Staff recommended renaming the Recreation Center of Highland Park to Park Fitness to better promote the brand and all the amenities and programs the facility has to offer. The presentation was to gather feedback from the Board Committee liaisons.
Architects Holabird and Root reviewed the updated schematic layout for the new community center at West Ridge Park and the site changes.
PMA Securities, LLC, recommended the Park District sell General Obligation Limited Tax Park Bonds this year, and hold a public hearing on April 24, 2024, concerning the intent of the Board of Park Commissioners to sell $7,000,000 General Obligation Limited Tax Park Bonds.
Staff reviewed the Park Site Plan Initiative Report, which documents the findings and possible recommendations which will inform capital and operational planning.
Staff presented the process proposal for review of the personnel policy manual.
Staff provided construction project updates for the Lat 3 Paddle Facility project, Sunset Valley Club House project, Larry Fink Memorial Park Baseball Field Improvement project, Park Avenue Boating Facility North Beach Improvements project, Sunset Woods Park Improvements project, and Park Avenue Boating Facility South Parking Lot Restoration project.
PMA Securities, LLC, provided an arbitrage overview and the Park District’s project draw schedule for 2024 bonds and the spend down requirements over a 24month period.
Staff provided a quarterly financial report for Centennial Ice Arena comparing budgeted vs actual revenues and participation figures.
Staff provided a five-year financial analysis report comparing budgeted vs operational and programming revenues and expenses.
Staff reviewed the bid results for the 2024 Sports Courts Improvements project. It was the consensus of the Finance Committee to place the Base Bid Item 2 from US Tennis Court Construction Company for the 2024 Sport Courts Improvement Project and authorize the Executive Director to enter into an agreement in the amount of $34,465.
Staff reviewed the Playground Replacement Bid and the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for Playground Equipment at Old Elm Park and Port Clinton Park.
The District is looking at purchasing one (1) John Deere 2700 E Cut Hybrid Triplex Mower and one (1) Toro Groundsmaster 3500-D. There is $108,500 budgeted for this expense. It was the consensus of the Finance Committee to place the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for Golf Maintenance Equipment on the consent agenda at the April 24, 204 Regular Meeting.
Staff reviewed the proposed parking lot improvements for Deer Creek Racquet Club and Jeff Fox Field.
The South Parking Lot Restoration project at Park Avenue Boating Facility will not commence until the winter or early spring of 2025 due to piping challenges from the North Shore Water Reclamation Center.
Lamar Johnson Collaborative reviewed community feedback for the Sunset Woods Park Improvements project. Another community meeting will be held in May to review proposed concepts for the skate and wheeled plaza and game and multi-use court area.
A public hearing was held concerning the intent of the board of park commissioners to sell $7,000,000 general obligation limited tax park bonds for the payment of land condemned or purchased for parks, for the building, maintain, improving and protecting of the same and the existing land and facilities of the District and for the payment of the expenses incident thereto.
The Park Board of Commissioners approved 2024 Sport Courts Improvement Project Bid, the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for Golf Maintenance Equipment, Authorization for Park District of Highland Park to Enroll in and Purchase from Cooperative Purchasing Program OMNIA Partners, Ordinance 2024-05: Authorizing and Providing for the Conveyance or Sale of Surplus Personal Property, the 2024 Old Elm and Port Clinton Playground Replacement bid, and the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Contract for Playground Equipment.
Staff received consensus from the Park Board of Commissioners to allow the recommended new name for the Recreation Center of Highland Park to wait for a sixty-day period, as required by Section 4.02.2 of the Park District of Highland Park Policy & Procedure Manual, and a vote be taken to re-name the Recreation Center of Highland Park to Park Fitness at the June 26, 2024 Regular Meeting of the Park Board.
Architects Holabird and Root presented the schematic design for the proposed new building that is based on a schematic budget prepared by WB Olson and a variety of alternate scope additions that do not fall within the Park District’s funding, however, those alternates can be contemplated by staff and the Park Board when competitive bids are received for construction, as well as considered for future construction, if and when funding becomes available.
Staff provided an annual report on athletic programming comparing budgeted vs actual revenues and expenses.
