Colors: Green, white, yellow, and blue
Meanings/Symbolism: The green stripe represents the earth generally and specifically the nature, green pastures, and forest preserves in the county. The white stripe represents the city between the forest preserves and the Lake. The blue stripe generally represents water in the county and more specifically Lake Michigan. The yellow star represents light and the clearness of day as the sun shines over the entire city and county, from the Lake to the forests. There is a progression of those physical/geographical elements on the flag from the Lake on the left-East side of the flag to city in the center of the flag to the forest preserves on the right-West side of the flag.
More idealistically, the white represents kindness and clarity; the blue represents clarity, calm, and relaxation; and the green represents growth and renewal. Finally, the star represents guidance.