Meetings scheduled for next week:
- Monday, July 14:
- Bike Plan Open House and Public Hearing, 6 p.m., Carroll Center, 1125 S. Kenilworth Ave.
- Transportation Commission, 7 p.m. in Council Chambers
- Tuesday, July 15:
- Village Board meeting, 7 p.m. in Council Chambers
- Wednesday, July 16:
- Bike Plan Open House and Public Hearing, 6 p.m., Community Recreation Center, 229 Madison St.
- Community Relations Commission, 6 p.m. in Room 101
- Citizen Involvement Commission, 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers
- Housing Programs Advisory Committee, 7 p.m. in Room 102
The Oak Park Police Department is seeking support from the community in lining Madison Street from Harlem Avenue to Lombard Avenue as the 21st annual Cycle Across Illinois bicycle ride travels through Oak Park this Sunday, July 13. Cyclists are expected to arrive on Madison Street at around 2:25 p.m. with a brief ceremony to follow at Village Hall. The ride benefits Illinois Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), an organization dedicated to assisting the families of fallen officers. This year’s ride includes a stop in Oak Park to honor Detective Allan Reddins, who was killed in the line of duty last November. Sergeant Samantha Deuchler is among more than 100 cyclists traveling more than 350 miles across the state starting Thursday through Sunday. More information is at www.oak-park.us/honor-ride.
The Village is hosting two open houses and public hearings on the Oak Park Bike Plan Update, 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 Monday, July 14 at the Carroll Center, 1125 S. Kenilworth Ave. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, 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 and answers to frequently asked questions are 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. More information about the open houses is available at www.oak-park.us/BikePlanOpenHouse.
The Village is teaming up with BODYBAR Oak Park to host a free Pilates in the Park event from 8 to 9 a.m. this Saturday, July 12 on the south lawn at Village Hall, 123 Madison St. The event offers participants an opportunity to unwind, stretch and strengthen their bodies while surrounded by nature. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to Pilates, experienced instructors will guide the group through a series of exercises designed to improve flexibility, posture and core strength. Participants are asked to please bring a mat and water. Find more information and a link to register at www.oak-park.us/pilates71225.
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A non-emergency incident report can now be filed online through the Police Department’s new Police to Citizen portal. The online tool can be used for instances that involve theft, lost property or damaged property. Some examples include package delivery theft, graffiti on your property or items stolen from your garage or vehicle. This does not include situations where an injury occurred or a weapon was involved as those types of incidents require an in-person police report. As always, in an emergency, call 911. To file a non-emergency police report online, go to www.oak-park.us/policereport.
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A new ‘Report an Issue’ form was implemented on the Village website this week. This user-friendly tool allows residents to easily report non-emergency service requests to the Village of Oak Park. Developed through a collaboration between the Village’s Public Works and IT departments and Municipal GIS Partners (MGP), the platform streamlines communication between the public and Village staff. Users can submit issues such as potholes, streetlight outages or graffiti directly online, helping ensure timely response and resolution. The system enhances operational efficiency and supports transparency by allowing users to track requests, thus improving service delivery.
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A community open house for the Roosevelt Road Corridor Plan was held at Salerno’s on Wednesday evening. The first public meeting for this project was well attended by residents wishing to learn more about the project and share their vision for the future of Roosevelt Road. An online survey is also expected to be distributed later this summer, followed by another community open house. Visit www.rooseveltroadcorridorplan.com/ to follow the project and learn more.
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The Village is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Firefighter/Paramedic within the Fire Department. The Fire Department will be hosting an optional information session for anyone interested in applying from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23 at the main fire station, 100 N. Euclid Ave. The event will allow potential candidates to get a feel for OPFD and ask any questions. To learn more, including application requirements and how to apply, visit www.oak-park.us/jobs.
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Every resident is required to annually purchase a vehicle license for each owned or leased motor vehicle before July 15. The rate increases by $20 after the deadline. Failure to purchase a license also could result in a ticket, and a current vehicle license is needed to purchase a parking permit. Vehicle license rates vary by type of vehicle. Persons age 65 and older, and anyone who has a state-issued disabled license plate or placard, can apply for a discount. Disabled veterans and active-duty members of the U.S. armed forces with the proper documentation can apply for free vehicle licenses. Purchase and renew online at www.oak-park.us/ParkingPortal. For more information, call 708.358.7275, email parking@oak-park.us or visit www.oak-park.us/vehiclelicense.
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The Desplaines Valley Mosquito Ababement District issued an announcement this week saying recent warm temperatures coupled with drier conditions have increased the production of mosquitoes involved in the transmission of West Nile Virus. Officials noted that West Nile positive mosquito samples have been found in our area, however at levels where the risk of West Nile transmission is still low at this time. The Village is reminding the community about ways to take precautions against being bitten and eliminating mosquito breeding opportunities. More information is at www.oak-park.us/westnile25.
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Two new employees joined the organization this week as Lissa Santos arrived as the new Account Clerk in the Development Services Department and Chris Griffin started as a Water & Sewer Worker in the Public Works Department. Lissa is a Berwyn native who has a background in the construction industry and is currently studying human resources. Chris is a Chicago native who attended Southern Illinois University before working in the trades.
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The Oak Park Area Arts Council is presenting the artwork of local artist Rick Sullivan in The Gallery at Village Hall. The show featuring several of Sullivan’s abstract expressionist paintings will be up until the end of September. |
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Water and sewer improvements – The contractor started installing sewer main at the intersection of Greenfield Street and Forest Avenue. The crew is currently working on placing the sewer main pipe and connecting existing house sewer services to the new main. Next week, the contractor will start the water valve repairs at the intersections of Woodbine Avenue and Berkshire Steet and Marion Street and Berkshire. Sewer work also continued on the 800 block of Columbian Ave. this week with crews working north towards Division Street. After completing the sewer installation on the 800 block, they will move to the intersection of Columbian and Thomas Street and work south on the 700 block of Columbian.
Alley improvements - The alley improvement project for this year is now complete. Punchlist items will be managed over the next few weeks.
Bike boulevards - The push buttons and rapid flashing beacons are expected to be fully operational this week. Pavement markings are currently paused to allow ComEd to complete its roadwork that overlaps with the bike boulevard network.
Pavement preservation project – The contractor is wrapping up microsurfacing this week, with punchlist work expected to continue into next week. Following the completion of microsurfacing, the contractor will replace the pavement markings that were removed for the project.
ComEd conduit project – Starting on or after July 14, ComEd’s contractor will begin the restoration of the concrete and asphalt pavement on S. East Avenue from the alley north of Harrison Street to just north of Jackson Boulevard. This work will include sidewalk ramp improvements and re-paving of the street. Asphalt removal is scheduled for July 21 with repaving to occur the following day.
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