For the third year in a row, the Village has earned the John A. Sasso National Community Development Award, presented by the National Community Development Association (NCDA). The award was presented to the Community Services Division of the Neighborhood Services Department. Oak Park stood out for its creative and community-centered approach for promoting the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. From eye-catching signage to engaging videos and digital outreach shared during National Community Development Week in April, the message was clear: CDBG funds benefit everyone in Oak Park, whether through infrastructure upgrades, youth and senior services or public facilities that improve life for all residents. This award was made possible through cross-departmental collaboration between Neighorbhood Services, Communications, Public Works, and Development Services, a true team effort that showcased the best of what the Village can do when we work together.

Village will close at noon on Fridays during July and August as part of an initiative designed to provide Village employees more flexibility during the summer. The shortened summer hours will begin July 11 and continue every Friday through Aug. 29. Village Hall is closed all day Friday, July 4 for Independence Day. Anyone needing to conduct in-person business on Fridays in July and August is encouraged to do so in the morning. Residents are also reminded that many routine municipal services that do not require a visit to Village Hall are available online via links at www.oak-park.us/onlineservices, including construction permits, business licenses and parking permits. Services provided by sworn public safety staff in the Village’s Fire and Police Departments will not be impacted by this seasonal change. More information is at www.oak-park.us/villagehallsummer.

The Fire Department participated in a Coffee With a Firefighter/Paramedic event Tuesday afternoon at the Starbucks on Lake Street Lieutenant. Steve Ausmann and Battalion Chief Robert Murphy were on hand to share fire prevention and public safety information with customers who visited the store. Community members are always welcome to reach out to the Fire Department at fireprevention@oak-park.us with any questions related to fire safety.

Fire Chief Joseph “JT” Terry was sworn in by Village Clerk Christina Waters on Monday during a ceremony at the main fire station. Chief Terry has served the Village in various leadership roles since joining the Oak Park Fire Department in 2007. More information is at www.oak-park.us/terry. Find more photos from the swearing-in ceremony on the Village's Instagram page.

The Village welcomed several new employees this week. Kellye Keyes officially started as the Village’s Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer on Monday. Kellye brings more than 25 years of legal, executive and community-based experience to this critical leadership role. A resident of Oak Park, she holds a Juris Doctor from American University Washington College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from Emory University. Read more about her background at www.oak-park.us/keyes. Sean Lintow Sr. moved into the role of Permits & Development Manager / Chief Building Official in the Development Services Department. Sean is a familiar face in the Permits & Development Division having served as a Village Building Inspector the past few years through a contract with HR Green. Bob Bernhart is the new Zoning Administrator in the Development Services Department. He graduated with a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of South Florida. He was previously the Senior Planner for the City of Pinellas Park, Florida.

Chicago health officials monitoring local overdose data noted a significant spike in opioid overdoses last weekend, reporting a total of 60 possible opioid overdoses from last Friday to Saturday alone. The Oak Park Public Health Department is reminding 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 prevention and local resources at www.oak-park.us/naloxone.

Overnight on-street parking restrictions will not be enforced on most Oak Park residential streets around the Fourth of July holiday. Overnight restrictions will be lifted at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 2 and resume at 2:30 a.m. on Monday, July 7. All other parking regulations remain in effect, including restrictions in zones reserved for permit holders, daytime posted restrictions and regulations related to traffic and public safety. The holiday parking schedule for all of 2025 is posted at www.oak-park.us/holidayparking.  

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is finalizing plans for Oak Park’s annual Fourth of July parade. More than 50 groups have signed up to participate in the parade, which steps off at 10 a.m. on July 4 from Longfellow Park at Ridgeland Avenue and Adams Street. The parade marches north on Ridgeland to Augusta Street, turning east to disperse near Whittier Elementary School at Harvey Avenue. More information is at www.oak-park.us/parade.

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 more information at www.firstfridaysoakpark.org.

Water and Sewer improvements – The contractor finished installing new water main on the 1000 block of Forest Ave. and progressed toward Division Street. Once the contractor reaches Division, crews will return to Greenfield Street to start the sewer improvements. The contractor will reinstall water services on Forest in approximately two weeks. Meanwhile, sewer improvements on Columbian Avenue were scheduled to start by the end of this week. The contractor dropped off traffic control materials for Columbian earlier in the week. The overall completion date for both Forest and Columbian is Nov. 14.

Alley improvements – Final sewer improvements were completed in the alley on the 600 block between Highland Ave. and Cuyler Ave., as well as earth excavation and pavement removal. The final concrete is expected to be poured this week and the alley should be open by July 3. The entire project is on target to be completed by July 15.

Bike boulevards – Shared-use bike symbols and signage are being installed on the Scoville Avenue corridor from Roosevelt Road to Chicago Avenue. This is a mobile operation and crews will not be on any one block for a duration greater than 30 minutes. The new rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) have been installed and are now in operation for pedestrian usage at Washington Boulevard and Scoville, along with three other intersections. The RRFB bike push buttons are still being troubleshot. 

Pavement preservation – The contractor began application of tack coat and asphalt microsurface at various locations this week. The contractor will also begin application of maltene-based asphalt rejuvenating agent at various locations next week.

ComEd conduit project – ComEd’s contractor finished final pavement restoration for the conduit installation project for the USPS facility in Forest Park last week on the northern two locations. Crews completed paving on East Avenue from South Boulevard to Randolph Street, Randolph from East to Euclid Avenue and Euclid from Randolph to Washington Boulevard. Pavement restoration also finished on Euclid from Madison Street to Jackson Boulevard. Punchlist work and crosswalk striping will continue this week. Sidewalk improvements will begin at the intersection of East and Van Buren Street this week with final pavement restoration to follow on East from Jackson to Harrison Street.