We sat down this week to chat with Emily, Riley, and Campbell, skating instructors at Centennial Ice Arena who have skated there since early childhood. Their enthusiasm – for skating, teaching, and the Centennial community at large – is palpable. The three teens’ passion goes beyond the sport itself; their love for skating is inseparable from the deep camaraderie they have found at Centennial. For them and many others, Centennial is more than just an ice rink – it’s a home away from home.
Riley: “Coaches have helped form my teaching methods. They help walk you through things and they’re very communicative.”
Campbell: “Since we’re all skaters, when we’re teaching, we know how the kids feel.”
Riley: “Seeing kids grow – not only kids you teach but other kids around the rink. It’s really rewarding to see not only yourself grow but also your community grow.”
Campbell: “It’s nice to see the whole community come together.”
Emily: “The coaches at this rink have encouraged us to be friends with each other, and without them we wouldn’t have these bonds for life.”
Riley: “I was able to create new friendships because of skating. I fell in love with the sport when I could see my own progress – and I wanted it not only for myself but also to help others.”
Emily: “When I found my own support group at the rink, it pushed me because I had people who wanted me to succeed. It helped a lot.”
Campbell: “This is my safe space – to those Gilmore Girls fans, it’s like Stars Hollow. It’s such a nice community.”
Riley: “Every day is like a warm fuzzy moment here. Everyone is so sweet. Everyone is here to cheer us on.”
Emily: “The world of figure skating can be very cutthroat, but I feel like here it’s very welcoming and everyone wants you to succeed.”
Riley: “If I have a good day here, I have a good day for the rest of the week.”
Riley: “Do it because you love it.”
Emily: “Figure skating is like life in general. You fall, you get up, there are peaks and valleys. It’s not always going to be rainbows and sunshine – it matters how much work you put in.”
Campbell: “Putting in the effort for the long run. Practice makes perfect.”
Riley: “What motivates me most is the progress I’ve seen within myself. My coaches are super understanding, and my coach pushes me to better in a nurturing way. I wouldn’t have gotten this far without my friends by my side. When I have a really bad day, they’re here to make me feel better. Putting in effort whether it’s a good or bad day makes those days great.”
Emily: “Friends and coaches. If I’m skating on my own, one of my coaches might skate past me and say good job or give me a helpful reminder, and that keeps me motivated.”
Campbell: “The community keeps me motivated.”
Riley: “Maybe I’ll have a really bad day at school, but I’ll come here, and my friends will make me laugh and it will make me feel better about things. It’s a safe space.”
Riley: “Centennial has a great community. Everyone knows each other – I’m friends with everyone from the little kids who just started skating to the people who have been here for years. Everyone knows each other and people say hi. That healthy supportive community keeps people wanting to skate.”
Emily: “I don’t feel the same at other rinks as I do here. If I’m skating at another rink, I’ll think ‘I’d rather be at Centennial.’”
Riley: “It’s way warmer here than all the other rinks – (Emily) “literally and figuratively. Warmer and fuzzier in every sense.”
We’re thrilled to welcome Deb Jenssen to the Centennial Ice Arena family as our dynamic Skating Coordinator! With a lifelong love for figure skating, Deb brings a wealth of experience and a contagious passion for the ice. Dive into her journey – from the early days of preschool skating in Rolling Meadows to winning National Championships with the first Starlight team. Deb’s commitment to teaching shines through as she shares a glimpse into her story and aspirations!
I grew up skating in Rolling Meadows during preschool. As I grew older, my coach asked me if I wanted to try out for Barrington’s Precision Team, now called Synchro. I skated on the first Starlight team in the area, winning many National Championships. During that time, I also skated Freestyle and Figures. I enjoy teaching others and love seeing skaters take pride in their skating achievements.