The world can feel so isolating nowadays. Everyone is always on their phone. Working remotely. Everything, down to groceries, is delivered right to our doorstep. What does that mean for our mental well-being?
Humans are social creatures by nature, and social connectedness is crucial to our mental and physical health. Studies going back more than 20 years have shown the positive effects of being connected to a community of any size, and how that results in living a longer, happier life.
And yet, loneliness and social isolation are on the rise.
According to an AARP Research study: “About one-third of U.S. adults age 45 and older report feeling lonely — and the number is growing.” 1 The same study shows that just getting to know one’s neighbors can help reduce loneliness: Nearly twice as many midlife and older adults who have never spoken to their neighbors reported feeling lonely.
So, where can you organically meet people in your community?
Well, as we say: in a park, of course.
The Park District is, in many ways, the beating heart of a community. It’s where connections are formed. We have Park District classes, programs, and events designed to bring people together and form a community no matter what your age or interest. Our after-school programs are a great way that kids from twos to teens meet up and make friends who enjoy the same fun activities, from archery to computer coding to stories around a campfire. Our summer camps offer dozens of ways for kids and teens to connect and bond over sports, nature, gymnastics, art, music, theater, and dance. Each of these camps is a community: a safe space for kids to learn, grow, and create those lifelong friendships. Many of our campers stay with us for years, take their life skills back into their schools, and continue on with us as counselors. It’s an important way that our Park District community grows.
When it comes to fostering friendships, our programs are a great place to start. But these social connections don’t just form in a class that you register for. It’s a group of moms chatting in the hallway as they pick up their children from ParkSchool. Or the parents who end up spending every weekend together watching their kids play baseball. The dog owners who strike up a conversation at the dog park. These spontaneous, organic moments of connection are the true magic of the park district. Down the hall, on the trail, or in the park, there might be a stranger who, in a matter of time, will become a lifelong friend.
1 Loneliness and Social Connections: A National Survey of Adults 45 and Older
Over the next two weeks, high school environmental science students will assist our natural areas department in releasing fish into our ravine streams. The annual release is part of our partnership with the Trout in the Classroom project, allowing students to raise rainbow trout in their classroom and then release the fish into Lake Michigan. We hope that these fish will return in a few years to spawn in our ravines. If they do, that will indicate that the ravines are a healthy habitat for local wildlife.
The fish release is just one of the many responsibilities of the Park District Natural Areas Department. They manage more than 350 acres of prairie, woodlands, ravines, and wetlands, providing residents with more than just open space. They are places for wonder, learning and emerging science. Few towns host ten distinct natural habitats, ranging from the cool-water ravines of the Lake Michigan shore to rare Northern Flatwood communities to the Sedge Meadows of Skokie Valley, each with its distinct community of wildflowers, wildlife, trees and shrubs. In community parks such as Fink and Cunniff, we use native plants in rain gardens, on shorelines, and in ponds to provide beauty, help manage flooding, and control erosion. The Natural Areas team is also an active participant in Great Lakes research projects with scientists from the Shedd Aquarium and work with Highland Park High School and District 112. Students visit our ravine streams to learn about watershed ecology, water monitoring practices, macroinvertebrates, and fish studies. Our outreach programs foster a sense of stewardship for our natural areas, ravines, and lake in our community.
Learn more about our Natural Areas Department.
Turn off your screen and turn on LIFE! Screen Break Week is celebrated every year in the first week of May. This week, celebrated all over the world, is an invitation for everyone — children, adults, and entire communities — to switch off completely from staring at screens and take a well-deserved break. We are offering a variety of events this week.
All events are free but registration is required.
Swing into Spring: Intro to Baseball Hitting at West Ridge outside on the Athletic Field for ages 5+ (must be accompanied by an adult)
Location: West Ridge Center (636 Ridge Road)
Stories and Savasana in the Park at West Ridge’s playground for ages 3+ (must be accompanied by an adult): Join author Arianna Brooks for sweet stories, stretches, and savasana in our park! Don’t forget a towel!
