Highland Park

Highland Park is located in Lake County approximately 23 miles north of Chicago along the US Route 41 which connects Chicago to Milwaukee. Neighboring suburban communities include Highwood, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Bannockburn, Deerfield, Glencoe, and Northbrook.

Highland Park features six miles of lakefront along Lake Michigan. The location along the lake allows Highland Park to feature boat launches and beaches for residents and visitors to enjoy

Population (2000)
Total 31,365

Density 2,527.6 people/square mile

White: 91.2%
Black: 1.8%
Native American: .01%
Hispanic: 8.9%
Asian: 2.3%
Two or More Races: 1.2%

Source US Census

Highland Park is a safe community with a crime rate well below the national median. The national median Crimes per square mile is 104 while Highland Park ranks at 30 crimes per square mile.

Source City-data.com

Six-time NBA Champ and finals MVP Michael Jordan resides in Highland Park.

In the film, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), the unique home of Ferris’ best friend, Cameron, also known as the Ben Rose home is located for sale in Highland Park. The Highland Park home was designed by A. James Speyer and David Haid.

Founded in 1869, Highland Park became incorporated after merging two settlements, St. John and Port Clinton. Today, Highland Park is estimated to have 33,492 residents, 68 restaurants, 13 public schools, and an arts and culture district that attracts neighboring North suburban residents to a vibrant night life.

Ravinia District was added to Highland Park in 1889 and has maintained its artistic value and dedication to arts and music with an annual Festival first hosted in 1899. Presently, 36 acres in the southern area of Highland Park is transformed into Ravinia Festival showcasing performing arts and dance and attracts almost 500,000 people every year.

Highland Park homes dwell in a large variety of comforts and styles. Fort Sheridan, a military base built in the 1880’s, has been converted into modern townhouses and condos with vaulted ceilings and new construction amenities.

Frank Lloyd Wright designed four structures in Highland Park, most notably the Willits House on Sheridan Road.

Highland Park homes offer the advantage of a safe community but with the excitement of city living and nightlife. The variety in the homes in Highland Park can compliment a diverse amount of styles and amenities.

Many of the homes are large and luxurious with a high property value and offers good public schools and great family-orientated atmosphere. Homes listed in Highland Park have a median list price of $515,000 and the median home value is $719,000.

Whether you search Highland Park homes for a modern condo, large colonial home, a renovated historical town home, or a uniquely designed home on a large lot, Highland Park is a great family friendly community.

Highland Park parking is available for free in some areas and metered in other areas. Highland Park overnight street parking requires permits in some areas but the majority of homes in Highland Park include driveways and garages.

In the Port Clinton district, eight underground garages are accessibly by key card access. Highland Park offers employee parking in the central business district and all city controlled parking lots are free after 5pm, Sundays, and Holidays. Some of the lots are also free on Saturday.

Public transportation is very easy and convenient for commuters traveling to Chicago or Kenosha, Wisconsin. Highland Park contains four Metra Stations on the Union Pacific North Line that run regularly on weekdays, weekends, and holidays.

The city offers commuter parking with designated spots at any of the four Metra Stations for $2/daily, $60/quarter, and $216/annually.

If traveling within the city of Highland Park, Pace Bus operates three routes in the area, Route 471 from Highland Park to Deerfield, Route 472 from Highland Park to Highwood, and Route 473 from Highland Park to Northbrook Court. Additionally, the city offers the Senior Connector, a free bus service for senior citizens in Highland Park.

Many Chicago taxi services operate in the North suburbs and provide transportation services in the Highland Park area and to/from O’hare Airport.

Downtown Highland Park is one of the rare suburbs that ranks high on the Walk Score scale, which measures how within walkable distance most needed things will be in a given area.

Highland Park schools include eleven public elementary schools, three private elementary schools, and two public high schools with excellent results. 90% of Deerfield High School graduates enroll in a higher education or university, and 93% of Highland Park High School graduates enroll in college. Highland Park is served by the North Shore School District 112.

In 2000, both high schools underwent 75 million dollars in renovations and additions. All of the elementary schools feature extra-circular activities that focus on arts, sports, and building character.

Braeside School (K-5), 150 Pierce Road, Highland Park
Deerfield High School,1959 N. Waukegan Road, Deerfield
Edgewood Middle School (6-8), 929 Edgewood Road, Highland Park
Elm Place Middle School (6-8), 2031 Sheridan Road, Highland Park
Green Bay School (Early Childhood), 1936 Green Bay Rd., Highland Park
Highland Park High School, 433 Vine Avenue, Highland Park
Highland Park Montessori School (Early Childhood), 1301 Clavey Road, Highland Park
Indian Trail School (K-5), 2075 St. Johns Avenue, Highland Park
Lincoln School (K-5), 711 Lincoln Avenue West, Highland Park
Northwood Jr. High School (6-8), 945 North Avenue, Highland Park
Oak Terrace School (K-5), 240 Prairie Avenue, Highwood
Ravinia School (K-5), 763 Dean Avenue, Highland Park
Red Oak School (K-5), 530 Red Oak Lane, Highland Park
Sherwood School (K-5), 1900 Stratford Road, Highland Park
Wayne Thomas School (K -5), 2939 Summit Avenue, Highland Park

Nearby universities and colleges include Trinity Evangelical Divinty School in Deerfield, IL; Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, IL; College of American Pathologists in Northfield, IL; and Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.

