The City of Highland Park strives to keeps its residents and visitors apprised of news and issues that may affect them. Whether it is to learn of the Summer Events Concert Schedule, or gain updates on ongoing parking improvements, there are many sources available for information. Highland Park publishes a monthly newsletter, the Highlander, for its residents, provides programming on Government Access Channel 10, and routinely updates this website.

Receive Free Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs While Supplies Last

One of the simplest means to reducing energy use is to replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). In Highland Park, there are a variety of means to obtain CFLs. In fact, the City is extending a special offer for all Highland Park residences by offering two free CFLs, as part of a grant provided by the Northern Illinois Energy Project, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. In order to receive the free CFLs, please redeem the coupon found on Page 5 in the April edition of The Highlander. In addition, CFLs are available at local hardware and department stores. Used CFLs may be recycled as part of the City’s Electronic Recycling Drop-Off Program. For more information regarding CFLs or the City distribution program, please contact Jessica Strattard, Administrative Intern, at (847) 926-1043 or jstrattard@cityhpil.com.

City Approves New Parking Regulations for Ravinia Festival Neighborhood

On April 14, the City Council passed an ordinance creating an east and west color-coded Ravinia Festival neighborhood parking permit with the Union Pacific Railroad being the distinguishing border between the two permit areas. The Ravinia Festival neighborhood is bordered by Lake Cook Road to the south; Marquette Road, Hastings Avenue and Highland Place to the west; Roger Williams Avenue to the north; Sheridan Road, Lakeside Manner Road, Lakeside Place and Dell Lane to the east. Residents east of the railroad tracks will now receive a colored “RFE” parking permit. Residents to the west of the railroad tracks will now receive a “RFW” parking permit issued in another color. This will assist residents and police in identifying potential misuse of the parking permits. Fines for violations of the neighborhood parking permits have also been increased from $20 to $50 with incremental increases for repeat violations. Existing signage in the neighborhood will be improved to reflect this change. This will provide an additional deterrent to illegal and overflow parking in Ravinia Festival neighborhoods during the Ravinia season.

Should residents have any questions or concerns regarding the new Ravinia Festival neighborhood parking permits and related parking restriction fines, please contact Sergeant Chris O’Neill, Police Traffic Unit, at (847) 432-7730.

Connect with Local Social Services Through Comprehensive Community Resource Guide

FindHelpLakeCounty.org is a comprehensive guide to community resources in our local area. It includes an overview of social services, how to obtain community services, and some examples of major service providers in the area. A Service Index is also provided classifying services according to their specializations. Agency profiles include address, phone numbers, web and e-mail addresses, hours, fees, eligibility requirements and service descriptions.

Tire and Oil Recycling Event on May 13

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Lake County Farm Bureau and SWALCO (Solid Waste Agency of Lake County) are sponsoring a tire and oil recycling event on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at  Lake County Fairgrounds, Grayslake, IL (Rte. 45 Entrance) from 9:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m. 

This is a rare opportunity to help the environment, decrease the spread of West Nile and other mosquito-borne illnesses by ridding your property of unwanted tires, safely and conveniently. The event is free of charge. The design of tires makes them ideal breeding sites for several species of mosquitoes, some of which are very important vectors of disease. Since they are easily filled by rain and collect leaf litter, they provide an ideal "incubator" for mosquito larvae.

The event is open to all Illinois residents, but they may participate in this program one time only. Names will be checked against a list from previous events. NO tire dealers, commercial trucking/busing companies. No large industrial tires will be accepted. Tires may be on or off rims. If you have more than 200 tires or would like more information, please call the Lake County Farm Bureau at 847-223-6506.

Mayor Belsky Announces One Book One Highland Park Program

With a shared commitment to the value of reading, Mayor Michael D. Belsky, the Highland Park Public Library, and Borders Books & Music are pleased to announce a community-wide reading program entitled, “One Book One Highland Park”. The goal of the collaboration is to broaden an appreciation of reading and encourage friends, families, and neighbors to share their experience while reading the same book.

Every three months, Mayor Belsky will select a new book with the assistance of the Highland Park Public Library Executive Director, Jane Conway. The Highland Park Public Library and Borders Books & Music will sponsor events during each read, which will often include the author, or other notable speakers, and related topics, or activities, which will add depth to the public exchange of ideas. The Highland Park Public Library and Borders Books & Music invite existing book discussion groups to participate and discussion leaders to convene new groups at the Highland Park Public Library and Borders Books & Music.

