Don’t miss the Village's Arab American Heritage Month Celebration from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 27 at Village Hall. This special event coordinated by the Village in partnership with community volunteers will feature music, food, crafts and more as we celebrate the rich culture, traditions and contributions of the Arab American community. Find more information at www.oak-park.us/AAHM25.

More than 70 people attended the One Earth Film Festival screening of “Every Little Thing” on Wednesday in the Council Chamber at Village Hall. The Village’s Office of Sustainability and Resilience hosted and helped coordinate the free event, which included refreshments and a panel discussion after the screening. The Oak Park Public Library is hosting a One Earth Film Festival screening of "Cafeteria Man” at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 26. Click here to reserve free tickets.

As part of an ongoing series to raise awareness about local suicide prevention resources, the Village and several partners hosted a community event April 16 for residents to learn more about how secure firearm storage and firearm restraining orders are tools that can prevent self-harm and suicide. Representatives from Everytown for Gun Safety and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office presented information to the group of 20 people. Speakers talked about the important role gunowners play in securing firearms to keep them out of the hands of children, teens and those who may be vulnerable to self-harm. Next, the group learned about firearm restraining orders, including who can initiate an order, how they work and in what circumstances they can be used to help a loved one in a mental health crisis. The next topic in the series, which is organized by the Village, the Community Mental Health Board, Thrive Counseling Center and the River Forest Township, will focus on veterans’ mental health.  

The Development Services Department is celebrating the promotions of Michael Bruce and Rachel Nesbitt. Michael, who previously served as the Village’s Zoning Administrator, moved to the position of Village Planner on April 21. The longtime Village employee joined the organization in 2003 and will fill the vacancy that opened when Craig Failor was promoted to Development Services Director earlier this year. Rachel, a Business License Officer who has been with the Village since 2017, is taking on the role of Permit Services Supervisor for the Permit & Development Division beginning April 28.

The Police Department celebrated Nathaniel Leitl’s promotion to Commander with a swearing-in ceremony Monday in the Council Chambers at Village Hall. Commander Leitl has been with the department since 2000 and served most recently as Sergeant in the Investigations Bureau. He has also served as a canine officer and in patrol. He will serve as Patrol Commander, overseeing one of the Police Department’s two patrol shifts.

Fleet Services Superintendent Ken Crowley is slated to speak at the Green Drives Conference and Expo on Thursday, May 8 at the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute in Alsip. Green Drives – one of the largest clean-transportation conferences held in the Midwest – is an annual event for government officials, commercial and municipal fleet managers, corporate sustainability officers and clean-tech and clean-energy professionals who want to learn how to use cleaner, lower emissions fuels and technologies, while saving money. Ken will be discussing steps the Village is taking to make its vehicle fleet greener through the use of electric and hybrid vehicles and their supporting infrastructure.

The Public Works Department’s Forestry Division participated in an Arbor Day event hosted by the Park District of Oak Park on Friday that involved the planting of a sweetgum tree in Carroll Park. The Village is also highlighting the fact that Oak Park was named a 2024 Tree City USA recipient for its commitment to managing its urban forest. This is the 41st year the Village has been recognized for this achievement. Additionally, the Village received a Growth Award for the 18th time for continuing to grow its forestry program. Find more information about how the Village cares for trees on public property at www.oak-park.us/trees.

Starting June 1, the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in Oak Park will be permanently prohibited. The Neighborhood Services Department’s Code Compliance Division is preparing for the Ordinance 8-41-4 to take effect by engaging with landscaping companies that operate in Oak Park to ensure they are ready for the change. This includes hosting an open house for landscapers at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30 at the Community Recreation Center to share information about the permanent ban on gas-powered leaf blowers. The Village has also prepared flyers in English and Spanish that can be handed out to landscapers. For more information, contact propertyissues@oak-park.us or 708.358.5410.

Liberator Illinois is applying for a special-use permit to operate a cannabis retail dispensary at 7045 North Ave. The minority-owned, multi-state operator of cannabis dispensaries is headquartered in Evanston. Liberator currently operates stores in Seattle and San Francisco and is progressing on two store locations in Chicago's Logan Square and Edgewater neighborhoods. The company is now in the process of applying for the Oak Park special-use permit, a requirement of all new cannabis dispensaries since February 2020. The Village’s Development Services staff anticipates the application for the proposed dispensary, which would be called The Bakeree, will be before the Village’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) for consideration in either July or August 2025. After consideration by the ZBA, its recommendation will be forwarded to the Village Board for final consideration and action. If approved, Liberator Illinois officials have indicated their intention to purchase the property on North Avenue and invest significant resources in both interior build-out and exterior façade improvements.

