rink and adjacent family skating rink. To ensure the ice rinks are safe and skater ready, crews inspect, spray, and groom the rinks daily. 

Building and maintaining our outdoor rinks is a labor of love for our Park District.  It supports our mission to provide Highland Park with healthy outdoor recreational opportunities all year long.   Ice skating has been shown to reduce stress and improves cardiovascular and muscular fitness for all ages.  And, skating outdoors, especially in the sunlight and fresh air, provides a boost from the winter blues.

Other great outdoor winter activities at the Park District: 

Seven figure skaters from the Park District of Highland Park’s Centennial Ice Arena competed in the 2020 Upper Great Lakes Regionals held in Saint Paul, Minnesota October 23 through 27.   The Centennial skaters included Danielle Simon, Campbell Saks, Ellie Kavadas, Lucy Millman, Greta Hollander, Leah Wernick, and Taylor Keno.  All seven skaters are involved in Centennial’s skating program.

“It is wonderful to have seven of our skaters compete in the regionals,” said Carol Sassorossi, Program Manager at Centennial Ice Arena.  “These girls work tirelessly, and it is fabulous to see their hard work and dedication pay off.”

Centennial Ice Arena is a premier regional center for ice skating with a highly qualified staff and progressive programming.  The arena is a proud member of US Figure Skating and Learn to Skate USA.  For more information about Centennial Ice Arena recreational and competitive skating programs, please contact Sheila Lonergan slonergan@pdhp.org, or Carol Sassorossi, csassorossi@pdhp.org.

Photo:  (left to right) Danielle Simon, Campbell Saks, Ellie Kavadas, Lucy Millman, Greta Hollander, Leah Wernick, Taylor Keno

Ilya Mondrowski, a Centennial Ice Arena ice skater has advanced to the 2020 National Ice Dance Finals that take place in Hyannis, Massachusetts November 13 – 14.   Mondrowski, 14, of Highland Park and his ice dance partner Kiana Pan, 12, of Bolingbrook, have competed together for two years at the Novice level. The team placed fifth at the 2020 Midwestern Ice Dance Sectionals in East Lansing, Michigan in October.  Earlier this year the pair won the USFSA Championship Juvenile Ice Dance Division. 

“We are incredibly proud of Ilya,” said Carol Sassorossi, Program Manager at Centennial Ice Arena.  “It is an amazing feat to advance to the nationals.  Special thanks go out to their coaches and supportive families.”

Centennial Ice Arena is a premier regional center for ice skating with a highly qualified staff and progressive programming.  The arena is a proud member of US Figure Skating and Learn to Skate USA.  For more information about Centennial Ice Arena recreational and competitive skating programs, please contact Sheila Lonergan slonergan@pdhp.org, or Carol Sassorossi, csassorossi@pdhp.org.

At the October 22 Board Meeting, Park Commissioners were provided with an overview of the successful 2019 camp season.  Over 1,200 campers participated in the Park District camps this summer — that is a 5.5% increase over 2018.  The Park District’s full 7-week camps also had a 13% increase in participation.  

Providing a memorable summer camp experience at a value is at the core of the Park District’s   mission.  Generations of Highland Park families have attended our summer camps, and many of our campers come back as camp counselors and camp directors.  

The Park District is proud to be one of Highland Park’s largest summer employers.  And, for many teens, working at the Park District is their first job experience.  This summer, 200 camp directors, counselors, and specialists joined the Park District team.  Approximately 60% of our summer camp staff were retained from 2018.  

Building on the successful 2019 camp season, the Park District will be offering new exciting options to the 2020 camp line-up.  Residents will receive the 2020 Camp Brochure in the mail the week of November 25, and registration begins December 4. 

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The Parks Foundation of Highland Park is raising funds for a new
state-of-the-art Youth Golf Development and Short Game Center
at Sunset Valley Golf Club.

This unique facility, typically only seen at private clubs and learning centers, will be Highland Park’s primary center for youth short game skill instruction and development and the practice facility for all Sunset Valley’s valued golfers.

