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Park Ave Boating Facility
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Regulations & Rules
Regulations & Rules

Lakefront Parking Regulations

  1. Resident and Non-resident vehicles with a Lakefront Parking Decal may park in the North Lot. Resident vehicles not displaying a Lakefront Parking Decal are subject to a violation at a $75 fine.
  2. To park in the South Lot, resident and non-resident vehicles must display a Park Avenue Season Parking Decal. Park Avenue Season Parking Decal holders will also receive a fob or transponder to open the access control gate to the south portion of the property.
  3. Personal vehicles may not be left overnight without Park District Approval.

General Facility Rules

  1. Season Launch Decals of all types are not transferable.
  2. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted  on park district grounds.
  3. Observe no wake zones.
  4. Glass containers, bonfires and grills are prohibited.
  5. Feeding of wildlife is prohibited.
  6. Pets must be on a leash, leash much be in oweners hand, and pet must be in control. Pets must be cleaned up after.
  7. No swimming/wading is allowed at any beach at Park Avenue. Rosewood Beach is the designated swimming beach in Highland Park.
  8. Smoking, vaping and/or cannabis use are not allowed at Park District facilities, City parking lots, or beach areas.
  9. Fuels and Oils: All petroleum products, gasoline, lubrication oils, etc., shall be stored in an approved container and kept onboard the boat. Petroleum products are not permitted to be stored on the ground on Park District property or the City of Highland Park property.
  10. Chemicals and Hazardous Materials: Laboratory chemicals and hazardous materials must be removed from the boat prior to storage of the boat, and transported to a proper materials storage facility. Boat flares may remain on the vessel and should be kept in a weatherproof box away from flame sources and ignition points.
  11. Wash-down, Engine Flushing, Fueling, and Oil Changes: Any of these activities must take place on the asphalt parking area. These activities are prohibited in the boat launch and in the storage area to prevent fuel and oil contamination of the soil area or in the lake. It is the responsibility of the vessel operator to ensure all pollutants are removed and disposed of properly.
  12. Winterization and Long Term Storage: Storage status of all watercraft will be reviewed annually. Specific storage practices are recommended for storage seasons and during seasons of harsh weather.
  13. The facility is open during regularly scheduled hours. After-hours access must be arranged through the District Wide Rental Manager or Lakefront Supervisor.

Boating Information & Regulation

  1. The boating season is generally the Saturday before Memorial Day–October 15, weather permitting.
  2. Boat Launch and Sand Ramp hours are open daily, 7:00am–dusk.
  3. Daily fees may be purchased on the park district website via ParkWhiz.
  4. The current launching decal must be permanently affixed to the vehicle, trailer, and vessel before launching will be permitted. The numbered decal is registered to the permit holder for a specified vessel and is non-transferable. Trailer/vehicle parking decal must be permanently afixied to the lower right/passenger side of the front windshield.  
  5. The launching decal should be affixed to the starboard side of the transom (the right rear of the boat). All decals not permanently affixed are considered invalid.
  6. Only numbers and the “State of Illinois” decal should be affixed to the bow of boat.
  7. Insurance and Indemnification-Owner shall at its own expense obtain and maintain during the term of this agreement, marine/property coverage insuring the boat against loss or damage to the boat by reason of fire, theft, vandalism, collision or other casualty, in an not less than the actual cash value of the boat with respect to total loss or damage to the boat. The insurer for the Owner shall agree to waive all rights of subrogation against the Park District, its officers, officials, employees, volunteers and agents for losses arising from this Agreement. Further, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, Owner shall protect, indemnify, save, defend and hold harmless the Park District, its officers, officials, volunteers, employees and agents, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, claims, damages, penalties, causes of action, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney and paralegal fees, which Park District and for which its officers, officials, volunteers, employees and agents may become obligated by reason of any accident, bodily injury, death of person, or loss of or damage to tangible property, arising indirectly or directly in connection with or under, or as a result of this agreement.

Personal Watercraft Regulations

  1. The boating season is generally the Saturday before Memorial Day–October 15, weather permitting.
  2. Boat Launch and Sand Ramp hours are open daily, 7:00am–dusk.
  3. Daily fees may be purchased on the park district website via ParkWhiz.
  4. PWCs must enter and exit the launch cove at a safe, No Wake speed. They must maintain this safe, No Wake speed for a distance of a minimum of 300 yards from the launch cove. PWCs must stay a minimum of 100 yards away from the fishing area along the east driveway.
  5. US Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices must be worn at all times.
  6. The concrete ramp will be used to launch and retrieve the PWC. PWCs must provide a mooring line for launch/retrieval.
  7. No operations of PWC are allowed between sunset and sunrise.
  8. PWCs must adhere to the same rules and regulations as power boats. Refueling not allowed on launch area.
  9. Violation of these policies subjects the PWC owners to forfeiture of their season launch privilege.