Highland Park nightlife includes a vibrant suburban scene in the downtown district. Many restaurants feature events, performances, and late night hours. Most restaurants have outdoor patios in the summer and dancing on the weekends. The lounges and bars in Highland Park are casual and very family-friendly.

For the sports fan, Norton’s Restaurant and Bar is a great casual place to watch sports and enjoy a beer and burger. Alternatively, Las Palmas is a Mexican and Tex Mex restaurant that boasts having 40 different tequilas in its fully stocked bar. Also recommended is their Fabulous Fajitas

If you crave an Irish pub type experience, then it is worth a trip to neighboring Highwood to visit Birdie McKenna’s Irish Pub. They have an extensive beer list and host events every week that range from sports viewing, karaoke, dancing, and more.

Shopping in Highland Park is centered in the downtown central district with many designer shops including Saks Fifth Avenue, The Bootery, Shoe Fly, Anthropologie,  Ann Taylor, and Pottery Barn. Additionally, the Port Clinton Square offers a great shopping district with about 20 stores.

The Landmark Renaissance Place Cinema offers movie-goers free three-hour parking, independent and foreign language films,  and an expanded menu that includes espresso’s, fresh baked goods, and the traditional buttery popcorn.

Theater in Highland Park includes seeing plays at the Attic Playhouse, attending a recital or taking a class at Irina Makkai Classical Ballet School or the North Shore School of Dance.

Classical  and live music performance is very much at home in Highland Park. If not attending the Ravinia Festival for music, residents and visitors can also frequent live performances by the Highland Park Pops Big Band or the Highland Park Strings.

Aspiring musicians of Highland Park can obtain private lessons and audition through the Midwest Young Artists music program located in neighboring Highwood, IL. The Music Institute of Chicago opened a campus in Highland Park within walking distance of the Highland Park Metra station.

Highland Park restaurants offer a variety of food and dining style for all moods and palates. Whether interested in having American, Japanese, Italian, Mediterranean, French, or Mexican, restaurants in Highland Park will have something for every occasion.

For the bagel lover in Highland Park, Once Upon a Bagel is a must-see if not already a daily/weekly tradition. Once Upon a Bagel’s  menu includes more than bagels for breakfast and a dozen of lunch options with delivery options or party rooms available. 1888 First St., Highland Park, IL 60035 (847) 433-1411.

If craving Italian food in an authentic feeling Italian cafe, Bella Via is a great option and is owned and operated by Maurizio LoBosco. Located in the center of downtown Highland Park, they also offer banquet services for private parties. 1899 Second Street, Highland Park, IL 60035 (847) 681-8300.

Bluegrass offers a great variety of original dishes and a dessert menu a sweet tooth could not pass up. Also try the home-brew, Pale Tavern Beer or relax in the outdoor patio area for dinner. 1636 Old Deerfield Road, Highland Park, IL 60035, (847) 831-0595.

If you seek great food and a carry out to the curb service convenient for anyone who enjoys eating delicious meals at home, City Park Grill is great for dine-in or carry-out. City Park Grill’s menu contains vegetarian options and can also offer a gluten free menu for food lovers who are health food conscious. 1783 St Johns Ave, Highland Park, IL 60035 (847) 432-9111.

Michael’s Chicago-style Red Hots is fast food but with more to offer than your typical fast food restaurant. They offer over 89 items on their menu, party packages, catering, and healthy frozen yogurt to complete your experience. Recommended to the first time visitor is the “Mike Bites”. 1879 Second Street, Highland Park, IL 60035 (847) 432-3338.

The most known festival to frequent Highland Park is the Ravinia Festival which hosts music and dance performances every summer  beginning in May and concluding the first week of September. The festival also offers picnic style seating or visitors can bring a chair to the lawn for more comfort.

Summertime in Highland Park contains zero dull moments. Residents enjoy Park Avenue Beach for the sand or the boat launch or can be found relaxing in one of the three Country Clubs. The city features 40 Highland Park Parks and dozens of recreational centers.

Another great summertime spot in Highland Park is the Hidden Creek Aqua Park that features pools, water slides, and a sand area and is open from June until August. And for those who enjoy winter and colder weather, Centennial Ice Arena contains an indoor ice rink and a gymnastic studio and is open all year.