Location: West Ridge Center (636 Ridge Road)
Stories in the woods at Heller Nature Center for ages 6mo- 6 years (must be accompanied by an adult): Enjoy an interactive story with a Naturalist at Heller Nature Center. Bring the story to life on a short hike within our spring forest and partake in nature activities.
Location: Heller Nature Center (2821 Ridge Road)
Cards for Kindness at West Ridge Center for ages 5+: Join us for Cards for Kindness, where kids craft heartfelt cards for seniors at Arbor Terrace in Highland Park.
Location: West Ridge Center (636 Ridge Road)
Mini golf at Highland Park’s Rivers Edge for ages 5+ (must be accompanied by an adult): Bring your enthusiasm and join us for a memorable day of laughter, camaraderie, and a “hole” lot of fun! Two different start times are being offered.
Location: River’s Edge Mini Golf (2205 Skokie Valley Road)
Open Swim at the Recreation Center for all ages. Put on your swimsuits, and dive into some Aquatic fun!
Location: Recreation Center of Highland Park (1207 Park Avenue West)
Natural Areas Program Volunteer Workdays are held every Friday morning from 9am-noon. Winter work activities currently include the eradication of woody invasive species by cutting and burning.
Interested volunteers, please contact Liz at [email protected].
Location: The Preserve of Highland Park (1207 Park Ave West)
Chalk-a-Palooza at Sunset Woods for all ages. Unleash your colorful creativity on Sunset’s sidewalk canvas! (ages 2-8 must be accompanied by an adult).
Location: Sunset Woods Park (1801 Sunset Road)
Shoot some hoops at the Recreation Center of Highland Park! Ages 8+ with an adult.
Location: Recreation Center of Highland Park (1207 Park Avenue West)
Hike with a Naturalist at Heller Nature Center for all ages. Find the beauty in spring with a guided hike from a Heller Naturalist. Discover spring ephemerals, bird calls, and more as the forest re-awakens during spring.
Location: Heller Nature Center (2821 Ridge Road)
Join us for our annual Chicago River Day volunteer workday. Activities will include trash pick-up, planting and seeding. During the clean-up, we will have Park District of Highland Park kite tails to decorate. Bring your own kite for some soaring fun!
Location: The Preserve of Highland Park (1207 Park Ave West)
‘The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.’ –Pablo Picasso
‘It takes a big heart to help shape little minds.’–Unknown
Ginny Schwalbach has been the heart and soul of the Early Childhood programs at the Park District of Highland Park for 39 years. It’s been an extraordinary career. One that had a modest start. One that has produced monumental changes along the way. Ginny is retiring this June, and we already know things will never be quite the same in the classrooms and the halls at West Ridge Center. As you can imagine, the stories from a career that spans generations could fill a book. We hope she writes one! For now, we’ll do our best to tell you a bit about how the wonderful Miss Ginny has enriched the lives of thousands of Highland Park families and kids, and touched all of us who have worked with her.
In 1985, Ginny was a successful businesswoman, with a degree in Finance (and a minor in Child Psychology that would shortly become invaluable), who had worked for the past year as the branch manager of a bank in the suburbs. “I didn’t like one second of it,” she said, matter of factly. And now, she and her husband had a 1-year-old son who she wanted to spend time with more than almost anything. “I opened the Highland Park Review one day and saw an ad in big, bold letters: ‘Bring Your Child, Come to Work With Us’.” That might be the best ad the Park District has ever run. She “answered the ad” (what a lovely, quaint phrase), and was hired as a babysitter. “My son came to work with me every day, we had friends, we played. I got paid to do that. It was perfect!” When her daughter was born, she also came to work with Ginny every day. “I stayed with the program, and she was able to grow at the Park District.”
When her son was 4 or 5, Ginny said to her boss, “My son loves the sports and athletics programs here, but he would really love science and dinosaurs and volcanoes and explosions, too.” Don Kappal said simply: “Do a write-up for the brochure.” She remembers, “I wasn’t really thinking it would be me who would teach the class!” Happily, for her and for us, the proposal was accepted. “The concept of something academic just took off immediately,” she said, and it’s been going strong ever since. Many of you got to know her when you were a kid in that class. Curiosity Club was the first one she developed. Somewhere along the way she became Miss Ginny. And we became a better Park District.
