Highland Park City Council selects remembrance sites at Rose Garden and Port Clinton Square

The Highland Park City Council meeting on April 28, 2025, focused on the selection of a permanent place of remembrance dedicated to honoring the lives affected by recent tragedies in the community. This initiative aims to create spaces for reflection, remembrance, and solace, recognizing the resilience of Highland Park, particularly for those injured.

The city has been actively researching and planning this significant project since 2023, when a dedicated working group was formed. The group includes Council Member Tony Bloomberg, City Manager Gita Newkirk, Resiliency Manager Madeline Katie, Executive Director Brian Romes, and Gabby Valverde Strogan from the Jocelyn Center. While the City Council retains ultimate decision-making authority, the working group has been gathering insights and recommendations through public meetings.

During the meeting, the council discussed a site location recommendation prepared by Dutank, a consulting firm that conducted a trauma-informed community study. This included an online survey completed by nearly a thousand respondents, focus groups, and interviews with victims and their families. The findings are available on the website hpreembrance.org.

Based on the extensive data and community input, the council decided to establish a primary place of remembrance at the Rose Garden and a secondary, more subtle site at Port Clinton Square. This dual approach aims to accommodate differing community sentiments regarding the location of the memorials.

Looking ahead, the city plans to issue a national request for qualifications for the design of the permanent place of remembrance. This process will continue through the summer, with the council expected to select a design firm in early fall. The chosen firm will engage the public to ensure that all stakeholders are involved in the design process.

The council expressed gratitude to all community members who contributed their perspectives, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful dialogue during these challenging discussions.