West Ridge Center, a former Highland Park elementary school site, is an aging building that needs extensive renovation, and its configuration no longer meets the needs of the Park District. Due to the building’s age, condition, functionality, and aging infrastructure, the Park District’s Master Plan, GreenPrint2024, recommended replacement of the building.
In 2019 the Park District conducted a GreenPrint 2024 Review and Amendment, which expressed the need for a multi-purpose facility as well as the need to address West Ridge Center to provide flexible programming space to better serve the community with youth and adult programming, and an opportunity for a gymnastics studio.
The Park District started the design process for a new community center at West Ridge Park to replace the existing West Ridge Center in 2022. The plan to build new on the southeast section of West Ridge Park is supported by a preliminary planning assessment completed in 2023.
In 2024, the Park District of Highland Park was awarded $1.4 million through the Park and Recreational Facilities Construction (PARC) grant program administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to support elements this project including a gymnastics gym, multi-functional dance room, and youth enrichment space. The PARC grant program provides funding for park and recreation facility construction projects.
Here’s a bird’s-eye view of the foundation and piers framed and poured. From this vantage point you can see the shape of the new building. This is the last chance to see the full footprint of the building before it’s backfilled and hidden from view. Structural steel is expected to be delivered early June.
The construction team is busy working on the foundation for the new West Ridge Center building. Crews continue working on framing and pouring concrete for the footings, foundations, and piers.
In June, a crane will arrive on site to erect the structural steel.
Check out the cement truck in action!
Demolition of the baseball field is complete and site grading is ongoing.
Next week, crews will begin excavation and framing for the new building foundation. Excavation and framing work will continue through early May.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 1, the south parking lot will be closed through mid-day for restriping.
The new parking lot striping will better accommodate the temporary parking configuration through construction. Cars should enter and exit from the north side of the lot. View the new configuration below (click to enlarge). 
Site grading is expected to begin later this week once demolition is complete.
This morning, contractors removed the athletic field light poles and the backstop.
Check out the video!
Thank you for your patience as we get started with construction at West Ridge Park. On Wednesday, March 26, the south portion of the south parking will be closed, and traffic will be limited to construction vehicles only.
Patrons must enter and exit from the north side of the lot. Once the weather allows, the lot will be restriped for the new configuration.
In the meantime, please be patient and pay attention to the signage guiding the temporary traffic flow.
The construction trailer was delivered this week and the fence line was laid out with stakes. The construction fence installation has been rescheduled to next week. Contractors will continue mobilization efforts in preparation for construction, including installation of tree protection fencing and erosion control measures.
In the coming weeks, the Park District will implement a new parking flow for the south lot. The Park District will post an update announcing the adjusted traffic flow for the south lot in addition to directional signage. In the meantime check out the construction map for an idea of where the fencing and patron parking will be.
Thank you for your patience as the project transitions into the construction phase.
Next Week (March 10-14):
Construction fencing is expected to be installed. Parking in the south lot will remain as-is through the end of next week.
In the coming weeks, the Park District will implement a new parking flow for the south lot. The Park District will post an update announcing the adjusted traffic flow for the south lot in addition to directional signage. In the meantime check out the construction map for an idea of where the fencing and patron parking will be.
Thank you for your patience as the project transitions into the construction phase.
The Park District of Highland Park is excited to announce that on January 15, the Park Board of Commissioners approved construction for a new recreation facility at West Ridge Park. Construction is scheduled to begin in March.
Read the Community Announcement shared with the Park District email database and learn what to expect during construction.
On Wednesday evening, the Park District took a big step toward- implementing the New Recreation Facility at West Ridge Park.
The Park Board of Commissioners took action at the Park Board Meeting on January 15, 2025, to approve the contract amendment and guarantee the maximum price to construct the New Recreation Facility at West Ridge Park. This action provides the green light for the Construction Manager to award contracts. Over the next few weeks, the Park District will work closely with the project team to validate the construction schedule. Construction is expected to begin in March. More detailed information will go out in early February with schedule information and what to expect. There is no change to ongoing programs at West Ridge Center.
