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 Support local businesses during holiday season
Oak Park is home to more than 1,000 businesses owned and operated by individuals who care about their customers and are invested in the well-being of the community. For many retailers, the holiday season is the most important time of the year. Shopping and dining at an Oak Park business also helps strengthen the local economy and benefits the entire Village with 2% of every retail sale coming back to municipal coffers to fund vital public services. Visit www.pickoakpark.com for an online directory that offers information on local licensed businesses by type and district. Pick Oak Park is a Village initiative to support local businesses that call the community home. Residents are also invited to follow Pick Oak Park on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about Oak Park’s dynamic business community.
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Not too late for a flu,
COVID-19 vaccine
There's still time to get both the flu and COVID-19 vaccine to help limit the spread of respiratory viruses this season. Local and state public health officials recommend a flu vaccine for all people ages six months and older. Additionally, state and local officials recommend a COVID-19 vaccine for all adults 18 years and older, all individuals in any trimester of pregnancy, all children ages 6 to 23 months, and any child between 2 and 17 years old who is at high risk or whose guardian wishes them to receive it. Check with your healthcare provider and local commercial pharmacies for vaccine availability. For more information about accessing a flu or COVID-19 vaccine, contact the Oak Park Public Health Department at health@oak-park.us or 708.538.5480.
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Home rehab loans
available
Helping homeowners pay for needed repairs they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford is what the Village’s single-family rehab loan program is all about. The rehab program offers loans of up to $25,000 to correct health and safety issues and building code violations, such as broken pipes, a leaking roof, lead paint, crumbling entry stairs, dangerous electrical systems and accessibility obstacles. No monthly payments are required, and loans don’t have to be repaid for 20 years or until the property is transferred. Grants do not have to be repaid. Eligibility is determined by federal income limits. Find more information at www.oak-park.us/rehabloans. Residents can also email housing@oak-park.us or call 708.358.5410 to learn more.
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Holiday light recycling now available at Public Works Center
Oak Park residents can recycle holiday lights by dropping them off in a bin located in the lobby of the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd. The bin is available during regular business hours Monday through Friday through the end of January. Residents served by the Village’s waste-hauling contract can also schedule an e-waste pickup at www.lrsrecycles.com/oakpark. For more information, contact the Public Works Department at publicworks@oak-park.us or 708.358.5700.
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 Join the Shape Oak Park conversation about housing choices
Shape Oak Park is a zoning code update that invites residents to guide Oak Park's evolution while creating more housing choices. Through year-long engagement — surveys, conversations, and workshops — residents can explore how missing middle housing (duplexes, townhomes and small-scale buildings) gives families like Lenny & James' more options to plant roots here. And no, these aren't towering apartment buildings. They're 2-3 story homes with setbacks that blend right into the neighborhood. More housing choice means more playdates, more community and more opportunities for all to live here, all while preserving the neighborhood character that makes Oak Park special. Join the conversation at www.engageoakpark.com/shape and share your voice at upcoming pop-ups and workshops over the next few months.
Village, school districts achieve energy savings
The Village is celebrating a milestone in its commitment to sustainability and climate action. Through hard work and participation in ComEd’s Strategic Energy Management (SEM) Program, Village Hall, the Public Works Center and local schools – including Oak Park Elementary School District 97 and Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 – have achieved significant energy savings, reducing both environmental impact and operational costs. These efforts are part of the Village’s broader commitment to reduce municipal energy use by 30% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. By implementing strategic energy-saving practices and engaging employees in energy efficiency initiatives, these locations have successfully reduced their energy consumption, resulting in combined cost savings of more than $400,000.
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