I have always been passionate about skating. I have three cousins who skated and two who are now coaches in the area. I always enjoyed (and still do) watching skating shows and competitions. I began volunteering for Northwest Special Recreation Association’s Learn to Skate Program during college. After becoming a staff member, I helped develop their competitive skating program. Working with skaters with disabilities has taught me to be a better coach.
I really enjoy seeing the growth within skaters! Growth can be so tiny or so big!
I would love to grow the skating programs in Highland Park. Whether you are just learning or an expert skater! Skating is really for all!
Skating is a whole-body sport! Studies have shown that doing sports like skating can help connect the two sides of the brain work together. What is great about skating is it can be an all-ages sport. You can begin at three and skate till you are 100! Skating also has so many different aspects to it: Basic, Freestyle, Ice Dancing, Pairs, and Synchronized Skating.
At the December 2023 meeting, the Park Board of Commissioners approved a renovation project to modernize the existing baseball field at Larry Fink Memorial Park. The newly renovated field will serve as a regional destination with improved amenities for the players and spectators and reduced maintenance requirements.
The new turf will more than triple the number of usable hours of the field each year and reduce the cost of maintenance by more than 50% every year over its projected 10-year lifespan. Hundreds of hours of play are lost each year due to flooding of the current grass field. This project is part of a larger Park District Athletic Fields Master Plan, which includes long-term plans to renovate the athletic fields and Danny Cunniff Park and Sunset Woods Park.
The project costs $1.02 million and will be funded with $500,000 from the Park District’s Capital Fund and the remainder from community donations. The groundbreaking is expected in Spring 2024, with completion in Summer 2024.
The Board also approved naming the new ballpark Jeff Fox Field, after longtime Highland Park resident Jeff Fox. It’s a wonderful story of how much the park, especially baseball, meant to Jeff and his family. See article here.
The ball field renovation is being funded with $500,000 from the Park District’s Capital Fund, with the balance paid through donations. To help fund the project, a group of dedicated community members formed a fundraising committee called the Giants Athletic Boosters, an affiliate of the Parks Foundation of Highland Park. To date, the Boosters have raised $453,000. The boosters only need to raise $49,000 to reach their goal.
When he heard that the ballfield at Larry Fink Memorial Park was being considered for a complete make-over, Corey Fox knew this was the perfect project to be involved with. He, his twin brother Ryan, and their older sister Lisa grew up across the street from the park. It wasn’t just a park to them. It was the park. When they were young kids, it was their park.
The Fox family, neighbors, and friends spent many days and nights at Fink Park playing on the swing sets, fishing, and playing baseball. Forty years ago, they played soccer, T-ball, and basketball and were part of the park district leagues. They went to classes and activities at West Ridge Center. They were what we happily call ‘Park District kids.’ Like many Highland Park families, Corey, Ryan, and Lisa went to Highland Park schools–Edgewood and HPHS–left for college and returned to their hometown. And now their kids have played all those sports and enjoyed our classes and camps. The circle is unbroken. It holds Lisa’s son Simon and daughter Harper, and Corey’s son Noah and daughters Emma and Mila. “They live at the parks —the parks are a huge part of their lives,” said Lisa. The same has been true for three generations in the Fox family. We love hearing that. It’s why we do what we do.
For Lisa, Ryan, and Corey, Fink Park is a place that brings back great memories of family, friendship, community, and, of course, of their father, Jeff. So it’s fitting that when the opportunity arose to help with the renovation of the ballfield in that special park, the Fox family rose to the occasion—and fitting as well that the Park Board has approved “Jeff Fox Field” as the name of the new ballpark.
Jeff Fox passed away in 2021. When he was quite ill and in the last few months of his life, he would still go to the ballfield so he wouldn’t miss a baseball game that Noah was playing in. “Nothing would bring Dad more joy than watching Noah pitch in a game at Fink Park,” the family told us. Everything had come full circle.
