The American Public Works Association’s annual PWX Conference took place this week at McCormick Place in Chicago. The Village’s Public Works Department took advantage of the national event being close to home by not only sending staff to attend the conference but also participate as presenters during two sessions. Public Works Director Rob Sproule joined Community Services Manager Vanessa Matheny and partners from Housing Forward in for a presentation titled “The Suburban Unhoused Dilemma: Public Works as a Partner.” The discussion centered around Oak Park’s multi-faceted response to homelessness and how the Public Works Department plays a role in balancing humane assistance with the broader community’s concerns about safety, public health and the use of public spaces. Sproule then joined Forestry Superintendent Grant Jones as part of a panel for a presentation titled “Trees as an Asset: Elements of a Modern Urban Forestry Program.” The discussion highlighted Oak Park’s proactive, modern approach to managing its urban canopy.

The Village’s Forestry Division recently discovered spotted lanternfly in Oak Park. This invasive, sap-sucking insect is native to Asia and was first found in Illinois in 2023. It feeds on many plant species, with some of its preferred hosts being tree of heaven, fruit trees, grapes and hops. It should be a minor pest for most parkway trees. If you find spotted lanternfly, please take a picture and then kill the insect. Sightings can be reported to lanternfly@illinois.edu. The Morton Arboretum’s Forest Pest Outreach Coordinator will be at the Oak Park Farmers’ Market on Aug. 23 and Aug. 30 to answer questions. Click here for more information about spotted lanternfly on the Morton Arboretum website.

The Desplaines Valley Mosquito Abatement District completed spraying Thursday night in Oak Park as part of its efforts to minimize a viral transmission cycle of mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus. Spraying was initially scheduled for Wednesday night but was delayed due to breezy weather conditions. West Nile Virus has been found in mosquitoes throughout Illinois, including Oak Park. More information about mosquito control efforts is available on the Village website at www.oak-park.us/dvmad25.

Oak Park renters are invited to learn about how to use the Village’s Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance (RTLO) for lease compliance from 6 to 7:30 p.m. next Wednesday, Aug. 27. The presentation is the first in a series of three workshops being hosted by the Village’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and legal aid nonprofit CARPLS. The series continues with workshops on how to use the RTLO for code compliance on Sept. 24 and how to obtain legal services on Oct. 22. Registration is free but space is limited. Click here for the link to register and more information about the workshops.

In addition to getting the word out about funding available through the Village’s Climate Ready Energy Grants program, the Office of Sustainability and Resilience is working with the Office of Communications and Engagement to encourage residents to take advantage of various federal clean energy tax credits that end in the coming months. The Village website features in details about a range of federal, state and local programs on the Energy Efficiency and Electrification Incentive Programs page. For more information, contact sustainability@oak-park.us.

Join the Historic Preservation Commission for the next installment of its Speaker Series, featuring a presentation by local architect William Scholtens, Principal of Elements Architectural Group. William will take the audience on an in-depth journey detailing the restoration of the Pieritz Building’s original terracotta facade and the sustainability strategies that achieved net zero energy status. Come learn how historic preservation and sustainability came together to rehab this Oak Park building for the next century. The presentation takes place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28 prior to the HPC’s monthly meeting. More information is at www.oak-park.us/speakerseries.

An expanded Oak Park IL Film Festival is set to return to the community next month, and tickets are on sale now with early bird discounts on weekend passes available until Aug. 31. The festival kicks off with a gala opening night showing of “Moonstruck,” featuring longtime Oak Park resident John Mahoney on Sept. 11 at the Lake Theatre. The event continues with an independent film showcase Sept. 13-14 at Madison Street Theater featuring a full slate of special screenings and panel discussions featuring the best filmmaking talent that Oak Park has to offer. Visit www.opilff.org for more information and to purchase tickets.

Save the date for the next stop in the First Fridays Street Festival Series hosted by the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce with support from the Village. The upcoming celebration will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5 in the South Town business district. Enjoy live music, explore local vendors and take part in family-friendly activities during this free event in the parking lot off Harrison Street just east of Oak Park Avenue behind Carnival Grocery Store and Fifth Third Bank. More information is at www.firstfridaysoakpark.org.

Upcoming lane closure on East Avenue bridge – The southbound lane on the East Avenue bridge from Harrison Street to Garfield Street will be closed for approximately seven days starting Monday, Aug. 25 due to planned bridge repairs. During this time, southbound traffic will be detoured to Ridgeland Avenue. The East Avenue repairs are expected to take about two weeks in total. During the second week of work, all lanes will be open, and no traffic will be detoured. Northbound traffic and pedestrian access on at least one side of the street will remain open throughout the project. Repairs on the Oak Park Avenue and Lombard Avenue bridges over I-290 are also upcoming following the completion of the East Avenue work.

Water and sewer improvements – The contractor finished the last few water service connections on the public side on Forest Avenue this week. Crews will finish up the remaining water connections at Berkshire Street and Division Street by the end of the week. Next, the contractor will begin the sewer improvements on Iowa Street from Lombard Avenue to Harvey Avenue. The anticipated completion date is Nov. 14. On Columbian Avenue this week, all sidewalk, curb and driveway apron replacements will be completed. The contractor is also set to begin full depth pavement removal on both blocks of Columbian undergoing improvements. Residents with driveways have been notified they will not have driveway access until the road is repaved. 

Bike boulevards update – The contractor is on schedule to begin work on Monday, Aug. 25 on the next phase of the expansion of the bike boulevard network throughout the Village.

Resurfacing project – The MWRD permit for this year’s resurfacing project was issued this week, prompting the contractor to resume site layout on Wednesday. Next steps include saw cutting and the removal of curb and sidewalk with concrete pouring to follow.  

ComEd conduit project – ComEd will begin a new project Sept. 2 on Randolph Street from Chestnut Lane to Oak Park Avenue. Crews will be installing a fiber optic communications line to increase grid stability. The project will focus on one block at a time to limit parking impacts. The work will begin on Randolph between Chestnut and Home Avenue. At the end of the project, the street will be resurfaced and all parkway disturbances will be restored. The anticipated completion date for the project is mid-October.

Sidewalk Improvements – The sidewalk improvements project is starting soon, with a final schedule still to be determined. The majority of sidewalk work this year will take place in the northwest quadrant of the Village on north-south streets. The project will mainly include angle cutting and replacing sidewalk squares. During sidewalk replacements, only one side of the street will be removed at a time to allow pedestrian access on at least one side of the street.