 Brian Kaplan (Term ends: 2021) President bkaplan@pdhp.org | Brian Kaplan's passion for the Park District of Highland Park was born from his own experience forming, coaching and managing a local youth travel baseball team for six years. Elected to the Park District Board of Commissioners in April 2011, he currently co-chairs the Athletics, Hidden Creek AquaPark, Recreation Center of Highland Park, Senior Program, Sunset Valley Golf Course, Sustainability, and Youth Program Advisory Committees. He also serves as the Park Board liaison to the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA). A member of the law firm of Dickler Kahn Slowikowski & Zavell, Brian has over 28 years of litigation experience representing parties in civil litigation matters, including personal injury claims, contract matters, product liability claims, medical malpractice claims, third party and employers' liability claims, and arson claims. In addition, for the past 14 years he has handled workers' compensation claims on behalf of employers. Brian's legal work is concentrated in all phases of trial work. He has successfully defended employers in numerous arbitration hearings and oral arguments before the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission, as well as several Circuit Court and Appellate Court appeals. A Highland Park resident since 1969, Brian remains dedicated to the ongoing improvement of the community. He has two children with his wife Julie, who are all frequent users of the Park District of Highland Park programs and facilities. |
 Barnett Ruttenberg (Term ends: 2019) Vice President bruttenberg@pdhp.org | Barnett (Barney) Ruttenberg was elected to the Park Board in 2013. Having earned his BA from the University of IL and his JD from Northwestern Law School, Barney's legal career focused on Real Estate transactions. His ability to listen to people, synthesize information, and negotiate solutions to problems serves him well in public service. Serving on the Park Board is another in a long list of Barney's public service contributions. While actively engaged in his legal career, Barney served as a member and chairman of the Highland Park Plan Commission. He served on the Lakefront Advisory Committee, the Rosewood Beach Task Force, and on his synagogue's school board. Barney offered pro bono counsel to Openlands in the acquisition and development of the Fort Sheridan nature preserve site. Raising two sons in Highland Park, the family enthusiastically used many of the Park District's programs, camps, and facilities. As energetic adults, he and wife Marsha are frequent users of the Recreation Center of Highland Park and Park Avenue Beach where Barney enjoys sailing and kayaking. Active in the North Shore Yacht Club, Barney served as both Commodore and Board President. As a PDHP Commissioners, Barney co-chairs the Lakefront, Recreation, Recreation Center of Highland Park, Sustainability, Senior and Tennis Advisory Committees. With a wealth of professional experience, his finger on the pulse of the community, and a focus on fiscal responsibility, Barney is well prepared to represent the residents of Highland Park as they look to the Park District to provide excellent programs, services, and facilities for residents of all ages. |
 Cal Bernstein (Term ends: 2019) cbernstein@pdhp.org | Re-Elected to the Park District of Highland Park Board of Commissioners in April, 2013, Calvin ("Cal") Bernstein was named chairman of the District's Finance Committee in 2011. He co-chairs the Sunset Valley Golf Course, Deer Creek Courts, Centennial Ice Arena, Recreation, and Athletics Advisory Committees. Cal also serves as the Park Board liaison on the Greenprint 2024 project team. Together with Board President Scott Meyers, Cal is a member of the newly-formed Intergovernmental Task Force, collaborating with the City of Highland Park and the School Districts 112 and 113 to work on joint issues for the betterment of the community. His commitment to Highland Park and its ongoing success is shown through his community involvement. Over the last 15 years, Cal has coached dozens of Park District-sponsored house and travel baseball teams. He is a former member of the City of Highland Park Zoning Board of Appeals and recently chaired a subcommittee that reviewed the City of Highland Park downtown master plan. In addition, Cal currently serves as a charter member of the Highland Park Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and is on the Board of Directors of the Highland Park High School Giants Club. Cal Bernstein earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and holds a J.D. from the George Washington University School of Law. Currently, he is a name partner in the Highland Park law firm Samuels & Bernstein. He has three children with his wife Julie, who are also dedicated and active users of the Park District of Highland Park programs and facilities. |