One class expanded to other classes, with more wonderful teachers. “It all came together. My kids could be with me, I was working in the town I grew up in, and I loved what I was doing.”
Miss Ginny taught 2-year, 3-year, and 4-year-old classes – all individual classes – but the bulk of what she did was Kindergarten. Back then, the Highland Park schools only offered half-day Kindergarten, so kids came to the park district’s enrichment programs in the morning, went to Kindergarten in the afternoon, and vice versa. The most popular class was Curiosity Club, where
every week had a different Science theme. Then she developed Number Nonsense, another academically based class, but with a Math theme. “The kids earned Crazy Cash during class, and could then go ‘shopping’ in the little toy store we had.” These days, her students don’t know as much about cash and cash registers. They do know about Gift Cards! “It’s their thing, now.”
In 2016, Highland Park schools finally offered full-day Kindergarten, which was a game-changer for the park district. Half-day Kindergarten was no longer the answer for parents, and Ginny knew she had to reinvent the program. “We had great teachers who were well established in their 2, 3, and 4-year-old classes. I certainly didn’t want to change that structure or infringe on what they all were doing so well.” There was, however, an important area the district was not fully addressing. Ginny moved into after-school programming and created another sensational class: Invention Convention. Amanda Geoffrion, the district’s Recreation Supervisor-Early Childhood Enrichment, wrote recently, “Creating, developing, and nurturing new programs to meet the needs of our community and serve our youngest population is work that has fueled Ginny and continues to energize her to this day.” That’s certainly true. It’s a very special person who shows up to work every day for 39 years with the same vigor and ambition as when they started.
We asked Miss Ginny about the changes in education that she’s seen and been part of for almost 4 decades. Technology? “The age groups we teach are not really involved with technology as much as you might think. They are not on screens, and parents are happy about that.” What still works? “Getting down on the floor and interacting with students, and reading books face-to-face is still the best. It makes a huge difference.” Favorite teaching tools? “Building blocks! Kids still love them. And we brought out Legos for the first time during President’s Week. Boys and girls sat together at tables and worked on creating their own flags.” You could tell how excited they were just by listening to her tell the story. We love that about Miss Ginny. Everyone does. Of course as teachers, Ginny and her colleagues use technology to prepare lessons. It’s one of the positive changes tech has made in the profession And now, in addition to sending home a paper each day with an explanation of what the students did in class, every afternoon the teachers send parents a set of pictures of what happened during the day. “It’s wonderful. Kids and parents look forward to it, and we use that as a springboard for conversations at home, because that’s where so much education takes place.”
The fall of 2019 brought another significant change to the education program at the park district, when the district’s Recreation Department opened ParkSchool. It was designed to be a preschool program and all of the teachers focused on their age groups. There were classes for ages 2, 2 turning 3, and 3 turning 4. Miss Ginny took on the 4 turning 5 group. Kids who would be entering Kindergarten the next fall. At ParkSchool, the curriculum is designed so that all ages do the same theme every week, with different class projects that are appropriate for each age group. The teachers all work together instead of doing separate weekly themes. The concept was, and has been, a tremendous success.
Individual classes had been going well. ParkSchool was running smoothly. While the kids are very young, the teachers have been there for a long time and are all seasoned pros. Which made a world of difference in 2020 and 2021 during the height of the pandemic. When everything changed outside, ParkSchool kept going. Parents appreciated it. Kids benefitted greatly by being with their friends and the teachers they trusted. Ginny explained, “Teachers understand that when children are with us during the school day, we are the most important person in their world because we’re taking care of these human beings. We know that we’re part of the family conversation at the dinner table. We’re mindful of that every day. It informs how we talk to the students and how we interact with them.” Julie Nichols, the district’s Recreation Program Manager, has an interesting, inciteful take on the importance of teachers: “The preschool parents we have today have never parented when they were not in a crisis. They’ve lived from one crisis to the next.” It’s true. They don’t know what it’s like to be a parent when the world was beautiful, and a simpler place. Ginny added, “It makes me a little sad, but also makes me more aware of just how important it is that parents trust us.” We know they do.
