This goal looks both internally at the District’s workforce and externally at the District’s community outreach and impact.
Initiatives to create a community sustainability identity are highlighted below.
In sharing our appreciation for the natural world with the community, the Park District offers a variety of programs and events that are related to or geared towards sustainability and the environment. The District has also created a guide for sustainability themed events and programs for the recreation staff to pull ideas from.
Check out featured programs on the Sustainability Page to learn more about upcoming events.
Not only does Heller Nature Center offer a variety of programs and events where you learn and connect with the natural world, but the site offers a 2.5 mile trail system to explore Heller’s grounds.
Check out the Wild Insights videos created by Heller Staff to learn more about nature in Highland Park and stay up to date on all Heller news by signing up for their Notes From the Trail newsletter.
Each year the Park District celebrates earth day by hosting a natural areas volunteer work day, to help nurture and care for our environment. In 2025, the Natural Areas Team led a workday at The Preserve of Highland Park. Volunteers focused on removing invasive species, specifically Buckthorn.
In 2025, Heller Nature Center also hosted Earth Day celebration for families. Participants were able to visit a variety of activity stations with green components, including crafting cloth bags, spreading wild seeds, learning about composting, and practicing mindfulness in nature.
As part of the GreenPath release, the Park District’s sustainability page was redesigned to better highlight some of the District’s sustainability initiatives, goals, and accomplishments.
When developing the District’s GreenPath plan, the creation of brand was identified as an objective to help support the goal of cultivating a sustainability identity.
Watch GreenPath blossom and keep an eye out for the GreenPath logo and badges, as they will start to pop up at parks, facilities, and on digital content.
Badges were created to help identify GreenPath initiatives and events.
Events featuring sustainability components will be marked with the event badge.
Initiatives that are part of GreenPath will also be marked with badges to highlight the District’s sustainability efforts.
At several of the District’s parks you will find informational signage highlighting the benefits of varying natural areas.
Interpretive signage can be found at Heller Nature Center, The Preserve of Highland Park, Rosewood Beach, Sunset Park, Millard Park & Beach, and Larry Fink Memorial Park.
The Park District installed EV charging stations for patrons at Sunset Valley Golf Club in 2018 and at Centennial Ice Arena in 2023.
Coming Soon – Two additional EV charging stations will be installed in the parking lot at the New Recreation Facility at West Ridge Park.
Little Riders, Big Impact – the District’s Safety Village program is a great opportunity to teach kids about bike safety and supports active transportation from a young age.
Walkability and connectivity are considerations when the Park District is renovating or developing a park. Active transportation is supported by installing the necessary infrastructure, like bike racks, at facilities, and developed parks.
Connectivity is important for active transportation – the Park District was a contributing member to the City of Highland Park’s MoveHP Plan. MoveHP outlines improvements to support Highland Park in serving as a bicycle-friendly and pedestrian-friendly community. Highland Park has been designated as a Bronze-Level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists since 2018.
On May 4, 2025 the Park District hosted Empire Bike Back, a family bike event. The Park District partnered with the City of Highland Park Police Department and Fit2Ride, and the event was supported by the Active Transportation Alliance’s Bike Month program.
To kick off Screen-Free Week, participants gathered to decorate their bikes, receive a tune-up check from Fit2Ride and talk to the Police about safety before joining a 1-mile loop neighborhood ride from Wayne Thomas.
The Park District recently updated the Sustainable Rental/Event guide for tips on hosting a more sustainable event. Access the guide here.
The Park District of Highland Park, alongside more than 200 organizations are working together to promote “Leave No Child Inside” – a movement promoting children’s health through outdoor play and exploration. Heller Nature Center spearheads this effort.
