Tue, Sept 3 – Centennial Ice Arena Update: Over the next two weeks, contractors will work in the Centennial Ice Arena parking lot to correct a construction error on the west side ADA parking spaces. The building, turn-around, the remainder of the parking lot including the two ADA parking spaces on the south side of the lot remain open during construction.

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Lincoln Park Improvements Project
Lincoln Park Improvements Project
Location
1280 Green Bay Road
Target Start Date
Summer 2025
Target End Date
Fall 2025

Exciting improvements are coming to Lincoln Park! In 2023, Lincoln Park’s tot lot playground was originally scheduled for replacement along with an update to the park’s path and recoloring of the basketball court. Though, through engagement efforts, the Park District heard concerns over the loss of Lincoln School’s recreational amenities, primarily the elementary playground.

In response, the Park District developed a conceptual plan to address the concerns of the community and applied for grant funding to support the project. The Park District was awarded $528,500 through the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant program for improvements to Lincoln Park. With the OSLAD grant funding, the Park District will be able to adjust the park layout to accommodate an elementary playground, increase basketball court space, and address critical updates to Lincoln Park’s existing amenities.

Scroll down to learn how you can get involved and to review the park concept and project details.

Join the Conversation!

Upcoming Engagement Opportunities

On Tuesday, September 17, the Park District is hosting a Community Open House at Edgewood Middle School (Auditorium, 929 Edgewood Rd.). Please join us anytime between 5-7pm to learn about the project, review refined playground concept designs, and provide feedback!

There will be no formal presentation. Boards with the refined playground concept design options will be shown, and the project manager will be there to answer any questions.

If you can’t make it, a survey will be launched the following day to collect votes on your preferred design.

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Project Details & Concept Plan

Process
Target Start
Target End
Design
June 2024
September 2024
Bid/Award
October 2024
December 2024
Construction
July 2025
September 2025
Project FAQs
Learn more about frequently asked questions about this project.
Contact Us
For additional comments, questions and feedback, please complete the form below.

Project Updates

Stay Up to Date on the Latest Renovations

February 1, 2024

The Results Are In!

Thank you to everyone who provided playground equipment feedback through the online survey and visits to the park.

Through this effort, the Park District heard from more than 60 people at the park and 69 survey respondents. Your feedback will be used to refine the playground design options.

In September, the refined options will be shared, and the community will have the opportunity to select their favorite playground design.

See the survey results here.

February 1, 2024
February 1, 2024

June Community Engagement Opportunities at Lincoln Park

The Planning and Projects team was at Lincoln Park on the following dates to share playground equipment options and collect feedback:

• Thursday, June 6, from 3:30-5:30pm
• Monday, June 10, from 9-11am
• Tuesday, June 18, from 5-7pm

Thank you to everyone who visited the park to share your feedback on the playground equipment! Your feedback will be used to refine the playground design options.

If you didn’t get a chance to stop by the park, or have more to say, please take the online survey before it closes on July 8.

February 1, 2024
February 1, 2024

The Park District of Highland Park was awarded $528,500 through the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant program administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for improvements to Lincoln Park. The OSLAD grant is a state-funded program providing up to 50% of the project costs for public park and recreation projects.

Design will begin this summer and the community will have various opportunities to participate in the design process. Construction is expected to begin in summer of 2025.

February 1, 2024
September 15, 2023

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 an elementary 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.

September 15, 2023
August 16, 2024

Thank you to everyone who attended the August 15 community meeting. Your feedback will be used to guide the concept design to submit in the Park District’s grant application.

Click here to see the presentation.

August 16, 2024
August 7, 2023

You’re Invited!

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 elementary playground due to the approved agreement to sell Lincoln School. Two design options have been developed that reconsider Lincoln Park with the addition of an elementary playground.

Feedback collected at this meeting will be used to assist in securing grant funding and to support adding an elementary 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.

August 7, 2023
June 23, 2023

We heard you!

The Park District heard the neighborhood’s concerns over losing an elementary 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 an elementary play space. The comments and data collected through the survey will be integrated into the plans for the improved tot lot 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 an elementary 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 [email protected].

June 23, 2023
April 26, 2023

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

April 26, 2023