Home History Park District Visitor Information Contact & Links Photo Gallery

LIGHTHOUSE PARK DISTRICT

The Lighthouse Park District has its roots in the Northeast Park District that was established in 1929 as an independent governmental unit within the State of Illinois. Its formation was in large part due to the response of area residents who were concerned about the loss of potential parklands for other purposes. This unit of local government was renamed the Lighthouse Park District in honor of Grosse Point Lighthouse. Over the years residents of the District, through their taxes, have helped to preserve a number of small parks in the area as well as the lighthouse. Today, Lighthouse Park District is one of a growing number of so-called special interest park districts, with that special interest being the restoration, preservation and interpretation of one of the Great Lakes most important symbols of maritime history—the Grosse Point Lighthouse.

FRIENDS OF THE GROSSE POINT LIGHTHOUSE
In 1992 the Lighthouse Park District established a permanent Lighthouse Preservation Fund supported by a Friends of the Grosse Point Lighthouse group. Through their fund raising efforts, the District has been able to undertake maintenance and development projects on the lighthouse and grounds using non-operating income that is separate from the District's tax generated annual operating budget. Completed projects through the Fund have been recognized with awards and acknowledgements of achievement by a diverse group of national, regional, and local preservation, museum, and history organizations including: The American Association for State and Local History The Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois The Illinois Association of Museums The Evanston Preservation Commission The Cook County Board of Commissioners The Garden Club of America The Smithsonian Institution
For information on making a contribution to the Lighthouse Preservation Fund, contact the District by email at lpdnhl@grossepointlighthouse.org or phone (847)-328-6961.