The Public Works Department’s Forestry Division completed its fall parkway tree planting program this week. In total, 304 parkway trees were planted throughout the community this year. The plantings consisted of 41 different tree species and 30 different tree genera as the Village continued to work toward its Urban Forest Management Plan goal of further enhancing parkway tree diversity to help protect parkway trees from impacts related to pests in the future. New parkway trees are typically planted twice each year – mid- to late-May and early to mid-November – depending on weather conditions. More information about parkway tree planting is at www.oak-park.us/trees.

With the Fall Leaf Collection Program in full swing, Oak Parkers are rising to the occasion by looking for opportunities to help neighbors who may need assistance. Local Cub Scout Troop Pack 16 coordinated a group of volunteers who helped clear leaves at six properties last week, and the Oak Park and River Forest High School wrestling team is helping with another large cleanup for more than a dozen properties later this month. Residents can sign up to volunteer or request assistance by filling out the applicable forms at www.oak-park.us/leafcollection.

Work continues on repairs to the Village’s Avenue Parking Garage, located in the Hemingway Business District at 720 North Blvd. Several areas of the garage on the ground floor and second level are closed as crews work to complete the approved repairs. Despite the partial space closures, the garage remains open with available parking for residents, commuters and visitors. Cash and credit/debit cards are accepted for daily parking at the garage and Sundays remain free of charge. Residents and visitors can also purchase a parking permit for the Avenue Garage online. Customers can email parking@oak-park.us or call 708-358-PARK (7275) with questions.

Sean Keane, Development Services Parking & Mobility Services Manager, was recently appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the Midwest Parking & Mobility Association, a regional organization dedicated to parking and mobility professionals across the Midwest. This new organization, spearheaded by the International Parking & Mobility Institute, seeks to foster a community for learning from one another, sharing insights and collaborating on solutions tailored to the unique challenges of managing public parking, transportation and mobility.

The Village is hosting a discussion about constructive approaches to addressing the hunger and homelessness that creates the need for panhandling. The community forum will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Mon., Nov. 18 in the Veterans Room at the Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St. Participating panelists include representatives from the Oak Park Police Department, the Oak Park Homelessness Coalition and the local business community. More information is at www.oak-park.us/forum24.

The Village is coordinating a free Fair Housing Training event focusing on source of income protection from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Mon., Nov. 25 in the Veterans Rooms at the Oak Park Library, 834 Lake St. The training, which is primarily intended for rental property owners, will be presented by staff from the HOPE Fair Housing Center. Visit https://bit.ly/OakParkSOITraining to register. Additionally, there will be a second free Fair Housing Training offered on the topic of arrest records and convictions from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 12 at the Oak Park Library. For more information, contact Jocelyn Rios from HOPE at 630.690.6500 ext. 113 or jocelyn.rios@hopefair.org.

The Village is partnering with Thrive Counseling Center and other community partners to host an event focused on men’s mental health. All dads, sons and brothers are invited to the panel discussion featuring an honest conversation about barriers to accessing care and how to support mental wellness among men. The event will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 at Willard Elementary School, 1250 Ashland Ave. in River Forest. Panelists with a range of experiences will discuss tools and resources to help men navigate their mental health and wellness. Click here to register for the free event. Counselors and social workers attending can earn a Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credential for a $20 fee.

The Oak Park Area Arts Council received 117 submissions for the temporary mural that will be located along the construction fencing surrounding the new Pete’s Fresh Market on Madison Street. A committee formed by the Village reviewed the submissions and voted to select the design included here by artist Dom Johnson, who has previously participated in the Arts Council’s mini-mural program. Next steps include finalizing the timeline for printing and installing the artwork.

Wonder Works Children’s Museum held a reception for a number of its supporters that have assisted the organization with recent upgrades at its facility at 6445 North Ave. in the North Avenue Business Corridor. At the event, the Village was recognized for assisting Wonder Works in helping to partially fund its recent façade improvements that included new windows and tuckpointing. This funding was achieved through the Village’s Commercial Façade Improvement Program. Business operators interested in finding out more information about the Village’s façade improvement program are encouraged to contact Cameron Davis at cdavis@oak-park.us.

