As a small token of our gratitude, all active, retired, and veteran servicemen and women and their immediate families residing in the same household* are invited to enjoy the following on Monday, November 11:
Thank you for your service!
*Military ID required.
Please Note: All Park District facilities are open for normal business hours on Veterans Day.
At the Park District of Highland Park, you will always receive resident rates plus an additional 15% discount on programs, memberships, and daily fees. Register in person with proof of active service to receive the reduced rate.
And sometimes we have to wait a bit longer than expected.
Construction has been underway for the Park District’s newest facility, Club Pickle & Padel, designed as the largest facility of its kind on the North Shore. Construction updates will continue to be posted on our website. We planned to open Club Pickle & Padel in time for our residents and local enthusiasts to seamlessly transition outdoor play to the new indoor, climate-controlled facility with state-of-the-art courts this winter. With the unpredictability of Chicago winters, our contractors have indicated that the safest and most practical way to complete the dome installation is to wait until we have favorable weather conditions in Spring 2025.
As you can imagine, erecting a 50,000-square-foot dome is no easy task. Not only will this extraordinary new facility include new mechanicals for heating and air conditioning, but it will also have the welcoming amenities you would expect, such as well-appointed bathrooms and showers, a pro shop, a lounge, and, of course, safety and security measures consistent with the Park District’s standard of care.
We know that the wait will be worth it, and once Club Pickle & Padel opens to our community, we know you’ll agree. We’ve taken great care to consult with pickleball and padel experts and have focused on the details that make a big difference to players: the court layout, the colors, the lighting—everything that impacts the game – creating a destination where area residents and players of all ages and abilities will feel welcome. You can read more about the Club on the Park District website.
In the meantime, the Park District continues to offer great indoor pickleball options at Deer Creek Racquet Club, including leagues, drills, clinics, private lessons, and court reservations. Indoor open play is also available at the Recreation Center of Highland Park. New pickleball opportunities will be announced in the coming months that you won’t want to miss.
We will keep you informed every step of the way, and we look forward to welcoming you all to the new Club Pickle & Padel in 2025.
Winter is Coming!
The Park District endeavors to keep our facilities and programs operating whenever possible. There are times, however, when weather, road conditions, or facility malfunctions dictate that programs and/or services must be cancelled or temporarily postponed or entire facilities closed.
In order to provide employees and patrons with a safe and secure environment in which to work and play, the Park District reserves the right to close a particular facility or cancel a program using the following criteria:
Because weather, including air quality and road conditions, can change dramatically as the day progresses, the Park District will monitor weather conditions and announce closing updates throughout the day. Communication regarding any weather-related closings and updates will be posted on the homepage of this website and the Park District Facebook page. Email updates are sent to customers who have subscribed to the Park District email list.
This past weekend was an incredible one for our Deer Creek Racquet Club youth tennis players! We’re excited to share the achievements of six of our talented athletes who each brought home tournament victories. Their hard work, dedication, and passion has paid off and we couldn’t be more proud!
Each of these athletes put in countless hours of practice, showing resilience and focus both on and off the court. It’s exciting to see them excel and grow into confident players who are making their mark in the tennis world.
We’re looking forward to seeing where their tennis journeys take them next and to cheer them on every step of the way. Be sure to congratulate these champions when you see them around the club. They’ve earned it!
10U Blue Claims the championship with a dominant fall finish! Our 10U Blue Baseball team capped off an incredible 2024 season by securing the fall championship with a commanding 7-1 victory over Deerfield in the final game. Finishing the calendar year with an impressive 27-15-1 record, the team went undefeated in the fall season, boasting a perfect 10-0 run.
The road to the championship was full of excitement and nail-biting moments. In the first round of the playoffs, 10U Blue faced the New Trier Bulldogs in a thrilling extra-innings battle, pulling off a 9-8 victory. They then moved on to the semi-finals, where they edged out the Lincolnshire Lightning with a solid 5-3 win.
The championship game against Deerfield was the final highlight of their remarkable season. 10U Blue delivered a 7-1 victory, claiming the title and cementing their dominance in the fall league.
This team’s perseverance, teamwork, and determination throughout the season were truly inspiring. Congratulations to the players and coaches on a well-deserved championship!
The Recreation Center of Highland Park will be closed from Thursday, October 31, to Friday, November 1, to facilitate the electrical work required for the City’s Senior Center Project.
To ensure our valued members can maintain their regular fitness routines, our staff has arranged for FREE access to several area Park Districts’ fitness facilities during the two-day closure.
By Melanie O’Brien, Restoration Technician with our Natural Areas Department
When you think of natural areas, you might picture rolling prairies or peaceful woodlands. But did you know that right by our playgrounds and picnic spots, there’s a simpler kind of natural area? It’s called a no-mow zone!
Just as it sounds, a no-mow zone is an area where we let nature take the lead and stop mowing. This is the first step towards turning what used to be a neat, controlled patch of grass into a thriving natural space. It’s a conservation method used by everyone—from homeowners to the National Parks Service—and it’s something we’re embracing right here at the Park District! Some of our no-mow zones are well along in their transformation, while others are just getting started. So, why are we doing this?