Learning to create that trust goes back to a much earlier program that Ginny created called Me and My Pals, for 2-year-olds coming to a class without their parent. It was a big transition for the children—and their parents. “It was like baptism by fire. I learned about separation anxiety, and how much I wasn’t just an instructor for the children, but for the family as well.” For many parents, this was the first time they were dropping their children off. Once she had the trust of the parents the kids followed suit, “because the kids would think mom & dad are bringing me here, so they must feel good about it.” Remember that minor in Child Psychology? So much more important than a briefcase. During that time, kids could only come for one class a week, and there were years when Ginny had as many as 180 families enrolled. She taught up to 12 classes each week, and while it was a lot of work, “I just loved it!” Decades later, thousands of kids and families remember how much they loved it, too.
Talking about this final academic school year, Ginny says “I’m excited to come to work every day. While I’m driving in I’m thinking ‘I can’t wait to do this project, and to try this with the kids.” She’s a bit surprised by that, but if you’re one of the lucky ones who has found their true calling, you know how it feels. “I get to come to work at a park every day. There are deer walking around!” You can hear the smile in her voice. Then she added, “The foundation of this building is the people who work here. I love these people, and I’m proud to say I’m part of this organization.”
Miss Ginny, you’re the cornerstone of this building. This organization. Our education programs. We stand on your shoulders, and we know we’re better because of you. Amanda wrote a lovely toast; “All of us here at the park district, and everyone in the Highland Park community wishes Ginny a well-deserved retirement filled with joy, more time with her growing grandchildren and family, and new adventures!”
All together now: When I say Mighty you say: Oaks! Mighty: Oaks!, Mighty: Oaks! A big strong tree, Mighty like ME!
The City of Highland Park (City) and the Park District of Highland Park (Park District) announce plans for community events on Independence Day 2024. The schedule of events is intended to balance the diverse needs within the community by providing space for remembrance as well as familiar traditions. This will include a morning remembrance ceremony, an afternoon parade along a new route in Downtown Highland Park, and the return of the family friendly 4th Fest.
“Independence Day has traditionally been a special opportunity for our community to come together with beloved traditions,” said Mayor Nancy Rotering. “As we continue our journey as one Highland Park, we do so with respect, compassion, and support for all whose lives were forever changed on July 4, 2022, while maintaining the community spirit that has always been a hallmark of Highland Park’s Independence Day events.”
“While our community was forever changed by the events on July 4, 2022, this Independence Day, we can start a new chapter by coming together in love and kindness for one another,” said Terry Grossberg, president of the Park District of Highland Park Board of Commissioners. “Celebrating this national holiday with our loved ones is crucial to our community’s identity. Let’s come together, share this special moment with our neighbors and friends, and create cherished memories.”
The City and Park District have undertaken a trauma-informed approach to planning Independence Day events, with guidance from the Department of Justice – Office of Victims of Crime and community-based mental health clinicians who have been working in Highland Park over the past nearly two years. The schedule of events recognizes the importance of providing structured and unstructured opportunities for reflection and remembrance while reintroducing the Independence Day parade and 4th Fest event, which community members identified in 2023 as beloved community traditions that are important for Highland Park to reclaim.
The slate of events includes:
Remembrance Ceremony
The City will host a remembrance ceremony at 10:00 AM. The program will be available in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language, and will include remarks from Mayor Nancy Rotering, faith leaders, and music. The remembrance ceremony will be open to the public via advance registration to ensure venue capacity. To protect the privacy of individuals in attendance, the ceremony will be held indoors. In addition to the in-person remembrance ceremony, a remembrance video message will be available to view the morning of July 4, 2024. Further information about the remembrance ceremony, including location, will be available at cityhpil.com nearer to the date.
The temporary memorial, located in the Rose Garden adjacent to City Hall (1707 St. Johns Avenue), is always accessible to the public, and will be available on July 4, 2024. Visitors who may be concerned about re-traumatization from patriotic décor, floats, etc. related to the parade itself are encouraged to avoid visiting the memorial between 11 AM – 2 PM.
