City Council Ready To Close On Sale Of Highland Park Country Club

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — To clear the path for the conversion of the Highland Park Country Club to a nature park, the City Council Tuesday gave final approval to four new intergovernmental agreements with the Park District of Highland Park.

The city is selling the golf course to the park district for just over $500,000, and as part of the agreement, the district commits to spending $1.4 million to turn the site into a recreation area within the next four years.

The City Council approved the deal by a vote of 6-1, with only Councilman Tony Blumberg opposed. (He told Patch he disagreed with a sale price substantially lower than the property's appraised value but was pleased the city and park district came to an agreement and appreciated the work of all those involved in the negotiations.) The agreements will be considered by park district's board Tuesday and are expected to be finalized as soon as next month, the city and park district announced.

"After much public input and thoughtful conversation we are pleased that we were able to come together with our colleagues at the Park District of Highland Park to implement an agreement that works in the best interest of the community," said Mayor Nancy Rotering in a release. "The process in which the agreement was created was collaborative and we carefully considered the core priorities of both governments."

Provisions in the agreement provide for the city to lease back four acres on the northwest side of the property for a tree nursery beside a public services facility. The city will also remain the owner of the clubhouse and golf learning center property along Route 41. They will be leased back to the park district under a revenue sharing agreement that provides the city with 50 percent of net revenue in years where the park district has no capital projects underway and 25 percent when the district has bills for capital expenses to pay.

Clubhouse rentals for banquets and meeting rooms will remain the same. The city will begin overseeing banquet operations beginning Jan. 1, 2019. Over the next several years, the city plans to move the Highland Park Senior Center to the country club.

The two public bodies also negotiated a shared use agreement to govern the use of space in the clubhouse, including the parking lot, locker room and other areas.

In addition to approving the four intergovernmental agreements, the City Council approved the final termination of the former country club lease and master agreement with the park district.

Park District Board President Brian Kaplan described the deal as a "wonderful example" of two public bodies cooperating to address community needs.

"It is a rare opportunity for any community to have a large beautiful natural area right in the center of town for all to enjoy," Kaplan said in a release. "We are truly grateful to have the opportunity to create a first class outdoor and passive recreation facility."

The intergovernmental agreement also includes a requirement that the city and park district must participate in all stormwater management programs undertaken by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Lake County or any other agencies.

The cost of any stormwater management improvements must come at no cost to the park district and must be covered by the agency requesting the change, according to the terms of the agreement, and any changes that "significantly adversely impact" the district's use of the property will require compensation. Rotering has been advocating for coordinated flood mitigation efforts, and the Army Corp is conducting a feasibility study.

"The City will continue to work closely with the Army Corps of Engineers to develop a stormwater management plan that may include the former golf course and looks forward to providing our seniors with a new ADA accessible home with ample space and parking,” the mayor said.

The senior center is currently located in a private residence built in 1926 at 54 Laurel Ave. It is not accessible to people with disabilities and lacks sufficient parking, according to Highland Park News. Parking was a factor during negotiations over the country club. The city wanted to ensure enough spaces in the lot used by the district-owned Recreation Center of Highland Park would be available for seniors visiting the new center should it be moved to the clubhouse, Pioneer Press reported, while the district wanted to ensure accessibility for young mothers with strollers attending exercise classes.

The city bought the country club 24 years ago to keep the space open and preempt a developer's proposal to build houses on the land, Pioneer Press reported. At the time, the park district was unable to fund the purchase due to property tax caps, so the city provided bonds to finance the $10 million purchase. Although the city owned the club, the park district managed it. According to Highland Park News, subsequent modifications to the agreement allowed for the creation of a new fire station, recreation center, aqua park, driving range and golf learning center.

The creation of the new "passive nature area" on the golf course will be complete within four years, according to the terms of the agreement, and the park district will present the city with a status report after a year.

Related:

• Highland Park Country Club Memorandum Approved
• City Favors $500,000 Sale Of Highland Park Country Club
• Park District Proposes Converting Highland Park Golf Course To Nature Park
• No More Golf At Highland Park Country Club?