Gewalt Hamilton Associates (GHA) was retained by the Park District of Highland Park to provide planning, engineering and construction phase services for the renovation of the Sunset Valley Golf Course. The renovation included improvements to the majority of the 120-acre property, including new greens, new tees, new fairways and regrading of fairways, adjustment to the irrigation system, modifications to the maintenance area access drive, modification to the cart paths, and integrated drainage system.

The project provided some unique challenges. The regulatory floodway of Skokie River occupies approximately 40 acres of the course, and the projection of regulatory floodplain occupies approximately 70 acres of the course. conveyance and compensatory storage were provided at the golf course. A HEC-RAS hydraulic model of the Skokie River was developed to demonstrate that the floodway conveyance are maintained and that the compensatory storage are provided for any floodway and floodplain storage lost due to proposed regrading of the golf course improvements. In addition, the City of Highland Park established its own flood elevations increasing the area more than required by the IDNR and LCSMC. Lastly, the large disturbance warranted extensive review by the City for the Tree Preservation. Detention was provided to support the Park District’s Operation Center, neighboring the course.