Opinion: City Right to Keep HP Country Club Open

The following is a letter to the editor:

The City council got it right by deciding to keep the Highland Park Country Club as an operating amenity that not only generates out of town dollars to our community, but also preserves the flood plain and open space.

The City acquired the property in 1993 to prevent its development of 625 single family homes that had been approved by court decision. It was the revenue that prompted me to initiate the transfer of the Club to the Park District. In 1994, the Park District needed an additional revenue source. That was then, this is now. The Park District’s intent to expand the fitness center into the clubhouse is counter to the promises made by the District Board of Commissioners when the Rec Center was approved and constructed. It was intended to a be a local not a regional facility. It serves that purpose quite well, but now has over 3300 members, not all of whom are District constituents.As I recall, 1200 members would be a break even number.

The City’s decision will keep the clubhouse as an affordable banquet facility for members of our community. HPCC can generate over $400,000 annually, but to do so, both the golf course and the banquet facility are required. You can’t generate an operating profit without both.

Pete Koukos

Highland Park resident, former councilman