Details regarding the construction schedule will be released in early 2025.

Construction of the new facility is anticipated to begin in Winter 2025 and be completed by Spring 2026.

Sustainability has been part of the design process from the very beginning. The Design team balanced the desire for sustainability, budget, and site constraints.

The following sustainable components are included in the project:

• The building envelope is designed to exceed energy code minimums and is optimized for thermal comfort and efficiency of the mechanical systems.
• The roof membrane has been specified for high albedo (to reflect most of the sun’s energy instead of absorbing it in the form of heat, thereby lessening the load on the mechanical system)
• A roof that is structurally designed to sustain solar panels. PDHP is separately exploring solar panels.
• LED lights throughout
• Finishes and healthy materials with high recycled content and low/no volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) have been specified throughout the building interior and exterior.
• Water-efficient plumbing fixtures
• Daylighting
• A translucent sandwich panel system has been incorporated at the gymnastics gym clerestory at the tallest portion of the building to provide even light while reducing glare and maintaining the thermal performance of the building envelope.
• Efficient mechanical units, high-efficiency roof-top air handlers with enthalpy wheels and heat recovery to the extent possible within the budget for the project
• Incorporation of native plants to increase biodiversity, rainwater absorption, and provide a learning environment
• Reuse of existing parking and drive areas to reduce overall site impact
• More compact building area with multi-use flexible spaces which leads to a gain in previous lot coverage (less overall impervious than existing)
• Reusing onsite soils where possible
• Minimal tree removal to areas disturbed by building demolition

Other efforts that will be considered during bidding:

• Electric car charging stations
• Bird-friendly window detailing
• Permeable pavers
• Mineral wool insulation is a carbon-neutral material that can be safely returned to the earth after the useful life of the building.

There is no anticipated impact to the Highland Park Community Nursery School during construction.

Yes. Most of the paths will remain open during construction, including the southernmost path connecting Ridge Road to Red Oak Lane. The pathway section adjacent to the south parking lot and existing ballfield will be closed. This path will be the front of the new building.

Yes.

Construction will occur within the times allowed by the City of Highland Park ordinance.

• Monday through Friday 7am-7pm
• Occasional Saturdays 9am-5pm

Programming and operations at the existing West Ridge Center will not be affected during construction.

Some programs at West Ridge Park, including the athletic fields will be temporarily relocated. The east ballfield will be demolished, and the west ballfield will remain open during construction. The Park District will communicate program changes during construction.

Parking will be affected during construction. Details and instructions for patrons during construction will be communicated by Park District staff and on our website.

The existing West Ridge Center will remain open during the construction of the new recreation facility.

Demolition of the existing West Ridge Center will begin after construction of the new facility is completed, and all programs and services have been relocated from the existing facility.

Demolition is anticipated to be completed by Fall 2026.

Yes. The new recreation facility at West Ridge Park will include a nearly 10,000-square-foot gymnastics gymnasium, which is more than twice the size of the existing gymnastics studio at Centennial Ice Arena (CIA). The new space will enable the Park District to increase programming capacity and serve a wider diversity of participants.

The gymnastics studio at CIA will temporarily be converted into a multi-purpose space to serve the community with athletics and other programs while the Park District updates its comprehensive Master Plan.

Yes. The Park District hosted meetings specific to this project in addition to the regularly scheduled public Park Board Meetings where the project was listed on the agenda. The project was also reviewed at City public Meetings including the Design Review Commission and the City Council. Here is a summary of the project’s community engagement meetings:

• March 2024: Meetings with stakeholder organizations and City Partners
• April 2024: Meetings with Ceramics Participants
• May 6, 2023: Community Open House
• May 23, 2024: Neighbor Meeting
• May 30, 2024: Community Open House

In early 2022, the Park District hired architectural firm Holabird and Root to study West Ridge Center recognizing the need to meet growing demands for updated facilities, services, and programs for the community. The firm’s tasks included building and site visioning, site analysis, programming, planning, and preliminary design. Holabird and Root studied three options: renovation, hybrid: renovation and addition, and build new.  The study took a holistic approach to the entire site, including user group and community input, and working within a budget of approximately $15 million.   

The study’s results aimed to answer the critical question of whether to renovate or build new.  Renovation options were determined to be costly upfront, would not meet program needs, and would carry long-term costs for continued maintenance of an aging building. New construction stood out as the best option. A preliminary site evaluation recommends placing a new facility in the southeast portion of the park and demolishing the existing building once construction is complete.