The new center will feature:

We are already more than halfway to our goal of fully funding this project!

The Park District of Highland Park Board of Commissioners approved a resolution waiving competitive bidding for an emergency sand nourishment project at Rosewood Beach. The resolution included awarding project contracts to Thelen Sand & Gravel for materials and John Keno & Company for labor services.  Both companies provided the lowest responsible quote for services that are in the best interest of the Park District.

Under the Illinois Park District Code, 70 ILSC 1205/1, Section 8-1, competitive bidding for the procurement of goods and services exceeding $25,000 can be waived when the Board of Park Commissioners finds that emergency circumstances exist.

The estimated cost for the project is $310,000 including engineering, material, and construction costs.  Construction is expected to begin October 21, 2019.   Project details and a timeline will be presented to the Park Board of Commissioners at the October 15 Board Workshop Meeting.

Rosewood Beach is one of the Park District’s most heavily used facilities, and one of the most beautiful of our community’s assets.  It is a priority for the Park Board of Commissioners to move quickly to protect that asset and continue providing safe beach access to the thousands of children, adults and families that use this facility for recreation and leisure.

The near-historic high Lake Michigan water levels this past summer have resulted in rapid beach erosion at Rosewood Beach. Infrastructure located at the back of the beach is currently in jeopardy of damage or future failure as sand erodes underneath the boardwalk in the interpretive cove.  The shoreline is also approaching the boardwalk in the swimming cove. Statistically, fall and winter storms are more energetic and result in more erosion and sand movement. To prevent further erosion, protect lakefront structures and ensure this community asset will serve the community for current and future generations, emergency placement of sand is necessary this fall.

Ten new outdoor tennis courts and six new pickleball courts are open for play at Danny Cunniff Park.  The tennis courts were closed earlier this summer for renovation including:

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports. The Sports and Fitness Industry Association reported that in 2018 there were 3.3 million pickleball players in the United States. That represents a 34 percent increase from 2014. The Park District of Highland Park is keeping up with the trends and listening to interest expressed by community members for dedicated pickleball courts. In addition to the six new pickleball courts at Danny Cunniff Park, six new courts were opened earlier this summer at Woodridge Park.  This is in addition to the existing indoor pickleball opportunities offered by the Park District at the Deer Creek Racquet Club.

At a Special Meeting on September 19, the Park Board of Commissioners began the process to review and refresh the Park District’s GreenPrint 2024 ten-year master plan. The meeting was dedicated to idea sharing and review of the Park District’s mission, vision, and values in response to the recent community-wide Interest and Attitude Survey. The outcome of this meeting will set the stage for future planning meetings that will take place over the next several months. 

Results of the Interest and Attitude Survey were presented at the August 6 Park Board Meeting. Community feedback is integral to the Park District’s planning processes to ensure we continually fulfill our mission “To enrich community life through healthy leisure pursuits and an appreciation of the natural world.” 

This year marks the completion of the third year of the GreenPrint 2024 master plan. A periodic review of the plan is intended as part of its implementation by the Park Board of Commissioners.

Six skaters from Centennial Ice Arena will be awarded “Top 3” medals for the eleventh annual Illinois Compete USA series held July 2018 through June 2019.  During the competitive season, skaters can compete at various competitions and earn points for a final standing. 

The “Top 3” Centennial skaters for their freestyle and compulsory program events include: Emerson Bass, Sammy Cahan, Caitlin Carnow, Liv Klein, Emily Teifeld and Isabel Young.  Each Top 3 finalist skater for compulsory elements and free skate will be presented with their medal at an on-ice ceremony in Kankakee, Illinois, on September 29, 2019.

“Our skaters worked very hard this season and it is wonderful to see their dedication and hard work recognized,” said Inga Fedorova, skating coordinator at Centennial Ice Arena.  “Special thanks go out to their coaches and supportive families.”

Centennial Ice Arena is a premier regional center for ice skating with a highly qualified staff and progressive programming.  Centennial is a proud member of US Figure Skating and Learn to Skate USA.  For more information about our recreational and competitive programs.