Independence Day Parade
The City and Park District present “Sweet Home Highland Park,” a community-focused parade kicking off at 1 PM along a new route through Downtown Highland Park. The theme invites participation from residents, community organizations, and businesses encouraged to showcase their love for Highland Park with float design and festive décor that spotlight something special about the city. To emphasize Highland Park’s spirit of community, neighborhoods are encouraged to collaborate on a shared float or parade entry. In keeping with the Highland Park tradition of a festive children’s bike and pet parade, families are invited to register to participate as part of the parade with decorated children’s bikes and pets in their patriotic best. The parade entry that most creatively embodies the “Sweet Home Highland Park” theme will be awarded “best in show” in three categories: neighborhood, community groups, and businesses. Participants are encouraged to draw inspiration from Highland Park’s natural resources, landmarks, history, and traditions in planning their entries. Parade participation sign-ups are now available, 2024; all parade participants, including families, neighborhoods or walking groups, must register in advance. Further details are available at cityhpil.com/independenceday.
4th Fest
Following the parade’s conclusion, community members will enjoy entertainment, rides, carnival games, a petting zoo, and other family-friendly activities at Sunset Woods Park as part of 4th Fest, presented by the Park District of Highland Park from 1:30 to 4:30 PM. Main stage entertainment will feature the popular band Radio Gaga and other entertainers. Food trucks will be available on site. Learn more about the event.
There will not be a City or Park District-sponsored evening event on July 4, 2024.
The City recognizes that community members may benefit from professional support in considering participation in Independence Day activities. The City’s Resiliency Division provides assistance including short-term counseling, resources and referrals, case management and needs assessments, and more. For information about support services available through the Resiliency Division, please contact Resiliency Manager Madeline Kati, LCSW, at [email protected] / 847.926.1036.
Information regarding Independence Day activities will be shared by both the City and Park District as planning continues. Updates from the City are available at www.cityhpil.com, and updates from the Park District are available at www.pdhp.org. Individuals are welcome to share their feedback via email to the City at [email protected].
Spring is the time of year you may notice dandelions popping up in our parks. You might wonder why the Park District doesn’t do something about all those yellow flowers. Letting them bloom is one way we keep our parks at their healthiest. Though not a complete source of nutrition for bee pollinators, dandelions also fill in early spring food source gaps.
As part of our best management practices, we aim to avoid spraying lawn chemicals to eliminate what some might deem an unsightly nuisance. Instead, the yellow blooms can open to their glory across our parks. Once the grass is long enough, crews will mow the dandelions giving our parks a more uniform “green grass” appearance.
The Park District of Highland Park was one of the first Park Districts in Illinois to adopt an Environmental Policy which includes maintaining our parks, facilities and natural areas in a manner that enhances and protects the environment by minimizing the adverse impact on air and water quality. This includes “Integrated Pest Management” practices that minimize chemical use in favor of other management efforts such as careful mowing, aeration and–in the case of dandelions–working with nature to provide healthy places to play.
Park District of Highland Park Executive Coordinator Roxanne Hejnowski was recognized with a Character Counts Pillar Award at the 2024 City of Highland Park Awards ceremony held on Thursday, April 11.
Presented annually by the City of Highland Park, North Shore School District 112, Highland Park High School, and the Park District of Highland Park, the awards honor those who have made positive, sustained, and impactful contributions to the community. The Park District of Highland Park is a member of the Highland Park Character Counts Steering Committee, which honors nominees whose beliefs, attitudes, and actions consistently exemplify the six pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.
Roxanne was nominated by a colleague for exemplifying the pillar of respect. An exceptional individual who consistently demonstrates respect in all her interactions, she has a unique ability to recognize the strengths in others and make them feel valued and heard. In her role as the lead for the Park District of Highland Park Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force, she has shown inclusive leadership, leading the team in organizing significant community donation drives and coordinating various activities to promote mental health and enhance workplace culture. Roxanne is praised for her diplomacy in navigating difficult conversations and her unwavering commitment to treating everyone with dignity. Her consistent pattern of respectful behavior makes her a role model for others and deserving of recognition.
