The concept plan below highlights the project area (red outline) and the project components.
There will be various opportunities throughout the project to get involved. Some engagement opportunities may be specific to a recreational element (i.e. skate park, athletic field, etc.).
Boat storage through April 29th will not be impacted. The project team plans to sequence the project to minimize the impact to boat storage for the 2024 season. Boat storage information for the 2024 boat season will be posted on the website in February.
The launch is expected to remain open during construction.
During construction, parts of the north beach are expected to have limited access. A detailed access plan will be shared before construction begins.
The Project scope includes (the letter corresponds with the layout plan below):
The Park District hired Hitchcock Design Group (HDG) to take the concept plan through to implementation.
The layout plan below builds on the approved concept plan and is based on a survey of existing conditions, dimensions, and utilities. The layout plan will be shared with the Park Board at a public meeting on October 4, 2023. HDG will then complete the construction documents for the project to be bid out this fall.
Phase 1 is funded through the OSLAD grant award and Park District capital budget. (Highlighted in red)
Phase 2 is unfunded. These elements will be designed and bid as alternates to be implemented if funding is available. (Highlighted in black)
A: Reconfigured parking lot for improved circulation, landscaping, and viewing of the Lake.
D: New concrete sidewalk for easier beach access for pedestrians walking to the beach.
H: New accessible boardwalk along the beach, improving access to the beach and circulation around Park Avenue Boating Facility.
G: Seating along the boardwalk
L: Designated Fishing Pier and ADA compliant access route.
A: The fenced boat parking will not be resurfaced as part of this project but has been identified as a future need.
B: Plaza with pergola, tables, and chairs to enhance patron experience as the beach and provide space for gathering and passive use.
Have comments/questions about the layout plan? Please use the comment box below.
Districtwide planning efforts, including the Park Avenue Site Master Plan, Beach Management Plan, and the Lakefront Master Plan, support the Park Avenue Access Improvement Plan These plans were enhanced by engagement with the community and patrons of the Park Avenue Boating Facility.
Over the next month, a few finishing touches will take place on and near the playground. The Park District anticipates the playground may close for a day in a few weeks to complete the finishing touches and the website will be updated prior to the temporary closure.
Moroney’s Weil Tot Lot renovation is nearly completed! The fencing, playground and playground surfacing are installed. The new Tot Lot will open in the coming weeks when the final playground inspection is completed.
The playground and playground surfacing have been installed and the fencing is scheduled for installation this week.
Following the installation of the fence, and one final inspection, the playground will soon open.
The site is graded, play equipment footings are laid out, the perimeter curb is framed and installation of the playground equipment has begun.
Construction of Moroney’s Weil Tot Lot is scheduled to begin Monday, April 24. On that date, the playground will be closed until construction is completed.
Construction is getting ready to begin at Moroney’s Weil Tot Lot. The tree protection fencing has gone up and the construction process is scheduled to begin next week. The playground will be open until construction begins; at that time signage will be posted about the playground’s closure.
The fruits of your feedback have arrived!
The Park District is excited to share the final playground renovation design for Moroney’s Weil Tot Lot. Following several rounds of community engagement, the collected feedback was translated into the final equipment selection and playground layout. See updated playground design rendering here.
The Park District would also like to share the redesigned playground entrance pathway, which will be ADA accessible and ease the slope into the playground. Through community engagement, the desire for stroller parking was heard, and will be included at the entrance path. See updated entrance pathway plan here.
Next Steps: We are on track to bid out this project in December and construction is anticipated to begin in the spring.
Over the last few months, the Park District collected neighbor comments on the playground equipment options for the Weil Tot Lot at Moroney Park. We would like to thank you for stopping by the August/September Listening Sessions and for your participation in last week’s Community Meeting. Currently, we are integrating neighbor feedback into the playground design, below is a summary of the key takeaways.
What is most loved about the current playground?
• House structure
• Teeter totter
• Location – due to the natural shading and the playground’s seclusion from the street
Is there a theme or color palette that will best suit Moroney?
• Neutral, organic color palette with a few bright pops – natural color palette that will fit into the neighborhood
• Theme – while many were impartial on the subject, a nature or forest theme was a popular suggestion and a theme could add value by giving the playground an identity, as this is how kids refer to the place rather than an actual name
What playground elements are a must have?
• Swings, and swing type options
• Climbing opportunities
• A lookout platform – somewhere kids can climb up high, see the trains pass
• Room to run around and explore
• Sensory play options – i.e., music play
• Understanding that the playground is intended for the 2-5 age group, achieving a balance of diversity of play value to meet each child (ages 2-5) at their level of play, particularly the older end of the age range that may be ready for more challenging play elements.
