The Highland Park City Council will be meeting with representatives from the Park District of Highland Park on Monday, October 9 at 5:30 PM during the City’s regular Committee of the Whole Meeting at City Hall, 1707 St. Johns Ave. The agenda includes discussion regarding future plans for the Highland Park Country Club (HPCC) and golf course, exploration of the HPCC to house dedicated space for the City’s senior services, and flood mitigation efforts.
Currently, the City of Highland Park owns the HPCC and leases it to the Park District of Highland Park pursuant to an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA). The IGA also gives the Park District the option to purchase the property from the City.
On July 28, 2017 the City received a formal request from the Park District to discontinue golf operations at the HPCC effective December 31, 2017. At the August 28, 2017 Committee of the Whole, the City Council publicly responded by requesting details of the proposed new use and changes to the Country Club premises and reiterated the request for a joint public meeting. The leasing terms and conditions of the IGA indicate that the Park District shall not cease golf operations without the City’s approval.
The City has requested the Park Board’s consideration regarding the possible relocation of its Senior Center to the HPCC facility. The City is also in the process of exploring relocation of the City’s senior services to a site adjacent to the Highland Park Public Library.
Regional and local flood mitigation exploration continues. During the July flooding, Lake County communities, including Highland Park, experienced significant rainfall in a short duration of time. The flooding resulted from the amount of rainfall that fell on the Skokie River (East Fork of North Branch Chicago River) and Middle Fork River watersheds. As the rivers rise, the entire storm sewer system is surcharged and excess water causes the streets to flood. There was simply too much rain in too short a time. Additional rainfall following the flooding intensified the effect and had significant impact on roads, homes and operations in Highland Park. While regional flood mitigation will be necessary to decrease future impact, the Council has requested partnership from all levels of government.
For more information, please contact the City Manager’s Office at 847.926.1000 or visit www.cityhpil.com.