HighlandPark_web

The city’s population hovers around 29,000,with healthy redevelopment taking place.An affluent, highly-educated community,Highland Park has much to offer: a stable economic base, a low crime rate, top-rated schools, and a lower sales tax than bordering municipalities.Highland Park Hospital (a University of Chicago affiliate and NorthShore University HealthSystem provider) is a major em- ployer in the community. LEADERS IN SUSTAINABILITY Highland Park’s Sustainability Strategic Plan is available for viewing on the city website, and well worth a look. It’s an extremely robust, 20-year plan that sets forth several different initiatives,many of which are already accomplished. Sabo notes,“This year,we’re in the process of setting up a three- year sustainability plan to keep pushing ourselves forward.We do offer sustainability processes–for instance,we’re leaders with respect to composting. We recently entered into a refuse and recycling contract, both for residential and commercial, that allows people to co-mingle yard waste with com- post materials, and we’re really trying to promote that in the community.We also have a recycling center in the north part of the city that collects electronic waste, as well as Styrofoam, shoes, and textile goods. “We really do take a leadership approach to our environmentally conscious programming. Since 2010,we’ve accomplished over 100 different impactful sustainability projects.On an ongoing HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS basis, community education and awareness of various sustainability practices is a big one for us, because we see ourselves as a green community; it’s part of our culture–organizationally and as a municipality.” DIVERSIFICATION MAKES THE DIFFERENCE The Green BayTrail and the Robert McClory Bike Path run all the way from Chicago up to Wisconsin, and right through Highland Park’s downtown.Hersch says,“Not only is our down- town walkable, but it’s a vibrant shopping district; IAMMA OUTSTANDING MANAGER AWARD CityManager Ghida Neukirch was recog- nized with an Outstanding Manager Award by the Illinois Association of Municipal ManagementAssistants for her extensive contributions to the Cityand themunicipal management profession.Ghidaworks closely with the CityCouncil and the City’s executive management team to oversee dailyopera- tions.Her leadership has resulted in numer- ous accomplishments includingmaintaining the City’sAAAbond rating,completing a municipal consolidation of fire and EMS to provide services to the nearbyCityof High- wood,and the completion of multiple public works projects,including newsidewalks,miles of water main replacements,and road repairs, amongmanyothers. Congratulations Ghida!