City of Highland Park, Illinois - Government

09/15/2026

Congratulations to the outstanding Highland Park High School student leaders at SALT: Service and Learning Together! The SaLT program was recently recognized by the State of Illinois Governor's Cup winner in the Serve Illinois Governor's Hometown Awards!

Since its founding in 2020, SaLT has made a tremendous impact in our community and beyond. A fully volunteer-run and student-driven non-profit, students are active at all levels of the organization, from identifying needs to developing and implementing service projects. Thousands of families in our area have benefited from SaLT programs such as Shop 'N Drop, which provides groceries to families in need, which has grown from serving 130 families during the pandemic to 830 families in 2025. Other SaLT initiatives provide peer academic support and care and assistance to first responders, Make-a-Wish children, and many more people in need.

Earlier this summer, SaLT students traveled to Springfield to present the tangible impacts of their efforts with the support of adult coordinators Brad Swanson and Ida Fiore. Congratulations to Julia B., Logan G., Julia H., Reese L., Katie M., Francesca N., Abby U., and Olivia W., who represented our City and the SaLT program so well as part of the Governor's Cup award process and at the September 14 City Council meeting. Serve Illinois Commissioner Carolyn Robert and Volunteer Program Manager Jacob Jenkins joined us at the Council meeting to recognize SaLT volunteers for this incredible program that serves as a model for student impact on community needs.

Please join us in celebrating all the students who have made SaLT such a success!

09/14/2026

Northbound Rt. 41 has reopened to traffic. Thank you for your patience!

9/14, 12:05 PM: Northbound Rt. 41 is closed between Central & Park. Please avoid the area as Police investigate a traffic accident. This post will be updated when the road has reopened.

09/11/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning at Bennett Gordon Hall at Ravinia Festival for a meaningful remembrance of the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Mayor Nancy Rotering, Chief of Police Lou Jogmen, and Fire Chief Joe Schrage were joined by North Suburban Synagogue Beth El Rabbi Michael Schwab (Police Dept. Chaplain) and Fire Department Chaplain Chris Prager to remember those who were killed and injured, including those who suffer from 9/11-related illness, and honor those who responded to the call for aid, especially first responders from Highland Park and Highwood.

Click the link below to view the video from today's program. Many thanks to Ravinia Festival, Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA), and Township High School District 113 for their partnership in hosting this event.

On Friday, September 11, 2026, the City of Highland Park hosted a r...

09/08/2026

Looking for a way to give back to the community? Share your expertise and enthusiasm as a member of one of the City's Advisory Groups, Boards, and Commissions! The Mayor and City Council are preparing to appoint interested residents to terms beginning January, 2027. Available appointments include the Housing Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Transportation Advisory Group, and Sustainability Advisory Group, among others.

Opportunities for high school juniors and seniors are also available. Student representatives gain firsthand experience in how public policy is shaped and share their perspectives on issues important to the community as non-voting members of these groups.

Visit cityhpil.com/boardsandcommissions to learn more about each of the City's Advisory Groups, Boards, and Commissions, as well as the requirements to serve, and complete the online application.

09/03/2026

The City of Highland Park is reviewing our sidewalks, shared-use paths, accessible parking spaces, intersections, and other City-owned pedestrian facilities to develop an Accessible Streets and Sidewalks Plan to make our community more accessible to all, regardless of ability. Participate in this process by completing the public survey at cityhpil.com/rowadaplan!

The purpose of this survey is to gather community input on accessibility barriers along sidewalks, shared-use paths, intersections, and public parking in the City of Highland Park. This survey contains 18 questions and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Once complete, you will be redirected to an interactive map where you can pin priority locations for accessibility improvements. The survey will be open through September 15, 2026. Access the survey at cityhpil.com/rowadaplan.

Questions? Reach out to the project team at [email protected].

09/02/2026

The City of Highland Park Recycling Center is open from 7 AM to 1 PM every Tuesday and the first Saturday of the month, including this upcoming Saturday, September 5 at 1180 Half-Day Rd. Please note that there is a limit of 7 electronic items per visit, and a limit of one yard waste bag's worth of foam #6 per vehicle (foam does not need to be bagged). Rechargeable batteries (nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride, & lithium-ion) are also accepted, as well as Illinois tollway transponders. View the list of accepted materials at cityhpil.com/recyclingcenter.

09/02/2026

Extreme, unseasonable heat is expected to continue through Thursday, including heat indices above 100°F forecasted for Wednesday, September 2. Residents are advised to stay in air-conditioned spaces, stay out of the sun, drink plenty of water, and check on friends and relatives who do not have air conditioning, especially the elderly. Should you be concerned about the well-being of a neighbor, the Police Department can conduct well-being checks, especially for the elderly. To request a well-being check, contact the public safety non-emergency line at 847.432.7730.
During daytime hours, all are welcome at the following cooling center locations during normal operating hours:
Park Fitness (Park District of Highland Park, 1207 Park Ave. W.)
Highland Park Public Library (494 Laurel Ave.)
City Hall (1707 St. Johns Ave.; 8 AM - 5 PM Monday - Friday.)
After-hours cooling centers operate on an ad hoc basis to assist residents during emergencies such as power outages. Information about evening cooling centers will be posted to the City's website when activated. Please bookmark cityhpil.com/coolingcenters to check to see if after-hours cooling centers have been activated.

Dangerous heat and humidity will continue through this evening. Peak heat indices are forecast to be in the 100-105F range once again, locally up to 110 south of I-80, which could result in heat related illness. Make sure to take precautions to stay cool!

09/01/2026

The City of Highland Park’s September 11, 2001 25th Anniversary Observance will be held at 9 AM on Friday, September 11, at Bennett Gordon Hall at Ravinia Festival. The program will remember those who were killed and injured, and honor those who responded to the call for aid, especially first responders from Highland Park and Highwood. The Highland Park Fire Department will lead the Last Alarm Bell Ceremony as part of a program including remarks by Mayor Rotering, Chief of Police Lou Jogmen and Fire Chief Joe Schrage. Mike Moore of the Shannon Rovers Pipe Band will perform. Video of the ceremony will be available on the City's YouTube channel later that day.

The ceremony will be presented by the City of Highland Park in partnership with Ravinia Festival, NSSD 112, TSHD 113, the Highland Park Public Library, the Park District of Highland Park, and NSSRA. For more information, please visit cityhpil.com.

08/31/2026

Congratulations to newly promoted Commander Brian Merkel! City Manager Ghida Neukirch administered the oath of office during the ceremony, which was attended by Mayor Nancy Rotering, Councilmembers Annette Lidawer and Yumi Ross (pictured in the photos), colleagues from across the City, and of course, Commander Merkel's family. Commander Merkel joins the Police Department's command team, which includes Chief of Police Lou Jogmen, Deputy Chief Jennifer Olson, and Commanders Sean Curran, Anton Galati, and Kevin Roberts. Learn more about the Police Department at cityhpil.com/police.

08/28/2026

Welcome to the Community Police Academy (CPA) 2026 cohort! This week, City Manager Ghida Neukirch, Chief of Police Lou Jogmen, and Sergeant Brian Soldano (pictured here) kicked off the City's annual CPA program. Over the next few weeks, participants will step behind the scenes at the Police Department to explore various aspects of public safety operations. Participants receive hands-on Police Department training in a multitude of exciting areas, including patrol, investigations, and administration. Participants will learn about the numerous functions the Department performs and gain insight into crime prevention. While the 2026 class is full, community members interested in participating in the 2027 cohort can submit applications to reserve seats for next year at cityhpil.com/cpa.