Oak Park’s pay-by-license plate public parking system saw a significant increase in utilization and revenue for the first quarter of 2024. When compared to the first quarter of 2023, the number of transactions utilizing both on-street pay-stations and the Village’s Park Oak Park parking app increased by 18% this year. In addition, revenue collection increased by 17% compared to the first quarter of 2023. This past March the Village processed a record-high 50,486 transactions. Oak Park residents and visitors are reminded to download the Park Oak Park mobile app from the AppStore or Google Play to access various parking services, including mobile pay-by-license plate parking. Payment can also be made at on-street pay stations using coins or credit and debit cards.

Oak Park’s second annual Move with the Mayor event is set for 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Tues., May 14 in the parking lot at Village Hall. Village President Vicki Scaman will join Village staff in giving away free bicycle helmets during the family-friendly celebration. Media Production Manager Joe Kreml produced a promotional video for the event – click here to view. Bike safety is the primary focus of this year’s Move with the Mayor event in Oak Park. In addition to the bike helmet giveaway, attendees will be able to participate in a mini bike safety rodeo facilitated by a certified instructor from the League of American Bicyclists. The free helmets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Free stickers will also be available so participants can customize and decorate their helmets. Additionally, the event will also feature a visit from Kuumba Kids Dance for an audience-participation activity on the south lawn.

The Fire Department is set to begin testing fire hydrants as part of a routine procedure that is expected to continue periodically all summer to ensure proper operations of these vital emergency response devices. Crews will be out from now until the end of September inspecting, flushing and measuring flow rates on all 1,240 fire hydrants in the Village. The inspections also will make sure all hydrants are accessible and not damaged in any way. Residents on the same water line may notice cloudy water the first time a tap is opened after a nearby test. Fire officials say any cloudiness in the water should clear up if the tap is allowed to run for a few minutes. For more information about fire hydrant flushing, visit www.oak-park.us/hydrantflushing, call 708.358.5600 or email fire@oak-park.us.

The Village is celebrating International Compost Awareness Week by highlighting the role composting can play in addressing climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at landfills and the promotion of healthy plant growth. Visit www.oak-park.us/compostweek24 to learn about composting in Oak Park. In addition to shining a spotlight on Oak Park’s residential compost program, the Village is also launching a new initiative to encourage residents to leave fallen leaves next autumn rather than bagging the leaves to be hauled away. Visit www.oak-park.us/leafpledge to learn more and sign a pledge to leave the leaves. Residents who complete the pledge are eligible to receive a free decorative garden yard flag.

The Village collected $57,841 in hotel/motel tax revenue during the first three months of 2024. This represents a 14% increase compared to the same period in 2023, putting the Village ahead of last year’s pace that resulted in $258,700 collected, the highest total on record for a single year. The revenue comes from a 4% local tax paid by guests who stay in Oak Park’s local hotel, bed and breakfast and short-term rental establishments. The Airbnb-style short-term rental establishments continue to drive the record breaking tax collection growth, underscoring the strength of Oak Park’s hospitality industry.

The Development Services Department’s Permits & Development Division is hosting a Building Safety Month Open House from 9 a.m. to noon on Wed., May 15 at Village Hall. Department tours, information about upcoming construction projects, free refreshments and Q&A’s with Village officials responsible for permitting, planning, zoning and building fire safety are just some of the activities planned. More information is at www.oak-park.us/buildingsafety24.

Students of all ages are invited to share their original, persuasive speeches on the importance of Juneteenth in a community-wide oratory competition. Winners and runners-up will receive cash prizes and also be presented as featured speakers at a celebratory event on Sun., June 9 at The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association, and at the Village’s Juneteenth flag raising ceremony on Wed., June 12. Competition dates are Thurs., May 16 from 7-8 p.m. (high school), Sat., May 18 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. (middle school) and Sun., May 19 from 3-4 p.m. (elementary school). The contest is open to all youth, including Oak Parkers and non-residents. For more information about competition rules and dates, please click here.

