Meetings scheduled for next week:
- Wednesday, June 25:
- Thursday, June 26:
- Historic Preservation Commission, 7:30 p.m. in Room 101
Derek Eder was nominated to the Village Board by President Vicki Scaman and appointed during the Board meeting on Tuesday. Eder is a developer, civic technology leader and climate advocate who volunteers with several community organizations. Prior to appointment, he had been a member of the Village’s Building Codes Advisory Commission since 2024 and is also an active member of the Oak Park Climate Action Network. Eder also sits on the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition Renewables Committee. Eder, pictured left with his partner and children, will serve the remainder of former Trustee Susan Buchanan’s term, which expires in April 2027.
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Kellye A. Keyes has been chosen as Oak Park’s new Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer. A highly accomplished public servant and equity-focused leader, Keyes brings more than 25 years of legal, executive, and community-based experience to this critical leadership role. Her first day with the Village will be Monday, June 23. Click here to read more about Kellye.
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John Melaniphy began his role as the Assistant Village Manager of Economic Vitality earlier this week, leading the Village’s strategic efforts to support and enhance Oak Park’s economic vitality, working closely with business owners, developers, residents and community stakeholders. Click here to read more about John’s background.
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Mary Naughton, LCSW, began this week as the new Program Manager for the E.C.H.O. (Engaging Community for Healthy Outcomes) program within the Community Services division. An Oak Park native, Mary brings a deep commitment to community well-being and a wealth of experience in behavioral health and homeless services. She joins the Village with a strong background in both direct service and leadership roles in the social services sector. Most recently, she served as the Director of an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program, where she led a multidisciplinary team providing intensive, community-based behavioral health services to individuals living with severe and persistent mental illness. Her leadership emphasized collaboration, crisis response, and a trauma-informed approach to care, ensuring high-quality support for some of the community’s most vulnerable residents.
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Illinois Senate President Don Harmon and House Assistant Majority Leader Camille Lilly will host a Legislative Town Hall on Monday, June 23 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Oak Park Public Library (834 Lake St.). Taking place in the Veterans Room, this event will feature conversation about state and local issues that matter to the community. It is free and open to the public.
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The Village of Oak Park will conduct two open houses and public hearings on the Bike Plan Update which is a Village-wide transportation planning study that includes recommendations for the installation of on-street bicycle accommodations which may require the removal of on-street parking at multiple locations. The events will take place on Monday, July 14 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Carroll Center (1125 S. Kenilworth Ave.) and Wednesday, July 16 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Community Recreation Center (229 Madison St.). Click here for more information.
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A Community Open House to discuss the Roosevelt Road Corridor Plan is scheduled for Wednesday, July 9 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Salerno's (7128 Roosevelt Rd.). Attendees can enjoy free pizza and refreshments ask questions, share insights and get to know the planning team. All ages are welcome and you can pop by at any time between our open house hours. This project is a joint effort between the Berwyn Development Corporation and the Village of Oak Park is focused on improving Roosevelt Road between Harlem Avenue and Austin Avenue. Visit RooseveltRoadCorridorPlan.com to stay up-to-date.
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Save the date the afternoon of Sunday, July 13 when community members are invited to line Madison Street from Harlem Avenue to Lombard Avenue as the 21st annual Cycle Across Illinois bicycle ride travels through Oak Park. The ride benefits Illinois Chapter, Concerns of Police Survivors, an organization dedicated to supporting the families of fallen officers. This year’s ride will include a stop in Oak Park to honor Detective Allan Reddins, who was killed in the line of duty last November while responding to a call. More information is at www.oak-park.us/honor-ride.
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Tommy McFarlin, Scouts BSA Troop 2, collaborated with the Oak Park Fire Department as the beneficiary of his Eagle Project, which involved completing two Bunker Gear Dryers. Gear dryers significantly reduce drying time, allowing items to be put back into service more quickly. Used mainly after the gear has been washed, they will also be used after severe weather or any call that may cause the gear to get wet. Tommy met with Deputy Chief Kevin Fadden last year to begin his project. He then had to develop and present his Eagle Project proposal, which went through an extensive approval process by both the fire department and the Scouting program. Tommy then led a group of volunteers, acquiring and preparing all the materials to be ready for his scheduled workdays. The dryers were completed last week, put into service, and were used less than 24 hours later. One dryer will be housed at Station 1 and the other will be at Station 3. The Village and OPFD are grateful for Tommy’s hard work and gift to the department!
Bridge rehabilitation program - The contractor completed the bridge deck sealing for the Home Avenue pedestrian bridge on Monday. Later this summer, work is planned to occur on the Oak Park Avenue, East Avenue and Lombard Avenue bridges. There are no dates for that work scheduled at this time.
Water and sewer improvements – This week the contractor installed the first valve vault for the Forest Avenue project at the Greenfield Street intersection. The contractor is moving south installing water main and new fire hydrants. The contractor planned to install new water main up to the Berkshire Street intersection by the end of this week. Contractors also completed tree root pruning and installed tree protection fencing along Columbian Avenue this week. The sewer work on Columbian between Division Street and Augusta Street is anticipated to start the week of June 23, pending permit approval. All effected residents have been notified and received parking passes.
Bike boulevards update – Striping and signage work for the bike boulevards project is tentatively scheduled for the week of June 23. Punchlist work for the newly installed rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) will begin in the next few weeks.
Pavement preservation update – The contractor completed fiber modified crack sealing in various locations this week. Pavement marking removal was also completed in preparation for microsurfacing. Next week, microsurfacing application will begin at various locations.
Alley improvements – Sewer improvements began in the final alley between the 600 block of Highland Avenue and Cuyler Avenue this week. Earth excavation and pavement removal also began this week in the final alley following the completion of the sewer. All effected residents have been given parking passes. All planned sewer improvements for this project will be completed this week. The full project is anticipated to be completed by July 15.
ComEd distribution conduit installation - ComEd’s contractor will finish final pavement restoration for the ComEd project for the USPS facility in Forest Park this coming week on the northern two locations. Crews will begin pavement removal on East Ave. from South Blvd. to Randolph, Randolph from East to Euclid and Euclid from Randolph to Washington. Pavement restoration will also take place on Euclid from Madison to Jackson. Sidewalk improvements will begin at the intersection of East and Van Buren this week with final pavement restoration to follow.
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