Awards &
Recognition

34 Years in a Row

The Certificate of Achievement Award is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

It is the association’s top award given to one agency out of over 2,000 from across Illinois for outstanding and unique achievements in each category.

Chairman’s Award

2022: The Park District of Highland Park Staff & Board

Outstanding Special Event Award

2022: DÍa De Los Muertos

Outstanding Program Award

2020: ParkSchool, early childhood program

Outstanding Facility or Parks Award

2023: Sunset Woods Park Rocket Ship Playground
2019: Sunset Valley Golf Club
2016: Rosewood Beach

It is a spirited competition spotlighting bright ideas exhibited by park, recreation and conservation agencies throughout the State of Illinois.

2023: 1st Place-Video Long Form, Where Community Grows; 2nd Place-Website, The Preserve of Highland Park

2022: 1st Place-Website; 2nd Place-Logo Design, The Preserve of Highland Park

2019: 1st Place-Paid Advertisement; 2nd Place-Integrated Photography, Sunset Valley Golf Club Gift Card

2015: 2nd Place-Logo Design, Deer Creek Racquet Club

2013: 3rd Place-Overall Agency Showcase

2009: Honorable Mentions-Green Marketing, Public Relations

2008: 3rd Place-Catalog Cover Series

Illinois Parks & Recreation Magazine Photo Contest

2023: 1st Place-Recreation, Wildlife; 2nd Place-Recreation, Sports

2022: 1st Place-Nature

2020: 1st Place-Nature

2019: 1st Place-Sports; 3rd Place-Nature

2018: 1st Place-Sports; 2nd Place-Recreation

2017: 1st Place-Nature; 2nd Place-Nature

2016: 1st Place-Wildlife

2021

Moody’s Investors Service has assigned a Aaa rating to Park District of Highland Park’s $20 million General Obligation Limited Tax Debt Certificates, Series 2021.

2020

Moody’s Investors Service has assigned a Aaa rating to Park District of Highland Park’s $6.5 million General Obligation Limited Tax Park Bonds, Series 2020. 

2016

Moody’s Investors Service has assigned a Aaa rating to the Park District of Highland Park’s (IL) $3 million General Obligation Limited Tax (GOLT) Park Bonds, Series 2016.

2019

The Park District of Highland Park has been recognized as an Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency by the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA).

The two statewide associations administer the Illinois Distinguished Accreditation program with the goal of improving the delivery of park and recreation services to Illinois residents.

2018, 2016

Rosewood Beach received the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2018 Small Projects Design Award. This is the fifth design award the District has received for Rosewood and the second national award.

2018

Sunset Valley Golf Club was honored Design Excellence at the seventh annual ASGCA Design Excellence Recognition Program.

2017

The Park District of Highland Park was awarded the Lake County Stormwater Management Award for Best Management Practice (BMP) Project of the Year for the District’s Skokie River Woods Wetland Restoration.

2016

The Park District of Highland Park received NSSRA’s Partner Agency of the Year award for their exemplary collaboration with NSSRA’s Inclusion team as well as their provision of facility space for NSSRA programs.

2016

Rosewood Beach was awarded Excellence in Chicago Construction at the Chicago Building Congress Merit Awards.

2016

The Park District of Highland Park announced that the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) has named Rosewood Beach as a winner of its 2016 Best Restored Beach Award.

2015

The USTA has announced that the Deer Creek Courts in Highland Park, Ill., is one of 13 winners in its 34th annual USTA Facility Awards Program, which recognizes excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country.