The Oak Park Public Health Department has free rapid COVID-19 tests available for residents. Community members are welcome to come to Village Hall during regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays to pick up free tests. This offer will continue as long as supplies last and is intended for people currently experiencing symptoms, not for long-term storage.

Experience one of the biggest health and wellness events of 2025 at the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce’s ninth annual Community Health and Wellness Fair. The Oak Park Public Health Department will be among more than 80 health and wellness professionals on hand with family-friendly activities, giveaways and no-cost health screenings available. This free event takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 27 at the Park District of Oak Park's Community Recreation Center. 

Safely dispose of expired and unwanted prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, April 26 at the Oak Park Township, 105 S. Oak Park Ave. The event is part of National Rx Take Back Day sponsored by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration to help prevent accidental poisoning, drug misuse and environmental contamination. Prescription drugs also can be safely disposed of any time in a special collection box in the Police Department lobby in the lower level at Village Hall. More information is at www.oak-park.us/drugdisposal.

Preparations are being made for the Oak Park Area Arts Council’s annual Sculpture Walk This year’s instillation of public art will be co-hosted by both the Oak Park Arts District and Downtown Oak Park. With sculptures being installed mid-May, there will be plenty of warm weather to get out and explore not only the works of art, but also the business districts that are housing them. Be on the look-out for more information, including a bike route through Oak Park that will connect the entire Sculpture Walk, on the Arts Council website at www.oakparkareaartscouncil.org.

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning has created Local Housing Profiles to help policymakers, planners, researchers and residents understand key information about their community. The profiles are developed in partnership with the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University. The profiles include information about housing demand, supply and affordability relative to regional trends. Click here to view CMAP’s housing profile for Oak Park.

Cook County Leak Repair, an initiative led by the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development and administered by Elevate, provides free plumbing repairs and fixture upgrades to help eligible suburban Cook County residents stop leaks and save money on water bills. Don’t let leaks and inefficient fixtures drain your wallet - let Cook County Leak Repair help you regain control of your water bills. To be eligible for this program, your household gross income must not exceed 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or be located in an income-qualified census tract. Additionally, the property must be four units or fewer and located in suburban Cook County. For more information, visit www.cookcountyil.gov/service/cook-county-leak-repair.

Community members are encouraged to pay a visit to one of Oak Park’s independently owned bookstores to help celebrate Independent Bookstore Day this Saturday, April 25! Oak Park has three independently-owned stores for you to visit: The Looking Glass, located at 823 S. Oak Park Ave. in the Southtown Business District; Mission Curiosity Bookstore, located at 319 Madison St. on the Madison District Corridor; and the Village’s newest addition, Dandelion Bookshop located at 139 S. Oak Park Ave. in the Hemingway Business District.

Join thousands of people from cities across the globe making observations for the City Nature Challenge from April 25-28. The Village’s Office of Sustainability & Resilience encourages community members to participate by taking a photo of any wild plant or animal spotted in the Chicagoland Region and then adding the photos and locations to the iNaturalist app or website.  

ComEd conduit installation update – Work continued on ComEd's distribution conduit installation project for the USPS facility in Forest Park. Trenching on East Avenue between Randolph Street and Pleasant Street will be done next week. Crews will begin upgrading sidewalk crossings and restoring the parkways at affected locations. All disturbed streets will be paved by the end of June. Work at the intersection of Jackson Boulevard and East Avenue is anticipated to begin the week of April 28 and will move south toward Harrison Street.

Alley reconstruction update – Sewer improvements in the alley located between the 500 blocks of S. Scoville Ave. and East Ave. are expected to be complete by the end of this week. Crews have completed sewer improvements in five alleys so far. The alley between the 1100 blocks of N. Oak Park Ave and Grove Ave. will open on Monday. Earth excavation and pavement removal is currently in progress in the alley between the 600 blocks of Home Ave. and Wenonah Ave.

Bike Boulevard project – The contractor finished foundation and conduit installations at the following intersections: Lexington Street & East Avenue, Jackson Boulevard & Scoville Avenue, Madison Street & Scoville and Washington Boulevard & Scoville. Crews are currently waiting on materials for the new rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) posts.