City maintenance leads to removal of Highland Park carousel, sculptures. Will they return?

For years, a mini carousel, giraffe sculpture and other curbside decor have contributed to downtown Highland Park’s distinctive character, becoming familiar and welcome sights for those strolling down Central Avenue.

Now, the items are gone as the City carries out maintenance in the public right of way, and what happens to them next is uncertain.

City officials say the items can return once the work is complete, but their owner, Larry Hillman, a prolific local landlord, said he’s given away some of the items, including the carousel, and plans to keep doing so.

The City began maintenance in the public right of way on Central Avenue, including between First Street and Green Bay Road, on Sept. 21 and the work continued through this week. That project reportedly includes removing two trees and five stumps, repairing the water line, and planting a tree.

In November, the City reportedly plans to install evergreen boughs in planters and, in the spring, perennials in planters and also repair necessary holiday lights. 

During the project, the items required to be removed from the public right of way include Larry Hillman’s carousel, fountains, lights, a mosaic holiday tree, stained glass panels, Pegasus sculptures and other decor. 

City Manager Ghida Neukirch said the City sent Hillman an update on Sept. 21 on the maintenance project and requested a meeting to talk about his concerns and his decor.

Neukirch said the City has provided multiple updates to Hillman and has discussed the potential removal of the decor for three years. Hillman told The Record the discussions around the items has occurred to no resolution over the last four months.

According to Neukirch, items placed and kept in the public right of way need City approval, and when maintenance is planned for the location, the City works with the local property owner to remove the items and then replace them following the maintenance.

After the project, the City reportedly planned to have “everything ready” for the holiday season.

An electricity issue

Hillman said he did remove the carousel and other items from the public right of way, as the City requested; however, he said he gave them away to other communities following of a local electricity dispute.

Hillman said he has been powering his items using his buildings’ electricity “for the past 20 years” Now, he’s reportedly asked the City to step in and help power the items, but Hillman said the City told him doing so is either “too expensive” or that “there isn’t enough power to go around.” 

The City, according to Neukirch, wants Hillman to continue powering the items, because the only local power the City could provide is installed for the streetlights, and Neukirch said that not enough local power exists to power the streetlights, holiday lights, and Hillman’s carousel and decor.

Giving them away

The power dispute led to Hillman giving his items away after, he said, “nothing happened” for four months.

Hillman reportedly has already given away the carousel, giraffe, three fountains, four mosaic panels and the mosaic fountain and felt “bummed out” doing so, he said.

On Sept. 28, the carousel was not present at the site; though, stained glass pieces and mosaics were still installed.

Hillman said he communicated with the City “at length” about this issue, but that nothing proposed by the City was “even remotely feasible.”

When City maintenance began on Sept. 21, Hillman put up signs in front of his properties that read, “The City told us to remove all the fountains, carousel, lights, mosaic holiday tree and other decor and efforts we thought made this block special. All these items are now available for free. Call 847-831-9745 if interested.” 

The City has since removed the signs under a local statute prohibiting private signage on public property.

Neukirch called the signs “misleading” and said the City did not ask Hillman to give away his items, just remove them temporarily during maintenance, which the sign did not specify.

“It’s truly disheartening that the property owner has taken this approach [to give items away] because he has invested a tremendous amount on his block,” Neukirch said. “All of his investment in the public right of way have unquestionably added to the vibrancy and vitality of the downtown district.

“We appreciate everything he has done for the downtown as well as for the community overall. We would like to work with him in order to activate those items that need electricity, which requires a public-private partnership, because the streetlights cannot power everything that is out there. We’re maximizing what we can, so we are strongly urging to work with him to carry out that work.”

This news of the carousel removal saddened many residents who took to social media to express their disappointment. On Facebook, Amy Brooke Samuelsohn said she was “heartbroken” that such items would be removed. 

“The carousel has been such a beloved Highland Park staple for generations,” she wrote. “Seeing it removed feels like losing a little piece of Highland Park itself. The carousel will always hold a special place in the hearts of so many Highland Park families.” 

Hillman said he’s also sorry to see the items go and said he’s received many emails and phone calls from people about the items’ removal. He said he’s invested more than $40,000 in the items and criticized the City’s current administration.

“We wish the City were more respectful and sensitive to our efforts as property owners and retailers,” Hillman said. 

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