Village President Vicki Scaman recently joined Development Services staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives in welcoming Print Innovation Lab to the Oak Park business community. Print Innovation Lab was founded with a mission to empower artists and photographers by offering sustainable, fine-art digital printing solutions. The business focuses on creating art that sparks conversation, invites reflection and inspires action for the planet. Print Innovation lab is located in the Scoville Building, 137 N. Oak Park Avenue, Suite 128, in the Hemingway Business District. More information is available on the Print Innovation Lab website at www.printinnovationlab.com.

The Village is joining community partners in amplifying the variety of resources available to community members who are in the midst of a mental health crisis. These options include the 988 suicide prevention & mental health crisis lifeline, dialing 911 for medical and public safety emergencies and contacting the Thrive Crisis Team for local, personalized, longer-term support. Information about the differences between these hotlines is available on the Village website at www.oak-park.us/crisisresources and included in the OP/FYI newsletter that was mailed to every residential household in Oak Park this week.

The new parking enforcement system for the private lot at The Shops in Downtown Oak Park began earlier this month and is currently in a soft launch and testing phase. The lot is located at 401-435 N. Harlem Ave., 1128-1165 Westgate St. and 1137-1147 Lake St. Standard Parking (SP+) installed updated signage on Nov. 6, at which time the system was technically live. Additional signage was installed this week at the direction of ownership (Heitman) and management. Education for users and tenants is ongoing, including a planned meeting with store managers on Tues., Nov. 19. No citations are being issued at this time as the community learns how to use the new system.

This week kids and parents alike are exploring the Oak Park Arts District while searching for Cece, the little pig with wings, who is hidden among several shops and businesses in the Oak Park Arts District on Harrison Street. Toddlin’ Around Town is a family-friendly event coordinated by the Collaboration for Early Childhood aimed at getting toddlers, babies, young children and their families out to explore and play in different areas of Oak Park. The week-long event will wrap up with a special Saturday with Santa event this Sat., Nov. 16.

Click here for a growing list of fun holiday events to enjoy in and around the Oak Park area. From tree lightings to special holiday craft sales, there is a lot to do in the coming weeks and many ways to Keep the Cheer Here in Oak Park.

Visit Oak Park secured placement on WGN’s Spotlight Chicago program this week for a Park District of Oak Park representative to promote the Oak Park Conservatory’s Community Winter Green Market happening this weekend. Click here to view the on-air segment.

Visit Oak Park Executive Director Annie Coakley hosted a short-term rental meet-up on Wednesday at Buzz Café by Kribi in the Oak Park Arts District. The purpose of the meet-up was so Visit Oak Park could learn from Airbnb-type owners about how they feel the tourist organization could best drive new overnight-stay business to the Oak Park area. In late 2023, Visit Oak Park invested funds to create a webpage to help promote short term rentals. Visit Oak Park is currently running a promotion targeting football fans in the tri-state region planning to attend Chicago Bears games. Visit Oak Park plans to change this particular promotion soon for the holidays and a winter stay-cation promotion.

Streets resurfacing complete – The annual resurfacing project has concluded for this year. The contractor resurfaced a total of nine streets and painted six pinch points at various locations throughout the Village. The contractor also installed signage and placed methyl methacrylate (MMA) pavement markings for the new bike lane along Kenilworth Avenue between Madison Street and Chicago Avenue.

Water & sewer improvements – The contractor worked on spot repairs for the sewer under Woodbine Avenue near Field Park. The contractor will return next week to line the entire sewer and replace the sod in the affected areas. MMA placement for the bike lane will take place early next week, weather permitting. Minor traffic delays are anticipated during striping operations.

Austin Boulevard sewer improvements – The remaining roadway patching along Austin Boulevard between Garfield Street and Roosevelt Road is tentatively scheduled for next week. Minor traffic delays are anticipated while work is in progress.

Pete’s Fresh Market roadwork – The contractor placed pavement markings along Euclid Avenue from Randolph Street to Washington Boulevard just north of the new Pete’s Fresh Market development. No parking signs and barricades will be removed from the site by the end of this week.

Pavement preservation update – All substantial work is complete, including all patching, micro resurfacing, crack filling and pavement-marking work. The project is anticipated to be wrapped up by the end of this week.

Madison Street improvements – The contractor installed storm sewer for the new roadway diverter at Wesley Avenue. Next steps include placing the final lift of asphalt on Madison Street and installing the remaining bricks for the raised intersection. Pavement markings and light pole removal will occur next week.