 Terry Grossberg (Term ends: 2023) tgrossberg@pdhp.org | Terry Grossberg is enjoying his first term on the Park Board. He is graduate from Indiana University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Music Education. Terry has been a teacher for 31 years and currently serves as the Instrumental Music Department Chairman in Deerfield District 109. Terry and his wife Marla moved to Highland Park in 1993. They made the move in part because of the parks and the lakefront which made Highland Park stand out above other communities. Along with his two children, Emily and Danny, they are proud to call Highland Park home. Terry is a passionate volunteer and dedicates most his free time to a variety of causes. He is the outgoing Vice-Chairman of the Human Relations Commission (HRC), organizer of the MLK Day of Service, volunteer for the Moraine Township Food Pantry and the Stupey Cabin Restoration. He is a recipient of the City’s Character Counts Award and is the founder of HPForward – a pro-kindness initiative on the North Shore. As the head of HPForward, Terry has helped build a community of over 1,200 – mostly Highland Park residents – which aims to volunteer more, do more random acts of kindness, and overall simply look out for each other around town. The HPForward community has done several initiatives around town, but the two of which he is proudest are “Dinners with Dignity”, in conjunction with Catholic Charities at St. James Church in Highwood and “Tree Hugs.” In the past year, Tree Hugs provided coats and other warm winter gear to over 200 residents in less fortunate neighborhoods. |
 Lori Flores Weisskopf (Term ends: 2021) lweisskopf@pdhp.org | Having been both a Park District of Highland Park camper and counselor, Lori Flores Weisskopf was re-elected in April 2015 and is serving her second term as a Park Board Commissioner. A lifelong Highland Park resident, she has the youngest children of anyone on the Board (ages 11, 15, and 17). Lori currently works in Business Development for UPS. She is a proud 1989 graduate of Highland Park High School and attended the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her professional background includes public relations experience with the Chicago Bulls and Procter & Gamble. Locally, Lori serves on Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH) Advisory Board, and is a past Board member of Family Service of Lake County (May 2013-May 2017), the District 112 Education Foundation (June 2009-June 2013) and Community Family Center (January 2012-June 2015). As a PDHP Commissioner, Lori served as the Park Board liaison to the Rosewood Beach project, and is the Board's liaison on the GreenPrint 2024 project team. In addition, Lori is a Park Board liaison to the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA). She was selected to serve on the Illinois Association of Park District Joint Editorial Board (IAPD) and IAPD Program Committee from 2015-2017 and 2017-2019. |
Regularly scheduled meetings of the Park District of Highland Park Board of Commissioners are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month and a workshop (meeting of the whole) on the second Tuesday of each month unless otherwise noted by (*) because of holidays. Meetings are held at 6 pm at West Ridge Center, 636 Ridge Road on the dates shown below.
Meeting dates are subject to change by action of the Board of Commissioners. Special or Emergency Meetings may be scheduled in addition to Regular Meetings. Notice of these meetings will be posted on this website, in the lobby of West Ridge Center, and sent to local news media. If you are interested in meeting agendas and minutes that are not archived on the website please call: 847.831.3810.
2019 Meeting Schedule
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2 Special Meeting
TUESDAY, JANUARY 8 Workshop Meeting
MONDAY, JANUARY 21 Special Meeting
TUESDAY, JANUARY 22 Regular Meeting Rescheduled to January 28
MONDAY, JANUARY 28 Regular Meeting
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Workshop Meeting
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Special Meeting, 4:45 pm, Highland Park Country Club, 1201 Park Ave. West
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Special Meeting, 12:00 pm, West Ridge Center
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Special Meeting, 6:30 pm, West Ridge Center
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Regular Meeting
TUESDAY, MARCH 12 Special Meeting @ 6:00 pm
TUESDAY, MARCH 12 Workshop Meeting immediately following Special Meeting
THURSDAY, MARCH 14 Special Meeting, 6:30 pm, West Ridge Center
FRIDAY, MARCH 15 Finance Committee Meeting, 8:00 am, West Ridge Center
FRIDAY, MARCH 15 Special Meeting, 6:30 pm, West Ridge Center
SATURDAY, MARCH 16 Special Meeting, 1:00 pm, West Ridge Center
TUESDAY, MARCH 19 Regular Meeting
TUESDAY, APRIL 9 Workshop Meeting
TUESDAY, APRIL 23 Regular Meeting
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 Special Meeting, 7:00 pm, West Ridge Center
TUESDAY, MAY 14 Workshop Meeting
THURSDAY, MAY 16 Finance Committee Meeting, 8:00 am, West Ridge Center
SUNDAY, MAY 19 Special Meeting, 9:30 am, Highland Park Country Club
WEDNESDAY, MAY 22 Special Meeting, 8:00 pm, West Ridge Center
TUESDAY, MAY 28 Annual Meeting, 6:00 pm
TUESDAY, MAY 28 Regular Meeting immediately following Annual Meeting
TUESDAY, JUNE 11 Workshop Meeting
TUESDAY, JUNE 25 Regular Meeting
TUESDAY, JULY 9 Workshop Meeting
TUESDAY, JULY 23 Regular Meeting
TUESDAY, AUGUST 6 Special Meeting at 6:30 pm
TUESDAY, AUGUST 13 Workshop Meeting
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27 Regular Meeting
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Workshop Meeting
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 Regular Meeting
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15 Workshop Meeting
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22 Regular Meeting
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 Workshop Meeting
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 Regular Meeting
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3 Workshop Meeting
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 Regular Meeting
The Park District provides a live stream of the Regular Board meetings, which will be offered below on the scheduled nights.
Live Streaming of Regular Board Meetings
2019 Meeting Information
Click Here for Archived Board Meeting Information