Corey, Ryan, and Lisa are all very clear about the project’s meaning to the family. It’s not simply about it being named Jeff Fox Field. In fact, according to Ryan, “Dad might not have agreed to have a field named after him, but he loved what this particular field meant to him. Togetherness, family, having fun, making friends, and community.” “And baseball was dad’s passion and such a big part of who he was.” For the family, it’s all about being able to help create something that everyone can enjoy as much as they did.
Lisa spoke for her brothers, saying, “He gave us all an amazing childhood. This was our park, and we wanted it to be a special place for the next generation of families. We wanted dad’s legacy to be symbolized by what was most important to him, which was bringing people together and building relationships. This project was a really unique way to make that happen.”
All of us at your Park District thank the Fox family and their supporters for their commitment, and we’re grateful to everyone supporting this important ballfield renovation. You are a big part of what makes this a great community.
See you around the parks!
All programs will run as scheduled and all facilities will be open.
Programs will run as scheduled this evening and facilities will remain open as scheduled.
The following adjustments have been made to our late afternoon and early evening (3:30pm – 6pm) programming:
At 4pm, the Park District will reevaluate other later evening programs and activities based on weather conditions. Updates will be sent out via email and posted on our website and social media.
The following adjustments have been made to our programming:
At 3:30pm, the Park District will reevaluate the evening programs and activities based on weather conditions. Updates will be sent out via email and will be posted on our website and social media.
Stay safe.
Due to predicted severe weather conditions and for the safety of our residents and employees, on Friday, January 12, the following adjustments have been made to our programming:
At 10am, the Park District will reevaluate the day’s afternoon and evening schedules based on weather conditions. Updates will be sent out via email and will be posted on our website and social media.
Stay safe.
Click here for a complete description of our Emergency Closing Policy.
For information on road conditions and road closures, please visit https://www.lakecountypassage.com/index.jsp.
Designed to assist migrants, who recently have been arriving via buses from Texas to Highland Park, while they await transfer to the Chicago Processing Center, the “Take Care” Packages will be a tangible expression of our community’s care for others.
Non-Perishable Food/Drink: Bottled water, granola bars, dried fruits and nuts, and packaged healthy snacks
Hygiene Products: Toothbrushes/toothpaste, soap/shampoo (travel size), feminine hygiene products, diapers and baby wipes, and hand sanitizer and wet wipes
Clothing: Hats, gloves, socks, and underwear
First Aid Kit: Bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and face masks
General: Reusable water bottles and flashlights with extra batteries
Communications: Basic travel translation guides or dictionaries, and prepaid phone cards
Comfort Items: Children’s books, magazines, or puzzle books (Spanish language), and stuffed animals
Gift cards for grocery stores or pharmacies (please do not drop-off at Park District sites)
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 8pm this evening to midnight on Tuesday night. Wet snow accumulations from 5-8 inches are expected with wind gusts as high as 35 mph Tuesday night. We encourage our residents to be careful when driving. Hazardous road conditions could impact the Tuesday morning and Tuesday evening commute.
If weather conditions impact Park District programs, we will share updated information on our website, social media, and in our emails. Please follow our Facebook or sign up for our e-newsletters for updates.
We endeavor 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 canceled, or temporarily postponed or entire facilities closed. Click here for a complete description of our Emergency Closing Policy.
For information on road conditions and road closures, please visit https://www.lakecountypassage.com/index.jsp.
The golfing landscape has witnessed a remarkable resurgence over the past three years, transcending the conventional boundaries that once defined the sport. National Golf Foundation data revealed a staggering 106 million people engaged in golf in 2021. We’ve seen the interest in golf grow exponentially at the Park District at the Highland Park Golf Learning Center and at our beautiful Sunset Valley Golf Club. “It is especially exciting to see so many kids enjoying the game and coming to us wanting to play golf for the first time,” said Ryan Ochs, Superintendent of Golf Operations at Sunset Valley, “and once they gain some basic skills, they’re hooked on this game that they can play for the rest of their lives.”
