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July 21, 2023

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In this issue...

  • Citizens' Fire Academy
  • July 27: Highland Park Country Club Renovation Community Meeting
  • NSSD 112 Notifications
  • Metra Fare Structure Proposal
  • We Are Highland Park T-Shirts
  • Register for Air Quality Alerts

Citizens' Fire Academy

The City of Highland Park’s Citizens’ Fire Academy (CFA) returns this fall, offering community members the opportunity to step behind the scenes of Highland Park’s emergency response with in-depth training. CFA is an eight-week program held on Thursdays from September 7 through October 26, 6:30 – 9:30 PM at Fire Station #33 – Headquarters (1130 Central Ave., Highland Park.) Registration for the program is now open, and places are limited. Interested residents are encouraged to apply early. 


Now in its sixth year, the Citizens' Fire Academy provides participants with an experiential learning experience to better understand the work performed by firefighters on a daily basis. Training includes an introduction to the Highland Park Fire Department and the fire service, fire prevention, fire investigations, public education, and a tour of the Dispatch Center. In addition, participants will learn about self-contained breathing apparatus, engine and truck company operations, vehicle extrication, and emergency medical services, dive, technical rescues, hazardous materials, and live fire training.

Apply to the 2023 Citizens' Fire Academy.

July 27: Highland Park Country Club Renovation Community Meeting

The City of Highland Park is excited to begin planning for the renovation of the Highland Park Country Club, which is slated to begin in early 2024. Located at 1201 Park Ave. W., the Country Club is home to Highland Park Senior Center programming and is also available for event rentals. The City has engaged the firm Holabird & Root to provide architectural, engineering, and interior design services, following an RFP process earlier this year.


Community members are invited to learn about the scope of the project and share feedback, thoughts and ideas regarding the renovation project with the Holabird & Root team at a community meeting on Thursday, July 27, 6:00 - 7:30 PM at the Highland Park Country Club. The meeting is open to all community members, and registration is not required. Unable to attend? Your feedback is valuable. The planning process will incorporate multiple opportunities for public engagement, including a community-wide survey that will be shared after the meeting.

NSSD112 Community Updates

Stay connected with North Shore School District 112! Sign up at nssd112.org/connect to receive updates, news, and information about upcoming school events. This is for community members who do not currently have a student in the district.

Sign up for community updates from NSSD 112.

Metra Fare Structure Proposal

Metra has announced proposed changes to the existing fare structure, along with multiple opportunities for public feedback. The proposed fare structure is intended to encourage ridership and simply onboard fare collection through a streamlined zone map designed to be more understandable for riders. Under the proposed structure, fares would be set at or below pre-pandemic fares; however, promotional fares introduced during the pandemic would be discontinued.


Metra will hold an online open house from 6:30 to 7:30 PM on Tuesday, July 25; customers can register by clicking here.


Details of the proposed changes, including pricing, are available at metra.com. The proposal includes the following changes:

  • Zones: Metra's existing 10 fare zones would be discontinued and replaced with four zones (see map here; see proposed zone assignments by Metra line here) for One-Way Tickets, weekday Day Passes and Monthly Passes and one zone for all weekend passes. Downtown stations would be assigned to Zone 1 and outlying stations would be assigned to Zones 2 through 4 based on a combination of distance from downtown, service patterns and ridership characteristics on each line, which vary.
  • The 10-Ride Ticket: The 10-Ride Ticket would be replaced with a Bundle of Five Day Passes, available only on the Ventra app and priced the same as the 10-Ride Ticket, at 9.5 times the cost of a One-Way Ticket. The passes in the Bundle would not have to be used on consecutive days; rather, they could be used on any five days in a 60-day period.
  • Incremental Fares: “Incremental fares” – a surcharge to travel beyond the zones indicated on the ticket – would be discontinued. Riders would be required to buy a ticket valid for the trip they are taking.


View details of the proposed fare structure. Share your thoughts via Metra's survey by August 6.

Learn more about Metra's proposed fare structure changes.

We Are Highland Park T-Shirts

Individuals who purchased a We Are Highland Park t-shirt through the event website but were unable to pick them up prior to July 4 may stop by the City Manager's Office (CMO) at City Hall to collect their t-shirts during normal business hours through Friday, July 28. Please bring your email confirmation.


If you would like to purchase a t-shirt, please contact the following local businesses:


Additionally, Together Highland Park Unidos yard signs in support of the Highland Park Community Foundation are available for purchase at Sunset Foods (1812 Green Bay Rd. / 847.432.5500) while supplies last.

Register for Air Quality Alerts

Across Lake County this summer, there have been several days where the air quality has been poor, resulting in unhealthy conditions. Depending on the severity of the situation, when air quality is poor, some or all residents may need to take additional precautions to protect themselves from health problems. Poor air quality can be especially hazardous to people with lung and heart diseases, older people, teenagers, and children. Poor air quality can cause headaches, irritated eyes and sinuses, fatigue, difficulty breathing, chest pains and asthma attacks, irritated throats, and coughing. The Lake County Health Department encourages residents to register for air quality alerts by signing up for notifications at enviroflash.info/signup.cfm.

Register for Air Quality Alerts.
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