The Village is encouraging the entire community to join in recognizing National Community Development Week from April 21-25. This annual event highlights the impact of the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and its role in building a more inclusive, accessible and supportive community. Since 1974, Oak Park has used CDBG funds to improve infrastructure, support social services, expand affordable housing and strengthen local nonprofits — investing more than $21 million in the past decade alone. To showcase this impact, banners and signs are being placed across the community at locations where federal funding has supported local projects — from sidewalk upgrades and housing improvements to food pantries and mental health services. Learn more at www.oak-park.us/cdbg as we celebrate community development in action!

The Oak Park Police Department is partnering with local school districts to introduce the Handle With Care initiative to provide support for students who may be experiencing trauma or difficult life circumstances. The goal of the program is to help create a compassionate and understanding environment for students, ensuring that their emotional well-being is prioritized alongside their academic growth. If a student is involved in a law enforcement situation that might affect their emotional or mental well-being (such as a traumatic event at home), Police officials will email the designated administrator, using the phrase “Handle With Care.” The initiative stems from the Village’s involvement in the Tri-Agency Safety Workgroup along with officials from District 97 and District 200. Click here for an introduction letter the school districts are sharing with families. 

The Village is hosting a free paper shredding and foam recycling event from 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday, April 19 at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd. Residents will be able to drop off foam products with the No. 6 symbol, which are not accepted as part of the Village's single-stream recycling program. Please collect foam products in a clear, translucent bag. For paper shredding, each household can bring two bags or small boxes of paper items with personal information such as canceled checks and documents containing credit card numbers, social security numbers and medical information. More information is at www.oak-park.us/shredding425.

Oak Park community members are invited to learn about Dr. Percy L. Julian’s life and legacy and provide feedback on three initial conceptual designs for a streetscape project along Chicago Avenue honoring Dr. Julian during an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22 in Room 101 at Village Hall. Feedback gathered during the event will help influence the final design for the project. More information is at www.oak-park.us/JulianStreetscapeOpenHouse. 

One Earth Film Festival, the Midwest’s premier environmental film fest, returns to Oak Park and other communities next week for its 14th season. Join the Village's Office of Sustainability and Resilience for a free screening of “Every Little Thing” at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23 at Village Hall. Click here to reserve free tickets. The Oak Park Public Library is also hosting a screening of "Cafeteria Man” at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 26. Click here to reserve free tickets.

To kickoff Public Service Recognition Week and the 56th Annual Professional Municipal Clerks Week in early May, the Village and Village Clerk Christina M. Waters are hosting a Civic Engagement Festival: "Democracy in Action!" The first-ever free festival will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 4 in the courtyard at Village Hall. The event aims to empower the community through civic engagement, showcase the functions of municipal government and more. Find more information about the event on the Village website at www.oak-park.us/cef25.

Dozens of community members joined Village staff and elected officials for the second annual Community Cleanup Day on April 12 in celebration of National Volunteer Week and Earth Month. The groups used litter pickers, brooms, shovels and other supplies provided by the Village to pick up refuse along several Oak Park thoroughfares. Residents who were unable to participate in the event but are otherwise interested in the effort to Keep Oak Park Beautiful can learn more about the Village’s Neighborhood Clean-up Program at www.oak-park.us/neighborhoodcleanup.

Paola Garibay joined the organization this week in the role of Neighborhood Partnerships Administrator. Paola holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management & Leadership from Northern Illinois University. She is also currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration from NIU with an emphasis in local government. Paola comes to the Village after previously working at a nonprofit organization operating through a public-private partnership with local government agencies where she managed programs and grants that supported the local business community.

Oak Park residents interested in knowing about the quality of the water they drink can find the latest annual report at www.oak-park.us/water-quality-report. Each year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires communities to provide details on the quality of the local drinking water. In addition to analysis results for regulated and unregulated substances in the water, the 2025 report posted this week also includes facts about the community’s drinking water delivery system and source. An archive of past water quality reports is posted at www.oak-park.us/waterquality. For more information about Oak Park’s drinking water or to request a paper copy of the annual water report, call 708.358.5700 or email publicworks@oak-park.us.