U.S. Coast Guard Guidelines

  1. NO PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 10, MAY OPERATE A MOTOR BOAT OR PWC. Persons between the ages of 10 and 18 years old may operate a motorized boat or PWC if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian or if they possess a Boating Safety Certificate issued by the Natural Resources Dept. or the US Coast Guard Auxiliary.
  2. No person shall operate any watercraft upon Park District facilities or within the jurisdiction thereof contrary to any State or Federal law or regulation governing the operation of watercraft.
  3. All watercraft shall carry U.S. Coast Guard-approved life vests in good and serviceable condition for each boat occupant.
  4. All power boats shall be in good overall condition, shall have on board and available for immediate use an operable flashlight, hand line with attached anchor, distress flares, whistle or horn, bailing device and an approved fire extinguisher. Fuel storage and engines shall be properly ventilated, backfire flame control provided on the engine, proper and operable navigation lights for night use.
  5. A U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel Safety Check (VSC) is required for all boats with auxiliary power to launch at the Park District ramp. This includes PWCs, daily launch, season launch and season storage/ launch boats. The USCG will be conducting inspections by appointment only. There is no charge for this safety check.
  6. Vessel Safety Checks can be conducted by appointment by contacting Mark Pullman, 312.933.1740 or Donna Feldman, 847.597.8125.
  7. Boaters must have a Vessel Safety Checks decal on their boat prior to their first launch of the year.

Concrete Ramp Launch Regulations

  1. Launch all vessels on the West Side/Beach Side of the dock,
    Retrieve all vessels on the East Side/Lake Side of the dock.
  2. While preparing your vessel for launching and another vessel arrives that is fully ready to launch, that vessel will be given permission to launch first.
  3. All launch users should be proficient in backing/launching the vehicle/trailer for safety reasons.
  4. Be certain that both the hydraulic and emergency brakes on your automobile function properly before backing down ramp incline. Apply the emergency brakes on your vehicle when stopping on the ramp. The depth of water at the end of the ramp varies from time to time.
  5. Prepare your vessel for launching prior to entering the ramp area: remove covers, inflate tubes/rafts, secure coolers and personal belongings. The safety chain or winch cable should remain attached to your vessel until vessel is in the water. Make sure drain plug is securely in place.
  6. Boats should be unstrapped from trailer before proceeding down ramp and outboard motors should be tipped forward to prevent damage to propeller blades while entering and leaving ramp. Boats should have dock lines prepared, and fenders prepared.
  7. When removing the vessel from the launch, the final fastening of the vessel should be done after leaving ramp area. Please do not block access to the ramp.
  8. Trailer/vehicle length must not exceed 45 feet.
  9. No Wake zones: All vessels (sail, power, PWC) may not come w/in 100 yards of the East driveway, as this is a fishing area. No wake zone speed must be maintained until the vessel is 300 yards from the shore area. Violators are subject to suspension of launching privileges.
  10. Factory setting on noise levels: All vessels launching from Park Avenue must not exceed factory setting on noise levels and must conform to all federal, state and local laws concerning noise levels.

Sand Ramp Launch Regulations

  1. Power boats may not be launched from sand ramp.
  2. No vessel is to be launched or retrieved with its sails hoisted.
  3. After launching, return trailers to their assigned spaces.
  4. No vessel is to be left unattended with sails hoisted.
  5. Please make sure your trailer nose wheel is on the metal ramp & winch rope is secure before winching.
  6. Sailboats may launch off concrete ramp when it is unoccupied or sand ramp is closed.

Vessel Storage Regulations

  1. All vessels and trailers must be stored in their assigned space and their space only. Kayak and SUPs are to be stored on numbered racks and cables. All vessels must have a permanently affixed storage decal.
  2. Storage decals should be affixed to the right side of the trailer tongue. Kayak and SUPs should place the storage decal on the starboard side of the transom.
  3. Kayak and SUPs are limited to 1 vessel per compartment on storage rack.
  4. Trailer Requirements: Nose wheel skids are required. Please block trailer nose wheel in storage space.
  5. Vessels in Seasonal storage spaces must be REMOVED prior to Oct 15 or your Storage Fee Deposit will be forfeited.
  6. When storing your trailer, hitch locks are required. Sails, kayaks, and SUPs in storage must be locked at all times. Loss from theft, vandalism or accident resulting during storage of any personal property on park premises is at the owner’s risk and the Park District will not be held responsible.
  7. Storage assignments for all types of vessesls will be reviewed for placement at the discretion of the Park District. Personal Watercraft will only be assigned to the South Lot based on availability.
  8. No Assumption of Care, Custody or Control by Park District. Owner is storing their vessel at Owner’s own risk and understands and agrees that by permitting Owner to store the vessel on the Park District Property, the Park District is not assuming the care, custody or control of the vessel. Further, this agreement does not establish, create, or impose joint ownership, care, custody, or control of the vessel or any other personal property of the vessel owner.

Abandonment of Property Regulations

  1. Owner’s vessel and any other personal property stored on Park District premises shall be deemed abandoned from the date of the termination or cancellation of their permit. Park District is relieved of all liabilities for any abandoned property. If Owner abandons the vessel/property or is dispossessed thereof by process of law, or otherwise, title to any vessel/personal property belonging to Owner and left on the premises shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Park District. Park District shall have the right to remove and dispose of such vessel/property without liability therefore to Owner or to any person claiming under Owner, and shall have no need to account therefore. Park District may retain the vessel/property as its property or may dispose of the vessel/property through sale or donation or other manner as the Park District, in its sole discretion may determine.
  2. Any proceeds derived from the sale or disposition of such property shall be the property of the Park District.

Fishing Regulations

  1. State/Federal fishing regulations require all people fishing at Park Avenue must conform to all state/federal fishing regulations.
  2. One person may not have more than two poles and one net.
  3. All vehicles parked must have the proper decal. Decal must be permanently affixed.