Park District of Highland Park Waiver and Release
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: The Park District of Highland Park is committed to conducting its recreation programs and activities in a safe manner, providing safe
aquatic facilities and programs, and holds the safety of participants in high regard. The Park District of Highland Park continually strives to reduce such risks and
insists that all participants follow safety rules and instructions that are designed to protect the participant’s safety. However, participants and parents/guardians of
minors registering for this program must recognize that there is an inherent risk of injury when choosing to participate in recreational activities/programs.
You are solely responsible for determining if you or your minor child/ward are physically fit and/or adequately skilled for the activities contemplated by this
agreement. It is always advisable, especially if the participant is pregnant, suffers from an underlining medical condition, takes medication, smokes cigarettes, has
a family history of coronary disease, or has recently suffered an illness, injury or impairment, to consult a physician before undertaking any fitness center activity,
or any physical/aquatic activity.
Please understand and recognize that lifeguards are not responsible for providing supervision or assessing your swimming skills or that of your minor child;
rather, lifeguards are responsible for enforcing safety rules and responding to emergencies. Adult pool pass holders and parents of minor pool pass holders are
solely responsible for supervision of any and all activities contemplated by this agreement. Additionally, children 10 years of age and younger must be supervised
at all times by a responsible person, 16 years of age or older. NEVER LEAVE ANY CHILD WITH POOR SWIMMING SKILLS OR 10 YEARS OF AGE AND YOUNGER
UNACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT OR RESPONSIBLE PERSON, 16 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER
WARNING OF RISK: Aerobic and other fitness activities such as passive/resistive weight training, use of stair machines, jogging, free weights, and other
training devices are intended to challenge and engage the physical, mental and emotional resources of the participant. Despite careful and proper preparation,
instruction, medical advice, conditioning, and equipment, there is still a risk of serious injury. All hazards and dangers can not be foreseen. Depending on the
particular activity, certain risks, dangers and injuries due to overexertion, improper technique, ignoring safety precautions, failing to follow instructions, slips
and falls, unfamiliarity with the equipment and/or exercise, equipment failure, failure in supervision/instruction, premises defects and other risks inherent to the
particular activity exist. In this regard, it is impossible for the Park District of Highland Park to guarantee absolute safety.
Dependent upon a person’s physical condition, age and/or skill level, aerobics and fitness activities can involve a substantial risk of the following types of injuries.
This list is by no means complete, but includes some of the more common ones:
1. Heart attack, stroke and circulatory problems 4. Shin splints
2. Bone and joint injuries 5. Muscle strain and other muscle injuries
3. Back and neck injury 6. Foot problems
Swimming and other aquatic activities challenge and engage the physical, mental and emotional resources of each participant. However, despite careful and
proper preparation, instruction, medical advice, conditioning and equipment, there is still a risk of serious injury, including but not limited to drowning, head/
brain injury, and spinal cord injury. Understandably, not all hazards and dangers can be foreseen. The very nature of swimming and aquatic activities are
hazardous and risky, including but not limited to fatigue and overexertion, poor swimming skills, failing to avoid dangerous areas, failing to follow rules and
regulations, failure of lifeguards to locate victims and/or delay in emergency response time, horseplay, diving or cannon-balling into shallow water and striking
the bottom or side of the pool or waterslide, inadequate supervision or instruction, lack of conditioning, becoming disoriented, striking other swimmers, striking
one’s head on the bottom, slip and falls on the deck or within the locker facility, chemical exposure and all other circumstances inherent to aquatic activities. In
this regard, it must be recognized that it is impossible for the Park District to guarantee absolute safety.
WAIVER AND RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK: Please read this form carefully and be aware that in signing up and participating in
this program/activity, you will be expressly assuming the risk and legal liability and waiving and releasing all claims for injuries, damages or loss which you or
your minor child/ward might sustain as a result of participating in any and all activities connected with and associated with this program/activity (including
transportation services and vehicle operations, when provided) and with the use of the Park District aquatic facilities and programs.
I recognize and acknowledge that there are certain risks of physical injury to participants in this program/activity and to patrons of aquatic facilities, and I
voluntarily agree to assume the full risk of any and all injuries, damages or loss, regardless of severity, that my minor child/ward or I may sustain as a result of
participating in any and all activities and programs connected with or associated with this Pass. I agree to waive and relinquish all claims I or my minor child/ward
may have (or accrue to me or my child/ward) as a result of participating in this program/activity against the Park District of Highland Park, including its officials,
agents, volunteers and employees. I further recognize and agree that lifeguards and other aquatic staff are not responsible for supervising my activities or the
activities of my minor child(ren) and I agree that I am solely responsible for supervising my minor children and/or assessing whether my children are physically fit
and/or adequately skilled for aquatic activities. I additionally agree to supervise any children ages 10 and under at all times. I further agree to waive and relinquish
all claims I, or my minor child/ward may have (or accrue to me or my child/ward) as a result of use of the Park District’s aquatic facilities and programs against the
Park District, including its officials, agents, volunteers and employees (hereinafter collectively referred as “District”). I do hereby fully release and forever discharge
the District from any and all claims for injuries, damages or loss that my minor child/ward or I may have or which may accrue to me or my minor child/ward and
arising out of, connected with, or in any way associated with use of the Park District of Highland Park’s aquatic facilities and programs.
Special Accommodations ADA Information: The Park District of Highland Park encourages participation by everyone! If you or a family member have special
needs and would like to participate in a program, we will be happy to make reasonable modification(s) to meet your needs. Please indicate on the registration
form if you would like information regarding our inclusion programs and/or specifically identifying any need for and request for reasonable modification
according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Park District of Highland Park provides recreation opportunities for all residents of Highland Park. People
with and without disabilities are encouraged and invited to register for all Park District of Highland Park programs of interest. People with disabilities will not be
discriminated against in the delivery of Park District of Highland Park programs. To discuss our policies, programs or services or to raise a claim of discrimination
on the basis of disability, contact our Executive Director at 847.831.3810.
Residency Policy: Recreation program residency rates apply to everyone who lives within Park District of Highland Park boundaries and pays Park District of
Highland Park taxes including: residents of Fort Sheridan (60037); portions of the Town of Fort Sheridan that lie within Park District boundaries (60035); and
Park District of Highland Park taxpayers who reside on the following Kings Cove (Deerfield) streets: Carriage Way, Bent Creek Ridge, Fox Hunt Trail, Millstone Road,
Shag Bark Lane, Smoke Tree Road and Tanglewood Court. All other Deerfield street addresses and residents of Highwood do not pay Park District of Highland Park
taxes and are, therefore, non-residents of the Park District. Non-residents pay an additional non-resident fee per program. Non-resident fees are the second fees
shown in program descriptions.
Photo & Video Policy: Photos and video footage are periodically taken of people participating in District programs and activities. All persons registering for
District programs/activities, participants in District events, or using District property thereby agree that any photograph or video taken by the District may be
used in District publications, advertising, marketing materials, brochures, event flyers, social media (including Facebook, YouTube, and other social media sites
operated by the District), and the District’s website without additional prior notice or permission and without any compensation to you. All photos and videos are
property of the District.