A WALK FOR REMEMBRANCE

Residents of Highland Park and the surrounding area are invited to downtown Highland Park on July 4 to show their support for the community and remember the victims of last year’s shooting. While there is no official parade, there are a number of ways people can honor the victims’ legacies.

“We know that the day will be filled with emotion as we mark the one-year remembrance of the Highland Park shooting,” says Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering. “We have carefully planned events and activities that will allow our community the time and space to remember the seven individuals who were taken from us too soon, opportunities to gather and connect, and provide us with the chance to celebrate Independence Day together as we create new traditions and memories.”

The day will begin at 10 a.m. with a remembrance ceremony at City Hall. The ceremony will include a performance by the Highland Park Strings, remarks by Mayor Nancy Rotering and interfaith clergy, and a moment of silence at 10:14 a.m. when the first shots were fired on July 4, 2022. The remembrance ceremony will be livestreamed on the city’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, and a recording will be made available on the city’s website after the holiday.

A community walk will begin at 11 a.m. with members of the community walking the parade route to symbolize the reclaiming of the town and building resiliency together. The community walk will step off from City Hall (1707 St. Johns Avenue) and progress north on St. Johns Avenue before turning west on Central Avenue, ending at Sunset Woods Park. People are encouraged to register for the walk in advance.

Beginning at 11:30 a.m., the Independence Day Community Picnic at Sunset Woods Park will bring together community members of all ages to enjoy live performances, food, and family-friendly games and activities.

“The picnic is an opportunity for families, friends, and neighbors to come together for a relaxing afternoon to enjoy each other’s company and our community, while also keeping the tradition of celebrating our country’s independence,” says Terry Grossberg, president of the Park District Board.

On the one-year anniversary of the shooting, there are still opportunities to support the victims through donations to the Highland Park Community Foundation. After the shooting last year, the foundation established the Together Highland Park Unidos Committee to manage donations to the Shooting Response Fund, which distributed $5.8 millions to victims of the tragedy.

While that fund closed in October, the foundation is continuing to support individuals and families through its July 4th Recovery Fund.

To register for the community walk on July 4 in Highland Park and for more information on the day’s events, visit cityhpil.com. To donate online to the Highland Park Community Foundation’s July 4th Recovery Fund, visit july4fund.org. Checks can also be sent to Highland Park Community Foundation, (memo line) July 4th Fund, P.O. Box 398, Highland Park, IL 60035.