Local officials announced a $500,000 appropriation from the state to modernize the Highland Park Justice Center on Hamilton Avenue.
The renovations aim to modernize the city’s detention facility, improve security, and consolidate public services under one roof.
“This facility will be a community hub,” said Mayor Glenda McDonald. “It will not just be for detaining prisoners. It will be a place where community can come. We have block club meetings here. We have different training. This is a training facility that we’re in that we’ve already started working on, and so it will be a hub where people can come get resources that they need, and invest in their community.”
McDonald and Highland Park Police Chief James McMahon expressed gratitude for the investment, highlighting its significance in enhancing the police department’s capabilities and creating a safer environment for officers and detainees.
Officials said the project will also transform the center into a community hub, fostering trust and providing resources for local residents.
“I want to thank Mayor Glenda McDonald and Police Chief James McMahon today, and all of our local community partners,” said state Rep. Tonya Meyers Phillips. “As we gather here to celebrate an important and critical investment in Highland Park’s future, public safety begins with our communities, and it starts with community care and giving our local leaders and law enforcement the tools that they need to serve our community effectively and with dignity and love, and this is what this investment is all about.”
Meyers Phillips said the half a million dollars will create a more safe and holistic modern facility to facilitate criminal justice reform.
“It is also a critical investment in public safety. These improvements will improve security, bring public services under one roof, and provide holistic services to the residents of Highland Park,” Meyers Phillips said. “This investment represents something I firmly believe in-that every single community deserves a safe public infrastructure system. Again, one that is wrapped in community love and community care, and Highland Park deserves the same.”
McMahon, the city’s police chief since entering the role in an interim capacity in 2023, thanked stakeholders for the investment, saying an updated detention facility is something the police department had been advocating for for years.
“So to see this come come to fruition is is is really great,” he said.
McDonald echoed the sentiment that the efforts to improve the facility are a long time coming.
“Today is about investing in people. Every resident deserves to feel safe in their community, and to know that the public safety services they rely on are equipped to meet the records,” McDonald said. “This funding allows us to take an important step towards the goal that by completing renovations at the Highland Park Justice Center.”
