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 Fire hydrant testing ongoing throughout summer
The Oak Park Fire Department is testing fire hydrants as part of a routine procedure throughout the summer to ensure proper operations of these vital emergency response devices. Crews will be out until the end of September inspecting, flushing and measuring flow rates on all 1,240 fire hydrants in the Village. 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.
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First Fridays street festival
series starting in July
From July through October, the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a monthly street festival series with support from the Village. On the first Friday of each month, a different business district will be transformed into a vibrant, open-air celebration with live music, local vendors and family fun. The first stop is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, July 4 on Chicago Avenue from Lombard Avenue to Humphrey Avenue, offering a perfect spot to continue the celebration after Oak Park’s Fourth of July parade. Find all the details at www.firstfridaysoakpark.org.
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Keyes arrives as new
Chief DEI Officer
The Village welcomed Kellye Keyes this week as the new Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. A highly accomplished public servant and equity-focused leader, Keyes is an Oak Park resident who brings more than 25 years of legal, executive and community-based experience to this critical leadership role. She will lead the Village’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, guiding the development and implementation of the Village’s first-ever Racial Equity Action Plan, advancing inclusive policies across municipal operations and strengthening partnerships with community groups, citizen commissions and other regional allies.
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Two Bike Plan open houses and public hearings scheduled in July
The Village will conduct two open houses and public hearings on the Oak Park Bike Plan Update in July, offering opportunities for community members to have questions answered by Village staff and to weigh in on the plan before it comes before the Village Board for a vote. The open houses are scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. on July 14 at the Carroll Center, 1125 S. Kenilworth Ave. and 6 to 8 p.m. on July 16 at the Community Recreation Center, 229 Madison St. The Bike Plan Update is a Village-wide transportation planning study that includes recommendations for the installation of on-street bicycle accommodations that may require the removal of on-street parking at multiple locations. A copy of the draft Bike Plan Update is posted at www.engageoakpark.com/bike-plan. Comments made at the public hearing or submitted via email to transportation@oak-park.us will be shared with members of the Village Board.
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Cycle Across Illinois bicycle ride to honor Det. Allan Reddins
Save the date for 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 the Illinois Chapter of 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 for the Oak Park Police Department.
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Spike in overdose cases cause for concern
Chicago health officials monitoring local overdose data noted a significant spike in opioid overdoses this past weekend, reporting a total of 60 possible opioid overdoses from last Friday to Saturday alone. The Oak Park Public Health Department reminds community members to call 911 if they observe someone who is experiencing signs of an overdose or is unresponsive. Additionally, you can respond by giving Narcan nasal spray, a medication that will restore breathing in an overdose victim until help arrives. Narcan is available for free 24/7 from boxes maintained by the Oak Park Public Health Department. Click here for a map of these boxes. Learn more about opioid overdose and local resources at www.oak-park.us/naloxone.
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