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, 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
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The working group is composed of five members and will research and evaluate all facets of the planning process. The working group is responsible for research, analysis, community engagement activities, and 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.
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Yes. All meeting agendas and minutes are available on this website. Updates will be provided regularly via the City’s eNews.
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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 Place of Remembrance. The Resiliency Division will 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 will provide an individualized approach to communication and ongoing engagement that serves the needs of each family.
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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).
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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.
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A decision has been made regarding the location of the Place of Remembrance. DoTank, a consulting firm hired by the City, engaged in qualitative and quantitative community feedback beginning November 2024 and concluding on January 29, 2025. Their final report recommended having a prominent primary Place of Remembrance at the Rose Garden, a subtle secondary Place of Remembrance at Port Clinton. At the March 31, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting, City Council agreed with the recommendation.
After a Request for Qualifications, the City has hire SWA, a design firm, to begin the design process. More information will be shared as decisions are made.
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The City has already received a restricted donation of $1 million from Jon & Mindy Gray for the permanent Place of Remembrance among other similarly directed gifts. In light of this generosity, and in consideration of the many ways in which the community continues to be impacted, City Council felt strongly that it is important for the City to budget for this capital project without needing to rely on community-focused fundraising efforts. Individuals or organizations that wish to donate to the permanent Place of Remembrance may do so if desired using this link, but the City will not be actively fundraising for this project. All donations will be gratefully accepted and acknowledged. 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.
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At the December 15, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting, City Council was supportive of establishing a $2 million budget for construction. Establishing a budget for the construction portion of the project will guide the SWA design team during the design and planning process, and ensure that the project is managed in a fiscally responsible manner.