The first book selected is "Maus 1: A Survivor's Tale", by Art Spiegelman. A Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel, “Maus I” recounts the struggle of Spiegelman's father to survive the Holocaust as a Polish Jew and draws largely on his father's recollections of his haunting experiences. The following events are scheduled as part of the first community read:

• Medium, Genre, and Comic Books: How Maus Changed Things
  Lecture by Dr. Bill Savage, Northwestern Univ. Faculty Member
  Highland Park Public Library, 494 Laurel Avenue
  Monday, April 14th, 7:00 p.m.
• “American Splendor”
  Film Showing and Discussion led by Bob Coscarelli, Film Historian
  Highland Park Public Library, 494 Laurel Avenue
  Monday, April 21st, 6:30 p.m.
• Book Discussions
  April 10th, 7:00 p.m., Borders Books & Music, 595 Central Avenue
  April 22nd, 7:00 p.m., Highland Park Public Library, 494 Laurel Avenue
  April 26th, 11:00 a.m., Borders Books & Music, 595 Central Avenue

For each book selection, the community may find information, a reading guide, and a calendar of events for One Book One Highland Park in The Highlander, on Comcast cable television Channel 10, and at City Hall. This information will also be available at the Highland Park Public Library, hplibrary.org, and Borders Books & Music.

For more information, please view the program press release or contact Carolyn Hersch, Economic Development Assistant, at (847) 926-1027.

New Highland Park Civic Calendar

The Highland Park Civic Calendar is now available on the City’s website. The calendar was created through a partnership between the City of Highland Park, the Highland Park Public Library, and North Shore School District 112 to provide a convenient way for residents to view local government events in one central location. The new calendar offers enhanced meeting information, the ability to view future months, and the option to sign up for email reminders. The Civic Calendar, along with a calendar of City meetings, may be viewed by using the Calendar menu listed at the top of all City webpages. For more information, please contact David Mitchell, Management Analyst, at (847) 926-1046.

Electronics Recycling Program

The City of Highland Park, in partnership with the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, is pleased to announce a new year-round drop-off program for outdated, broken, or unwanted household electronics. The new program will accept electronic equipment beginning on November 6th. The drop-off collection will be open each week on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Firearms Training Center, 1180 Half Day Road. The events are open to household electronics only; no commercial, governmental, or institutional materials will be accepted. Click Here for a list of items accepted at Electronics Recycling Collection Events. In addition, the City will accept fluorescent bulbs during these times as part of a pilot project. Fluorescent bulbs and fluorescent tubes up to 48 inches in length will be accepted.

Visit swalco.org for a list of additional collection events throughout Lake County. For more information, please contact Bob McCraren, Facilities Manager, at (847) 432-0807.

Highland Park Wish List

The City of Highland Park has created a City Wish List to assist residents looking to make charitable donations to Highland Park. The list includes items designed to assist City staff in delivering high quality services to Highland Park residents. Click here to view a copy of the Highland Park Wish List. For additional information, please contact Jessica Strattard, Administrative Intern, at (847) 926-1043.

Free HP Wi-Fi

On June 16, 2006, the City of Highland Park officially deployed its free outdoor wireless hotspot. The free wireless hotspot, also called "free HP Wi-Fi", is a pilot project in Highland Park. During the trial period for the wireless hotspot, residents, and guests of Highland Park will be able to connect to the Internet free while at Buhai Plaza, located in Port Clinton Square, and the pocket parks located to the north of the Central Business District Parking Garage. Users wishing to connect to the internet via "free HP Wi-Fi" are required to have a Wi-Fi compliant 802.11a/b/g wireless Ethernet device in a laptop or other device. For more information, please view page 3 of the June 2006 edition of The Highlander, or contact David Mitchell, Management Analyst, at (847) 926-1046.

Is Your Landscaper Licensed?

All Landscapers working in the City of Highland Park must be licensed with the City. Click here for a current list of landscapers licensed to work in Highland Park. For further information, please contact Emily Palm, Administrative Intern, at (847) 926-1030.

Channel 10 Playback Schedule

For programming information for cable channel 10, please see the weekly schedule. For additional information concerning cable channel 10 please contact David Mitchell, Management Analyst, at (847) 926-1046.

Police Department's TERF Program

The Highland Park Police Department would like to remind residents of the Traffic Education Report Form (TERF) program. Residents who observe abnormal or dangerous driving behavior are encouraged to call the police department when the activity is observed. However, there are times when making an immediate report of this behavior is not possible. The TERF program offers residents a method to report driving behavior via the website. The Highland Park Police Department will follow up on submitted reports when enough information is available (i.e. license plate). For questions concerning this program, please feel free to contact Traffic Sergeant C. O'Neil at (847) 926-1766.