To meet the demand for golf in Highland Park, the Park District is now partnering with The Golf Practice to bring the community a wide range of golf summer camps and group lessons with PGA-certified coaches. We’re excited about this and think you will be, too.
We asked Alex Prior, Co-owner/Director of Operations at The Golf Practice, to tell us what to expect. “This summer, we’re happy to team up with Park District to deliver the most comprehensive approach to golf training on the North Shore. Through our multi-level camps and programs, junior golfers have a complete path from beginner to high school varsity golfer and beyond.”
The Golf Practice uses a holistic approach to golf training, focusing on the whole student and not just swing mechanics. Golfers will build their overall athleticism and coordination, develop their mind and body, and learn important social skills—including course etiquette—that will elevate them on and off the golf course. The golf curriculum at The Golf Practice is based on developing curiosity about the game. Being curious will help a student learn throughout their life,” said Prior, “We think curiosity is one of the most important life skills we can impart in our training.”
Golf summer camps designed by The Golf Practice coaches include fast-paced stations, colorful aesthetics, and an energetic staff that creates an engaging environment of learning and fun. “Once students become interested in the game and develop their skills, they graduate to the Travel League and High School Prep Summer Camps where they can hone their game, learn to compete, and develop confidence on the golf course.”
As with each of our sports programs at the Park District, golf camp participants learn the fundamentals, are encouraged to set and achieve goals, make new friends, and become caring, confident, successful young adults. It’s what we’re all about.
In Highland Park, hundreds of kids (and adults) are discovering the game of golf for the first time every season. The challenge in retaining these newcomers is why we’re developing exciting and innovative programs that include instruction, on-course play, and socialization. When you ask Ryan Ochs why he thinks it will continue to grow, he shares an interesting perspective: “For some golfers, technological advances have made the game more fun and accessible – things like GPS on the golf carts. For many golfers, the flexibility to work remotely at their 9 to 5 job has opened up more free time for leisure activities—one of the genuine benefits of the pandemic. Parents are bringing in their kids, and kids are seeing golf for the first time on social media—including influencers on TikTok.” Years ago, it was all about following Tiger Woods. “Now, young golfers are more interested in the whole game than in any one player on the tour,” and that means they keep playing through high school and college.”
“To ensure everyone has access to golf, the Michael Goldman Memorial Golf Scholarship is available to Highland Park and Highwood middle and high school students facing economic, social, or emotional challenges,” said Ochs. Last year, 12 applications were received. “That’s double the number from past years.” The annual scholarship is made possible through our Parks Foundation by a generous donation from the family of longtime Highland Park resident Michael Goldman as a means for young people to overcome obstacles and foster physical and emotional well-being through golf. Rob Saunders, the Park District’s resident PGA Pro, interviews and selects applicants. The scholarship provides one-on-one golf instruction and the use of a set of clubs. You can read more about this unique scholarship on the Park Foundation website.
We know that the golfing resurgence is not just a temporary phenomenon; it’s shaping the future of the sport. For young golfers, it’s about the whole package: a healthy three-season outdoor activity (that happily continues indoors during the winter), making friends, and learning life skills that they carry over into school, family, and the community.
Check out the new golf programs on your Park District’s website. The Highland Park Golf Learning Center is where you’ll find an impressive Driving Range, with 40 hitting stations–grass tees and mats–a short game practice area, a putting green, and a bunker practice area. During winter, you can enjoy the indoor hitting range at the Highland Park Fieldhouse. It’s open Monday–Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Summer Camp registration is going on now, and with the increased interest in golf, you’ll want to sign up early! In the meantime, you can practice yelling Fore!*
See you on the course!
*There are some interesting theories on why golfers yell Fore! after they’ve hit the ball. You can read more about that here.
Childhood is a time of growth, exploration, and developing various skills. Engaging in physical activities from a young age can profoundly impact a child’s overall well-being. Ice skating and gymnastics offer many physical, mental, and social benefits. Your child can experience the joy and benefits of both activities at the newly renovated Centennial Ice Arena! Our highly qualified staff ensure your kiddos evolve through our progressive programming.