The Village and its fellow cohort members from suburban Cook County exceeded their goal for the 100 Day Challenge of housing 88 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in safe and stable housing. Grants Manager Vanessa Matheny participated in the cohort. The initial goal also called for 30% of those individuals being adults who are age 55 or older, along with connecting 167 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness to shelter such as transitional housing, nursing homes, etc. Thus far, the cohort has helped 91 individuals find housing and 271 individuals have been connected to shelter. The 100 Day Challenge is ending on May 21, and the cohort continues to identify opportunities to reduce barriers for individuals to access affordable housing and access to transitional housing and shelter.

Cook County’s Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security is hosting a public information and planning session to gather input from Cook County residents regarding potential natural hazards and disasters that could impact the County. This session is a part of the 2024 Cook County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan update process. The meeting will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14 at the Melrose Park Senior Building, 900 N. 25th St. in Melrose Park. County residents and business owners who can’t attend the meeting but still want to provide feedback to help the County update its emergency preparedness plans can complete an online survey at cookgov.me/mitigate2024 through May 31. For questions, please contact 312.603.8180 or email kimberly.nowicki@cookcountyil.gov.

Laura Maychruk, President of the Oak Park Arts District, made an on-air appearance during WGN’s Midday Fix previewing the upcoming What’s Blooming on Harrison Street Festival, which is scheduled for Sat., May 18. Click here to view the interview. The on-air publicity was coordinated by Visit Oak Park, a Village-funded partner agency that promotes tourism opportunities in the Oak Park area. More information about the What’s Blooming on Harrison Street Festival is on the Arts District website. To keep up with area special events, sign up to receive the Visit Oak Park monthly newsletter by visiting www.visitoakpark.com and scrolling to the bottom of the page.

Euclid Avenue water improvements – The contractor is in the process of connecting the new water main to the old main in the intersection of Euclid Avenue and North Boulevard. All water transfers for the apartment buildings on Euclid Avenue have also been completed. Concrete removals and replacements are scheduled to begin next week.

Madison Street improvements – Crews are working to install the remaining storm sewer and patching the roadway along Madison Street between Oak Park Avenue and Euclid Avenue. The contractor finished installing all domestic water services in the construction zone. Next week the contractor will disconnect and abandon the old water main and start concrete removals along the north side of Madison.

Austin Boulevard sewer improvements – Garfield Street has been partially closed this week between Austin Boulevard and Lombard Avenue as part of the ongoing work along Austin to remove and replace water valves between Garfield and Roosevelt Road. Affected residents have been notified about upcoming water shutoffs while work is ongoing.

Forest & Ontario update – The contractor continued crosswalk removal and concrete pours this week in the area of Forest Avenue and Ontario Street. Brick and paver replacement is expected to begin next week. The traffic detour around the site remains in place while work is ongoing.

Alley improvement project – Earth excavation and pavement removal is complete in five alleys under the first alley improvement contract for 2024. The contractor is preparing to place concrete ribbons in the alley between the 800 blocks of Oak Park Ave. and Grove Ave. Excavation for the sixth alley occurred earlier this week. The first alley for the second contract is fully reopened. The second alley between the 400 blocks of Grove Ave. and Kenilworth Ave. is excavated and poured. The concrete aprons will be poured later this week for the reopening on May 13.

Sidewalk repairs – The first sidewalk repair project of the year is substantially completed. The contractor will begin landscape restoration this week, followed by working on the punchlist items for the project.

Bike boulevard update – Flexible delineators are expected to be installed this week at various bike boulevard locations this week. Foundations for the radar sign are on temporary but indeterminate hold.

Marion Street resurfacing – The contractor placed binder course this week along Marion Street from Randolph Street to Pleasant Place. Surface course will be placed next, followed by pavement striping. Once the striping is complete, the roadway will be reopened.

Pleasant & Marion – Irrigation for the exterior of the new Focus Development at Pleasant Street and Marion Street started this week, followed by landscape plantings next week. Punchlist and detail work for the metal panels is ongoing.