The Village learned this week that some Oak Park residents received letters from ComEd confirming a change to MC Squared Energy as their new electric supplier. This is the result of the Village’s Community Choice Aggregation Program and ongoing contract with MC Squared. The Village is using its communications channels to share reminders about the aggregation program, which ensures aggregation participants will never pay more than those customers whose electricity is supplied by ComEd. Learn more about Community Choice Aggregation at www.oak-park.us/aggregation.

The Village is encouraging residents looking to install solar panels at their home to consider the Switch Together program, which provides homeowners with affordable solar panel and battery system installations through a group buying initiative. Offered by nonprofits Midwest Renewable Energy Association and Citizens Utility Board, the program vets and qualifies trusted installers using a competitive bidding process. Through the current program, the average household is expected to save more than $4,800 on a high-quality solar installation. Switch Together also provides free educational webinars and in-person events to guide residents through the process of going solar. It is free to register, and there is no obligation or expectation to purchase a system. Find more information at www.SwitchTogether.com/solar/oakpark.

The start of the Oak Park Farmers’ Market’s 50th season is less than one month away with opening day set for May 17. The Oak Park River Forest Museum is helping kick off the celebration of this milestone year by hosting a panel discussion of vendors and others associated with the Market on Saturday, April 26 at the OPRF Museum, 129 Lake St. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. for coffee and Pilgrim Church donuts. Hear how the market started with one farmer in 1976 and has grown into a beloved summer community event over the last five decades. Admission to this event is free, with donations welcomed in support of the operations of OPRF Museum.

In recognition of the 8th annual Black Maternal Health Week, the Village shared information via social media amplifying the efforts of Black Mamas Matter Alliance to center Black women’s scholarship, maternity care work and advocacy across the full spectrum of sexual, maternal and reproductive health care, services, programs and initiatives. Learn more about the Black Mamas Matter Alliance at www.blackmamasmatter.org/bmhw.

Visit Downtown Oak Park any time between April 21-27 to participate in the Brew Passport Tour. During the week-long celebration, try signature caffeinated drinks from local businesses and collect stamps for each new drink you try. The first 50 people to collect five or more stamps earn a travel coffee mug. Pick up a stamp card at participating businesses, a list of which can be found on Downtown Oak Park’s website.

Visit Oak Park facilitated the recent appearance of Oak Park’s Val’s Halla Records on WGN to celebrate National Record Store Day, which occurred April 12. Click here to view WGN news segments.

As part of the CTA’s ongoing efforts to provide commuters with a safe and comfortable ride, crews will be performing an estimated $6.5 million in repairs and maintenance this year across the CTA service region. In Oak Park, improvements are scheduled to take place at the Austin Blue Line station and Oak Park Green Line station through Memorial Day weekend. The scope of work varies by location, but can include deep clean power washing of all surfaces, painting, lighting upgrades and more. Find more information at www.transitchicago.com/refreshrenew.

ComEd distribution conduit installation update – Work continued on the ComEd conduit project for the USPS facility in Forest Park. Trenching continued at Randolph Street and East Avenue and is moving north to Pleasant Street. Conduit installation is anticipated to start at the intersection of East and Jackson Boulevard the week of April 28.

Bike Boulevard project – Work is underway for the 2025 Bike Boulevard project, which continues the creation of a network of low-stress, on-street bicycle routes throughout the Village. Creating the network includes a variety of treatments for bicyclists and traffic calming such as pavement markings, signage and bike/pedestrian activated rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs). This week the contractor finished up foundation installations at the corner of Washington Boulevard and Scoville Avenue followed by conduit installation. The project will include installing RRFBs at the corners of Lexington Street and East Avenue, Jackson Boulevard and Scoville Avenue, Madison Street and Scoville, and Washington and Scoville.

Alley reconstruction update – Sewer improvements will soon begin in the alley located behind the 600 block of Wisconsin Ave. Concrete was poured in the alley between the 1100 block of N. Oak Park Ave. and Grove Ave. This alley will reopen on April 28. Pavement removal will begin in the alley between the 300 block of S. Scoville Ave and East Ave. this week. All affected residents have been notified and received parking passes.