Over the last month, the project team has been busy reviewing the bids received for the New Recreation Facility at West Ridge Park Project. Bids will be reviewed by the Park Board in January. If awarded, construction could start as early as March 2025. Programs at West Ridge Center will continue uninterrupted through 2025. More information will go out to the community and program participants in early February. Construction of the new facility is anticipated to be completed by Spring 2026. Please check out the FAQ page for more information.
The project is out to bid! Bids will be accepted through Thursday, November 14 at 11am. View more information on the Bid.
What is next?
The Park Board of Commissioners will review bids in December.
Details regarding the construction schedule will be released in early 2025.
Construction of the new facility is anticipated to begin in March 2025 and be completed by Spring 2026.
After the community meetings in May, the Park District shared the same exhibits with the City Plan and Design Commission and went through the City approval process which reviews the project with particular attention to the exterior appearance of the building and zoning.
On Monday, July 29, the City of Highland Park City Council approved a special use permit and zoning map amendment for the new recreation facility at West Ridge Park project. This approval follows the design review approval from the Plan and Design Commission on July 16.
The Park District is concluding the design phase for the building and related site work and is on track to bid and award the construction contract by the end of the year. Design for the athletic fields and park elements will conclude design in 2025.
Thank you again for the those that provided feedback in May and attended public hearings as part of the City approval process. Your feedback is used to inform design and operations.
Below is a summary of the reoccurring comments heard.
• We heard from many of you who are excited and appreciate the project to address the West Ridge Center
• We heard an interest in adult programing.
• We heard positive feedback on the updated drop – off loop
• We heard an interest in views from neighbors
• We heard that there is a concern about the drainage in the fields
On Thursday, May 30, the Park District hosted a community open house to share schematic design plans for the new recreation facility and site improvements project at West Ridge Park.
We want to extend our thanks to the 20 community members who joined us and provided valuable feedback that will help in the continued development of the design.
If you have any questions and/or comments, please contact [email protected].
There will be a public hearing at City Hall at the June 18th City of Highland Park Plan and Design Commission meeting.
Click here to view the plans shared at the May meetings.
On Thursday, May 23, the Park District hosted a meeting with the direct neighbors of West Ridge Park to discuss the new recreation facility and site improvements project, and to review schematic designs.
We want to extend our thanks to the 20+ neighbors who joined us and provided valuable feedback that will help in the continued development of the design.
If you were unable to attend, there will be another community meeting this Thursday, May 30, between 5-7pm. The plans shared at the May meetings will be posted on the website on May 31.
This week, the Park Board of Commissioners reached consensus on a refined schematic design for a new recreation facility and site improvements at West Ridge Park. The schematic design plans are within the District’s budget and prioritize recreation programs that support community needs and interest. The schematic design for the new recreation facility and site improvements at West Ridge Park will be shared with the community at two upcoming meetings. See above for up-to-date meeting information.
Park District staff shared a progress update at the April Facility and Recreation Committee meeting on April 10, 2024.
Park Board Commissioners provided feedback and requested additional information from the design consultants. They also asked to postpone the project’s community meetings until this information is provided.
In March 2024, the Park District of Highland Park began hosting internal stakeholder meetings to collect feedback to influence the schematic designs.
In January 2024, the Park District of Highland Park was awarded $1.4 million in PARC grant funding from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
The Park District of Highland Park submitted a grant application requesting $2.8 million from the Illinois Department of Natural Resource’s Park and Recreational Facilities Construction (PARC) grant program to help fund the New Community Center at West Ridge Park.
On May 6, 2023, the Park District of Highland Park held a Community Open House to share preliminary concept plans with the community to collect cares and concerns about the proposed project.
In early 2022, Holabird and Root was hired by the Park District to study options (renovate or build new) for West Ridge Center.
In June, a Preliminary Planning Study was completed for West Ridge, recommending building a new facility on the southeast portion of West Ridge Park, and demolishing the existing building once construction is complete. See the results here.
