About

The City of Highland Park is moving forward with planning for a permanent place(s) of remembrance to commemorate the legacies of those whose lives were taken, pay tribute to the journeys of those who were impacted, and honor the community’s resilient spirit.

Working Group

The working group comprises Mayor Nancy Rotering, Councilmember Anthony Blumberg, City Manager Ghida Neukirch, Resiliency Manager Madeline Kati, Park District of Highland Park Executive Director Brian Romes, and Josselyn Community Engagement Manager Gaby Valverde Strobehn. Support is also provided by Assistant City Manager Emily Taub, Communications Manager Amanda Bennett, and other staff and community partners as needed. This structure was determined at the September 26, 2023, meeting of the City Council Committee of the Whole.

All meetings of the working group are open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend.

Temporary Memorial

The City will continue to maintain the temporary memorial as a public place for remembrance until a permanent space(s) is dedicated. The temporary memorial is located at the Rose Garden adjacent to City Hall (1707 St. Johns Ave.) Free parking is available nearby. An ADA-compliant all-season walkway ensures the site remains accessible year-round.

Note: This is a sacred space and the City asks that privacy be respected when visiting.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The working group will be composed of five members, mirroring the successful collaborative approach used to plan the July 4, 2023 activities. The working group will research and evaluate all facets of the planning process. The working group will undertake research, community engagement activities, and conduct RFQ/RFP processes to inform recommendations to the City Council as the ultimate decision-making authority. Updates will be provided regularly to ensure that community members are actively apprised of the group’s work.

  • Yes. All meeting agendas and minutes will be available on this website. Updates will be provided regularly via the City’s eNews.

  • The City’s Resiliency Division was created to centralize advocacy for victims’ families and injured survivors of this tragedy, with a focus on providing ongoing support. Communication with victims, survivors, and their families is a critical part of this process, and will continue to be provided by the City’s Resiliency Division.

    The Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime has repeatedly underscored the importance of establishing a trauma-informed process for the planning of a permanent memorial. It will be the responsibility of the experts in the Resiliency Division to manage the engagement of victims’ families, injured survivors, and those present and directly impacted in a way that thoughtfully and sensitively balances their mental and emotional health needs with the desire to provide input and feedback. The Resiliency Division team will provide an individualized approach to communication and ongoing engagement that serves the needs of each family.

  • Community feedback is critical. The City is committed to values that include inclusion, transparency, respecting and valuing all opinions, understanding that the outcome of this work effort will last for decades.

    Comprehensive community input will be solicited before any final decisions are made by the City Council. Information regarding opportunities for public participation in the process will be posted to this website and disseminated through the City’s communications modalities, including social media (facebook.com/HighlandParkIL) and eNews (cityhpil.com/signup). Item description

  • At the Tuesday, September 26, 2023 meeting of the Committee of the Whole, the Highland Park City Council continued its discussion for moving forward with the framework for the planning process of the Place of Remembrance, including the establishment of a working group with standing members charged with conducting research and providing recommendations to the City Council. The decision was informed by a review of approaches undertaken by other communities locally and globally from Mayor Nancy Rotering, Council member Annette Lidawer, and City Manager Ghida Neukirch, City Councilmembers reiterated the need for sensitive and compassionate deliberation and underscored the importance of continued outreach and public engagement.

  • This process is just beginning. Based upon the experiences of other communities, the City anticipates that this will be a minimum three-year undertaking, a timeline which may require adjustment once a location, design, and form are decided upon.

  • The working group is tasked with exploring funding options. The City anticipates fundraising will be a component of the planning process. City Council and/or the Park Board of Commissioners may also elect to direct public funds towards planning and/or construction; any such efforts would be part of each entity’s public budgeting process. Individuals interested in making a gift to the future Place of Remembrance may do so at cityhpil.com/remembrance.

  • Costs are variable based on the location, form, and elements of the space(s). Based on research from other communities that have established memorials after a shooting, the City anticipates raising approximately $5M to $10M for the place of remembrance.