Thanks to late summer heat and intermittent rainstorms, conditions remain excellent for mosquito breeding. Southlake Mosquito Abatement District (SLMAD) reminds you to continue protecting yourself and your family from mosquito bites, as West Nile Virus (WNV) levels remain active in local mosquito populations across the North Shore region.

SLMAD takes steps all season long to manage mosquito populations and limit transmission opportunities to humans. However, late summer is typically when the presence of West Nile virus peaks in mosquito populations, and recent surveillance findings confirms this trend again for 2019.

So far this year, the State of Illinois has reported 789 positive WNV samples of Culex mosquitoes, the species that transmits WNV. Eighteen WNV positive samples are from Lake County, and 12 within the communities served by SLMAD:  Deerfield, 6; Ft Sheridan, 2; Highland Park, 2; and Riverwoods, 2. There are four confirmed human cases of WNV in the state: two in Cook County, one in DuPage and one in Kankakee County.

Mosquitoes breed in standing water, which are quite common after periods of heavy rain. By simply tossing out or tipping over standing water sources around your property, and reporting standing water sites that cannot be eliminated to SLMAD at www.clarkeportal.com, you can play a big role in controlling mosquito populations and protecting public health in your community.

To help prevent mosquitoes from breeding around your home and business and to protect yourself from bites, follow the “4 Ds of Defense”:

• Drain: Drain standing water from items around your home, yard, and business. Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers.

• Defend: Wear an EPA-approved repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535 or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.  Use air conditioning, or window and door screens, to prevent mosquitoes from coming inside.

• Dawn to Dusk: Protect yourself all day and night, and wear repellent outdoors during these prime times for mosquito activity.

• Dress: Wear long sleeves, pants, and closed toe shoes when outdoors to cover your skin. Light colored clothing is also recommended, as mosquitoes are more attracted to dark colors.

Contact SLMAD (www.slmad.org) for questions regarding your community’s public health mosquito management programs.

Results of the Park District of Highland Park 2019 Community Attitude and Interest Survey were reviewed with the Park Board at a Special Meeting held on Tuesday, August 6, 2019.  It is a policy of the Park District to conduct a comprehensive community needs assessment at least once every three to six years.  The last survey was completed in 2013. 

“It has been six years since the Park District’s last community survey and five years since the approval of GreenPrint 2024, the Park District’s master plan,” said Park Board President, Brian Kaplan.  “Since that time, the Highland Park community has experienced changes that warrant an updated needs assessment.”  The survey findings will be used, along with additional data, to guide future priority initiatives as the Park District reviews long-term infrastructure and operational plans associated with its Strategic Plan and Master Plan (GreenPrint 2024).

The Park District hired Evanston-based firm, aQity Research to design and administer the survey which was conducted between May 17 through June 23, 2019.   The survey was sent by mail to a random sample of households within the Park District boundaries. Follow-up reminder postcards were sent to non-respondents to encourage full participation.  Both mailings included options to complete the survey by mail, online or by phone.  A total of 851 surveys were completed and weighted to match updated United States Census data for the Park District by region, gender, age, ethnicity and percentage of households with children. 

The survey covered the community’s recreation, facility and park usage and preferences.  Results indicated favorable resident feedback, most notably programs and events, as well as areas for future development, such as programming for adults.  The presentation to the Park Board can be viewed HERE. 

Congratulations to our very own Head Tennis Professional Chris Visconti!  We couldn’t be more excited about Highland Park High School’s recent announcement that our head pro, Chris Visconti, will be HPHS Varsity Girls Tennis Team  co-head coach!

Coach Visconti will  retain all of his responsibilities as the head tennis professional at Deer Creek Racquet Club along with this new role with HPHS. He is looking forward to instilling hard work, sportsmanship, and integrity to the HPHS Girls Tennis Team.

“I am really excited to see a group of young talented players coming together and playing for one another,” said Coach Visconti.

It’s what you do best, Coach!

This summer you may have noticed some remarkable changes along the shoreline at our lakefront parks. 
The beaches are significantly narrower and the water significantly closer to the bluff lines due to Lake Michigan water level that has risen to higher than average levels. As a result, Highland Park and communities all along the Illinois Lake Michigan shoreline are dealing with the effects of beach erosion. 

At Rosewood Beach, the Park District is taking steps to the protect portions of the Rosewood boardwalk that are closest to the waterline. The Rosewood Interpretive Center is already protected from the effects of the high water by a below-ground sheet pile structure system that was installed when the beach was renovated in 2015.

NBC Sports Chicago recently featured Sunset Valley Golf Club on its highly-rated The Golf Scene hosted by
Emmy-award winning Steve Kashul.  Earlier this summer, the network highlighted Sunset Valley on Golf 360 hosted by Patrick Mannelly.  To view both segments, click below. 