• Large play structure, with a few independent surrounding elements
• Opportunities to bounce and jump
• Spinner and/or teeter totter
The Park District’s next step is to incorporate this feedback into the final design for the playground. Once the design is complete, we will share it with the community.
Our preliminary listening sessions for the Weil Tot Lot replacement projects concluded with a community meeting at Rosewood Beach Interpretive Center. We once again shared the various equipment design layouts and looked for resident’s feedback.
The playground design process is collaborative. Park District staff had a booth at the Ravinia Farmer’s Market to review equipment layout design options.
The playground design process is collaborative. Park District staff held a listening session in the park from 9am-11am to review equipment layout design options.
The playground design process is collaborative. Park District staff held a listening session in the park from 1pm-3pm to review equipment layout design options.
The Blue Trail Renovations have been completed, the trail is now open for use.
The contractor has mobilized, the equipment has arrived on site and excavation work will begin this week.
Over the summer, the Park District launched the Your Parks – Your Perspectives initiative, which asked residents to share their opinions about parks in Highland Park.
Feedback was collected to measure the Park District’s successes and opportunities to meet community needs through an online survey and conversations at the parks. The feedback will be used to guide the District’s operations and annual capital planning efforts.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Your Park’s – Your Perspectives initiative! Throughout the summer, District staff spoke to 514 people at a total of 63 park visits and collected 162 responses through the online survey.
District staff is working on compiling and organizing the feedback received, and will post feedback highlights on this page.
The Park District of Highland Park submitted an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant for improvements to Lincoln Park.
Support from the OSLAD grant program would enable the Park District to adjust the layout of Lincoln Park to accommodate a 5-12 playground, increase basketball court space and address critical updates to Lincoln Park’s existing amenities. Updates include a new tot lot and improvements to the walking path, diamond fields and soccer field. The proposed concept for Lincoln Park was presented as Concept 2 in the August 15 Community Meeting.
The Park District of Highland Park will be hosting a community meeting on August 15, 2023 at 6pm at West Ridge Center (636 Ridge Road) to collect feedback for Lincoln Park.
The Park District of Highland Park heard the neighborhood’s interest in a new 5-12 playground due to the approved agreement to sell Lincoln School. Two design options have been developed that reconsider Lincoln Park with the addition of a 5-12 playground.
Feedback collected at this meeting will be used to assist in securing grant funding and to support adding a 5-12 playground at the park, which is currently unfunded.
If you cannot attend this meeting and would like to provide feedback, the presentation from the August 15th meeting will be posted to the project page on August 16th for those who are unable to make the meeting and would still like to provide feedback.
The Park District heard the neighborhood’s concerns over losing a 5-12 playground due to the sale of Lincoln School. As such, the Park District of Highland Park is going back to the drawing board to develop plans for Lincoln Park that consider the inclusion of a 5-12 play space. The comments and data collected through the survey will be integrated into the plans for the improved 2-5 playground. There will be other opportunities to get involved in design as the Park District proceeds with planning. While the Park District will continue with the planning effort, the addition of a 5-12 playground is not currently budgeted in the Park District’s capital plan.
This change of direction will impact improvements scheduled for 2023. The tot lot, repaving of the path, and the patch/color of the basketball court planned for 2023 will be deferred to a future year and incorporated into the new plan.
The Park District will continue to follow the School District’s plans to coordinate efforts. Project updates will be posted to this web page.
Please direct questions and comments to planning@pdhp.org.
The Park District of Highland Park is hosting listening sessions at Lincoln Park to collect feedback for the playground replacement.
Please stop by during one of the following times to share your thoughts!
• Friday, April 28 from 9:30-11am
• Wednesday, May 3 from 10-11:30am
• Tuesday, May 9 from 4:30-6pm
• Friday, May 12 from 2:30-4pm
There are no plans to remove trees at this time.
The Park District is considering Pour-In-Place Surfacing
Renovations will occur next year (2024) at the earliest.
See the survey results from the preliminary playground planning survey here.
We will be at Old Elm Park on Friday, July 7 from 1-3pm to collect your feedback on the playground renovation.
The Park District of Highland Park would like to hear from you!
There will be several opportunities for the community to participate in the design process and the first is the Old Elm Playground Preliminary Planning survey. Follow this link to share your feedback in this brief survey.