Centennial Ice Arena can help your young skater or tumbling star build strength and flexibility and nurture a sense of self-discipline and self-confidence. Here are some of the wonderful benefits of ice skating and gymnastics.
The Benefits of Ice Skating
1. Physical Fitness: Ice skating is an excellent way to get kids moving and stay physically active. It engages multiple muscle groups, especially in the legs and core, improving balance and coordination.
2. Cardiovascular Health: Skating promotes a healthy heart by boosting cardiovascular endurance. The aerobic aspect of ice skating helps improve lung capacity and overall fitness.
3. Balance and Coordination: Ice skating requires children to develop a strong sense of balance and coordination, which can transfer to improved agility in other sports and daily activities.
4. Mental Focus: Skaters must concentrate and focus to glide gracefully on ice. This cultivates mental discipline and sharpens their ability to pay attention to detail.
5. Social Interaction: Ice skating often takes place in group settings, providing kids with an opportunity to make friends, learn teamwork, and enhance their social skills.
6. Confidence Building: As children learn to skate, they build self-confidence, setting and achieving small goals, and overcoming challenges, all of which contribute to a positive self-image.
7. Stress Relief: Like all physical activities, ice skating is an excellent way for children to blow off steam, reduce stress, and relax.
The Benefits of Gymnastics
1. Strength and Flexibility: Gymnastics builds strong muscles and promotes flexibility. Children develop power and endurance through routines and exercises.
2. Body Awareness: Gymnasts learn to understand their bodies better, which can help reduce the risk of injury and improve posture and body mechanics.
3. Discipline and Focus: The structured nature of gymnastics teaches children discipline and focus as they work diligently to master new skills and routines.
4. Balance and Coordination: Similar to ice skating, gymnastics hones balance and coordination, improving a child’s overall athleticism.
5. Goal Setting: Gymnastics is goal oriented. Children set goals for themselves, learning the value of hard work and perseverance.
6. Creativity and Expression: In artistic gymnastics, children can express themselves creatively through their routines, fostering artistic and imaginative abilities.
7. Self-Confidence: As children gain competence and master challenging moves, their self-confidence soars, and they learn to trust in their abilities.
So, what are you waiting for? Develop your young one’s physical fitness, mental acuity, discipline, and social skills. Whether your child is eager to learn a new skill and have fun or progress to be a true competitor, Centennial Ice Arena provides it all.
On Wednesday, November 1, the Park District of Highland Park, in conjunction with the Parks Foundation of Highland Park, celebrated the renaming of Cloverdale Park to Fontana-Pasquesi Park in honor of the Italian immigrant families from the Modena Province in the Emilia Romagna Region who settled in this area beginning in the early 1900s. The Fontana-Pasquesi family gave a generous donation to the Parks Foundation that will be used to maintain and improve the park for the neighborhood and the entire Highland Park community for many years to come.
The Park District Board of Commissioners approved the renaming of the park at the October 25, 2023 Regular Board Meeting. The naming rights agreement was presented and approved by the Park Board of Commissioners at the August 23, 2023, Regular Board Meeting. The name sat for a period of 60 days for public review before final approval by the Park Board.
A dedication plaque will be posted at the park giving the history of the Italian-American families who settled in the Highland Park/Highwood area.
This park is dedicated to the Italian immigrants from the Modena Province in the Emilia Romagna Region. The capital of Modena is the city of Modena, which is one of the Sister Cities of Highland Park.
These immigrants settled in Southeast Lake County beginning in the early 1900s. They strongly supported their adopted homeland and were proud to become U.S. citizens with many serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
It was their sacrifice, spirit, and work ethic that contributed to Highland Park History.
Laurence Pasquesi
Maria Fontana Pasquesi