The benefits range from the environmental to the economical. Reducing mowing areas will reduce fuel cost and consumption, as well as noise and air pollution. Areas of mature, diverse natural plant growth more efficiently retain excess water and prevent erosion. The presence of native plants offers important habitat and food sources for pollinators, birds, small mammals, and reptiles.
No-mow zones also protect some of our most cherished natural features. Take Sunset Woods Park, for example—8 of its 38 acres are a designated natural area of closed mesic savannah. In the midst of the playgrounds and trails, you’ll find over 200 native trees: white oak, swamp white oak, red oak, hickories, and sugar maples, to name a few. You might have noticed groupings of these trees growing within areas of tall grass and wildflowers. These trees benefit from the no-mow zones, which protect their bark and roots from mower damage. Repeated exposure of the vulnerable living tissue normally protected by a tree’s tough outer bark can leave a tree stressed and susceptible to a variety of diseases and pests. Be on the lookout—as part of the ongoing effort to preserve the health of Sunset’s trees, additional and expanded no-mow zones will be appearing soon!
At Larry Fink Memorial Park, you’ll see a mature example of a no-mow zone. Enveloping a playground and basketball court, a variety of native wildflowers, grasses, sedges and rushes have flourished. Among the tall goldenrod, you’ll discover unique native Illinois species—some you might recognize, and some you might not! Here, the pink heads of swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) nod below the tufted flowerheads of false boneset (Brickellia eupatorioides). Grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia) and sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) add to the yellow expanse, while blue vervain (Verbena hastata) contributes some much-needed violet to the mix. Established in 2018 by Natural Areas staff and volunteers, assisted by native seeding, plugs, and the occasional invasive species removal, the Fink no-mow is well underway.
Back north, the process begins again at Sleepy Hollow Park. Right now, you’ll only see small flags marking the area. But over time, a portion of Sleepy Hollow’s two acres of flatwoods will gradually expand, adding even more beauty and diversity to this small, 14-acre park.
The best part? You don’t have to travel far to witness these transformations—they’re happening right here in our own backyard!
You never know what winged friends you’ll find at the Preserve of Highland Park! On this episode of Wild Insights, grab your binoculars and join Mark on a birding adventure.
The Park Board of Commissioners approved the 2024 Pickle and Padel Club Bid, the 2024 Sunset Woods Improvements Bid, and Resolution #2024-01: Authorizing the sale of Real Estate Property and Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Highland Park and the Highland Park Public Library.
Staff provided a sponsorship update for Club Pickle and Padel, reviewed the marketing campaign to promote the new facility and memberships, and provided an overview of the Registration Platform, new Website, and APP.
The Park District of Highland Park received two unsolicited proposals for Community Solar. Community Solar is a recently created program that allows Illinois small businesses and organizations to participate in savings with Community Solar. Representatives from Pivot/SunCentral LLC reviewed the Solar Subscription Agreement proposal.
The Park Board of Commissioners approved the OSLAD Grant Resolution Authorization, allowing the Park District of Highland Park to apply for funding assistance for the Reimagining West Ridge Park for All project.
The Park Board of Commissioners declined the 2024 Padel Court Purchase and Installation Bid so staff can update the bid specs and reissue the bid.
Staff provided construction updates for the New Facility and Site Improvements at West Ridge Park, Club Pickle and Padel Facility project, the Recreation Center of Highland Park Construction projects, the Jeff Fox Baseball Field Improvements project, Deer Creek Racquet Club Locker Room Improvements project, the Danny Cunniff Playground Resurfacing and Fencing project, the Port Clinton and Old Elm Playground Improvements project, the Lincoln Park Playground Replacement Design Concepts, and the Larry Fink Memorial Park Playground Replacement Design Concepts.
Staff reviewed the Five-Year Capital Plan going through each line item by Parks and Facilities and reviewed the Ten-Year Funding Model.
The Human Resources Department is revising the current Employee Handbook. To begin review of employee policies, the Human Resources Department is providing those that are most impactful to 2025 budget planning and 2025 annual employee benefits programs. Staff reviewed proposed revisions to policies impacting the employee benefits programs, general employment, and introduction.
The Park Board of Commissioners approved 2024 Sunset Woods Improvements Project Change Order #1, the Illinois Community Solar Subscription Agreement by Pivot/SunCentral LLC, and the 2024 Padel Court Purchase and Installation Re-Bid.
Holabird and Root presented a draft of the Interior Renderings and Finishes for the New Recreation Facility at West Ridge Park.
Staff provided the end of season summer camp report highlighting 2024 and 2025 goals and compared the 2023 to 2024 season structure, enrollment, and revenue.
The City of Highland Park begins Phase 2 of the Recreation Center parking lot project on Monday, October 7. This new construction phase will focus on the west lot, the building turn-around drive, and the west ADA parking area.
As a result, there will be changes to the parking lot exits and entrances and alterations to the parking configuration (see map below):
The Recreation Center will remain open during Phase 2 construction. The City’s estimated completion date is the beginning of November. Thank you for your patience and understanding while the City completes this important project.