A mosquito pool (batch of mosquitoes) sampled on June 13 in Highland Park, Illinois has tested positive for West Nile virus. The mosquito pool is the first confirmed indicator of West Nile presence in Lake County in 2019. 

Residents are urged to drain standing water near their homes or businesses, use insect repellent when outdoors, be especially cautious at dawn and dusk, and cover skin with long sleeves, pants and closed-toed shoes when outdoors.

The Moraine Dog Beach continues to remain closed due to complex failures on the path leading to the beach.  The path failures resulted from record breaking rainfall this spring.  The Park District is exploring all repair options as well as consulting with appropriate agencies. Once a sustainable solution is determined, a timeline for reopening the beach will be established.

Dog park members also have access to the Debbie Gottlieb Beitler Dog Park at Larry Fink Park. However, if dog park members  wish to cancel their membership and receive a pro-rated refund, they may contact Heller Nature Center at 847-433-6901.

The Park District of Highland Park Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce the selection of Brian Romes, CPRP, as the new Executive Director beginning July 1, 2019. Brian has over 20 years of experience within the parks and recreation field including various positions of increasing responsibility at the Park District of Highland Park.  He joined the Park District in 2009 as the Recreation Manager.   In 2012, he was promoted to Assistant Director of Recreation and in 2017 was named Director of Recreation and Facilities.  Brian was a key contributor to the development of the District’s GreenPrint 2024 Master Plan and its Strategic Plan.  He played a significant role in project renovations at Rosewood Beach, the Recreation Center of Highland Park and Sunset Valley Golf Club.

Brian earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation Administration from Eastern Illinois University and is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP).  He is a graduate of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Revenue/Management School, Indiana University Executive Development School, and was a Board Regent for the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association (IPRA) Leadership Academy.  Prior to joining the Park District of Highland Park, Brian was the Superintendent of Recreation at the Carol Stream Park District where he worked for seven years.  Early in his career, he held various managerial roles for 24 Hour Fitness Inc., City of Yorba Linda, CA; Wheeling Park District; and the Northbrook Park District.

“Over the past ten years, Brian has brought unique ideas and leadership that align with the mission and goals of the Park District of Highland Park,” said Park Board President Brian Kaplan. “We’re confident he will continue to position our organization for future growth and success serving the Highland Park community.”

Brian Romes replaces Liza McElroy who retired in February 2019 after ten years of service to the Highland Park community. 

For the safety of our swimmers at Hidden Creek AquaPark, we updated our minimum height requirement to 48 inches for the following features:

Swimmers between 42 inches to 48 inches tall must pass a swim test to use these features.  Please see our Guest Services (located on the west side of the Bathhouse) to inquire about the swim test. All swimmers under 42 inches are not permitted to use these features.

Golf Inc magazine named Sunset Valley Golf Club the third best “Renovation of the Year” for public golf courses in the world in its May/June 2019 issue.It’s the third award Sunset Valley has won for its innovative design features since it reopened in late summer 2018.

Golf Inc. judges called Sunset Valley “an impressive project that provides benefits to the community while improving the golf course.  Interesting use of parkland/links characteristics into a cohesive aesthetic. Wonderful transformation of mild featureless parkland into functioning and engaging golf course.”

Park District of Highland Park Interim Executive Director Kathy Donahue said the latest recognition is further affirmation that the District achieved its goals for Sunset Valley.  “The renovation breathed new life into our 99 year-old course and ensures that Sunset Valley will continue to be a great destination to play the game for generations to come.” Donahue said. “We are thrilled and humbled to receive recognition for our vision for Sunset Valley.”

Other awards Sunset Valley Golf Club has also won:

2019 Illinois Parks and Recreation Association, Facility of the Year

2018 American Society of Golf Course Architects Design Excellence Award

Sunset Valley underwent an extensive 18-month renovation to the course and clubhouse. The new course reflects a unique British Heathland design with an openness accentuated with strategic landforms, flowing masses of native grasses and groves of trees which harken back to the character and aesthetic appeal of the course’s original 1920’s era golf course architecture. The newly remodeled clubhouse offers a classic vibe with striking views of the golf course. Now featuring an expanded golf shop, the new 13ninety restaurant as well as a cozy lounge area with fireplace, the clubhouse is a destination for guests and golfers to relax and Enjoy the Sunset.

Since the August 2018 opening, golfer feedback on the new course layout, designed by golf course architect Rick Jacobson, has been extremely positive.  This Spring, Sunset Valley has already seen record breaking total rounds played in a single weekend.