Following a lengthy application and audit process, the Village of Oak Park officially earned a 1-Star Certified Welcoming designation from Welcoming America. This community victory reflects the collective efforts, passion and dedication of every organization, agency and individual who continues to intentionally cultivate an inclusive, equitable and welcoming Oak Park. The commitment and partnership of many key collaborators made this possible. The Village’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office managed the application process and will continue to spearhead this initiative.

The Village is undertaking a waste characterization study with the goal of gaining important insights into the types and quantities of waste generated by Oak Park residents. A key element of the study involves gathering candid feedback from community members about existing programs and ways to improve residential waste reduction and diversion. Residents of single-family homes and buildings with five or fewer units served by the Village’s waste hauler are encouraged to participate by completing an online survey at www.engageoakpark.com/WasteStudy. As an incentive, residents who complete the survey will receive a $10 credit toward refuse fees on their next quarterly water bill. Limit one survey response per household. Village staff will also be collecting feedback from community members the next Saturdays at the Oak Park Farmers’ Market. For more information, contact publicworks@oak-park.us.

Oak Park renters are invited to learn how to obtain legal services at the next Tenant Workshop Series session hosted by the Village's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and legal aid nonprofit CARPLS. The discussion will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22 in Room 101 at Village Hall. A link is also available for anyone who would like to virtually attend via Zoom. Registration is free but space is limited. Find the registration and Zoom links along with more information on the Village website.

With the Village's annual fall leaf collection program set to begin on Oct. 27 and run through Dec. 4, the Village is making free yard waste bags available for residents to pick up during regular business hours Monday through Friday in the lobbies at Village Hall and the Public Works Center. Free leaf collection bags are also available at the Oak Park Farmers' Market. For the second consecutive year, residents will not place leaves directly into the street. Instead, they can choose from a variety of leaf collection options. Find complete details at www.oak-park.us/leafcollection. In the meantime, any leaves that fall before the annual leaf collection program begins can be discarded as part of regular weekly yard waste or compost collection. Find more information at www.oak-park.us/refuse.

The Fire Department has resumed offering free inspections by appointment to make sure child safety seats are properly installed in vehicles. Inspectors need the vehicle owner's manual and car seat manufacturer's manual along with the seat to be inspected. Residents are asked not to come to the Fire Department for an inspection without an appointment. As on-call firefighter/paramedics, the technicians may not be available if duty calls. Email carseat@oak-park.us to schedule an inspection and a department representative will respond to set up an appointment. More information is also available at www.oak-park.us/fire.

The Park District of Oak Park’s 49th annual Frank Lloyd Wright Races will take place from about 7:30 to 11 a.m. this Sunday, Oct. 19. Several streets will be closed, and traffic flow on others restricted to one way on the day of the race. The event features a 10K, 5K and youth mile and typically welcomes thousands of participants along Oak Park’s tree-lined streets. To avoid delays the morning of the race, please plan ahead and park vehicles outside the course. Click here to view a racecourse map and a list of four locations where Oak Park Police Officers will direct vehicles safely off the course. Find more information at www.flwraces.com.

Village Hall is serving as a drop-off location for an ongoing diaper drive coordinated by A House in Austin. Diaper sizes 1-6, pullup sizes 2t-6t and non-scented baby wipes can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in a bin located in the lobby at Village Hall. Donations will be provided to families in low-income households that may not be able to afford diapers and other hygiene items for their baby/toddler. Click here for more information about the diaper drive and ways to donate online.

Families with young children are invited to participate in a costume parade around Scoville Park led by Village President Vicki Scaman starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 (line-up begins at 9:30 a.m. near the entrance of the Oak Park Public Library). Following the parade, families are encouraged to head into the Oak Park Public Library to explore the many early childhood organizations and programs in our community, try their luck in the raffle and get fun giveaways at the Early Childhood Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to noon. But that’s not all! Businesses across the Hemingway Business District will be giving out complimentary treats from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.! More information is available here.

From international headliners you've seen on TV to local up and comers, the Funny Is Female Comedy Festival at Comedy Plex Comedy Club has something for everyone who likes to laugh. Clean Comics, R-Rated Comics, Musical Comics and Mom Comics, pick a show and find your new favorite. The event features 50 comedians over four days from Oct. 23-26 in Downtown Oak Park. Click here to view the festival lineup and purchase tickets.

Street resurfacing – The final asphalt surface is set to be placed on Linden Avenue and Fair Oaks Avenue. Next week, the contractor will adjust the manholes on East Avenue, Le Moyne Parkway, Scoville Avenue, Thomas Street and Lombard Avenue. Milling is slated for Belleforte Avenue and Ontario Street next Wednesday, Oct. 22 and South Boulevard and Pleasant Street on Thursday, Oct. 23. Thomas and Scoville will also be prepped and primed for asphalt surface on Thursday, with milling planned for Friday, Oct. 24  when D97 students are not in school.

Water and sewer improvements – The landscaper restored parkways disturbed during construction at the three project locations on Forest Avenue, Columbian Avenue and Iowa Street. The contractor will be back late in the week to clean and prepare the roadways for the final lift of asphalt. The final asphalt layer is tentatively to be placed next Wednesday, Oct. 22.

Bike boulevards – The contractors have been delayed with signage installations. Weather dependent, new installations of signposts will begin on Lemoyne Parkway and Lombard Avenue.

Pete’s Market construction – Crews working on construction at the site of the new Pete’s Fresh Market on Madison Street will soon begin replacing the two east-west alleys to the north of the site. The work is expected to take approximately one month to complete.

Bridge repairs – The contractor has been working on repairing the bridge joints on the west side of the Oak Park Avenue bridge. Crews plan to pour the final concrete for the joints on Friday. The remaining work on the project includes pavement markings, fence repairs and the placement of concrete sealer. This work does not yet have a finalized schedule.

ComEd fiber installation – The ComEd contractor has finished installation of the conduit on Randolph Street from Chestnut Avenue to Oak Park Avenue.  No work is planned for next week, but the roadway will be resurfaced prior to the end of the construction season.