Park District of Highland Park recently issued the following announcement.
To begin the planning process for the Highland Park Country Club (HPCC) property conversion, the Park District is inviting residents to take a walk to explore the natural features of the property. The District is in final negotiations with the City of Highland Park to acquire the property and the final acquisition is expected to be completed early this fall.
The conversion project will include transformation of the 100-acre property from an 18-hole golf course into a unique nature-based recreation area adjacent to the Highland Park Country Club and Recreation Center of Highland Park. When completed the nature area will include trails providing links to adjacent neighborhoods and Skokie River Woods. The design is also intended to support clean water, wildlife habitat and provide another opportunity for the community to connect with the outdoors.
“We encourage residents to come out to get some exercise, see the potential of the property, and help us determine the next steps with this project by taking a walk.” said Liza McElroy, executive director of the Park District of Highland Park.
The property is open to the public from dawn to dusk and dogs are welcomed but must be kept on leash and cleaned up after. Demonstration gardens have also been planted adjacent to the country club to give visitors an idea of the types of native plantings that will be incorporated into some of the converted landscape. More than 117 species of birds have been identified on the property, including warblers migrating to and from South America, Sand Hill Cranes, once nearly vanished from our area, but now making a comeback, and water-loving birds like Kingfishers that are benefiting from the open ponds and Skokie River nearby.
Residents are also encouraged to take a short online survey to provide their thoughts and ideas of features and amenities that can be incorporated into the HPCC conversion plan. To take the survey, click here
For a convenient trail map of the property, click here
For more information and to watch a short video on the HPCC property conversion project, click here
Original source can be found here.
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