Congratulations Roxanne. You exemplify the Park District’s values of being welcoming, caring, and extraordinary!
Notice of Public Hearing Concerning the Intent of the Board of Park Commissioners of the Park District of Highland Park, Lake County, Illinois to Sell $7,000,000 General Obligation Limited Tax Park Bonds
Public Notice is Herby Given that the Park District of Highland Park, Lake County, Illinois (the “District”), will hold a public hearing on the 24th day of April 2024, at 6:00 p.m. The hearing will be held at the West Ridge Center, 636 Ridge Road, Highland Park, Illinois. The purpose of the hearing will be to receive public comments on the proposal to sell bonds of the District in the amount of $7,000,000 for the payment of lad condemned or purchased for parks, for the building, maintaining, improving and protecting of the same and the existing land and facilities of the District and for the payment of the expenses incident thereto.
By order of the President of the Board of Park Commissioners of the Park District of Highland Park, Lake County, Illinois. Dated the 10th day of April, 2024.
Staff are working with the Highland Lakes Property Owners Association to extend the transfer agreement for the Rory David Deutsch property.
Staff received two proposals for the Lot 3 Paddle Facility. A civil engineering design services proposal from Gewalt Hamilton Associates for exterior utility improvements and a proposal for architectural services from Woodhouse Tinucci Architects for interior construction. Staff also reviewed the project timeline and the estimated project costs, including sponsorship opportunities and fundraising opportunities.
PMA Securities, LLC Senior Vice President, Managing Director, Robert Lewis provided an overview of the Park District’s Debt and Funding scenarios, this included available financing mechanisms: Alternate Revenue Bonds, Debt Certificates, or Bonds paid from a separate property tax (referendum and non-referendum bonds).
Insurance and maintenance/landscaping items in the Recreation Fund exceeded the appropriation budget and the appropriation filed with Lake County. It was the advice of legal counsel and the auditors to file a budget transfer ordinance to amend the appropriation ordinance for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2023, and ending on December 31, 2023.
Staff reviewed the Recreation Trail Grant application for the red and green trails and the Heller Nature Center.
Staff are proposing renaming the Recreation Center of Highland Park, Park Fitness. Staff reviewed the creative briefings to develop the proposed name and how the rename will better promote the brand and all the amenities and programs the facility offers.
Staff provided a five-year financial analysis of dance and theater programs.
Staff provided a five-year financial analysis of youth enrichment programs.
Staff shared images of Sunset Valley Club House renovations. Renovations include expanding the bar, installing an outdoor walk-in-fridge, installing new flooring, installing new lighting, and new dining room décor.
Staff are updating the current five-year Pro-Forma for the dome (Lot 3 Paddle Facility).
The Park Board of Commissioners approved the Design Services Agreement from Woodhouse Tinucci Architects for the Lot 3 Paddle Facility authoring the Executive Director to enter into a Professional Services Agreement and the Design Services Agreement from Gewalt Hamilton Associates for the Lot 3 Paddle Facility authoring the Executive Director to enter into a Professional Services Agreement.
Staff provided a construction project update for Park Avenue Boating Facility North Beach Improvements, Park Avenue Boating Facility South Parking Lot Restoration, Sunset Woods Park Improvements, Old Elm and Port Clinton Playground Replacement, and Larry Fink memorial Park Baseball Field Improvements.
The Park Board of Commissioners approved the updated Mission, Vision, and Value Statements in the Policy Manual, Ordinance #2024-03 An Ordinance Amending the Appropriation Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2023, Ordinance 2024-04 Authorizing and Providing for the Conveyance or Sale of Surplus Personal Property, the Recreational Trail Program Grant Application, the Renewal of the 2023 Routine Grounds Maintenance – North Route Bid, the Renewal of the 2023 Routine Grounds Maintenance – South Route Bid, the Renewal of the 2023 Weeding & Landscape Services Bid, the First Student Transportation Services Agreement Extension for Summer Camp, and the Purchase of an Air Supported Dome at 2205 Skokie Valley Road.
Staff provided an annual report for the Recreation Center of Highland Park comparing budgeted vs actual programming revenues, expenses, and membership utilization.
