The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation® recently awarded a $31,993 grant to the Fire Department to purchase a Solo Rescue Decon Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Washer and accessories. The new equipment rapidly decontaminates firefighter gear, removing carcinogenic residue and drastically decreasing the amount of time the gear is out of service. Village officials celebrated the grant award with representatives from Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation during an event Friday at the main fire station.

Weeks 6 and 7 of Oak Park University focused on Community Health and Safety, providing participants with a deeper understanding of the systems and partnerships that protect and support the community. In Week 6, participants heard from the Police Department and the West Suburban Consolidated Dispatch Center. Deputy Chief Roderick Robinson and the WSCDC's Brian Staunton shared insights into policing operations and regional emergency communications, followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of the Police Department with Chief Shatonya Johnson. In Week 7, the focus shifted to Public Health and Fire services. Public Health Director Greg Olsen highlighted the role of public health in promoting community well-being, while Chief JT Terry, Deputy Chiefs Kevin Fadden and Robert Murphy and Lieutenant Steve Ausmann provided an overview of fire operations, emergency response and prevention efforts. Participants also toured the Fire Station, gaining a firsthand look at equipment and daily operations. Oak Park University is a nine-week civic learning program designed to help residents better understand how local government operates and the many departments and partners that provide services to the community. To learn more about the program, view session materials or join the waitlist for a future cohort, visit www.oak-park.us/opu.

The Police Department’s Residential Beat Officers held their first virtual meeting since the RBO program’s return on Wednesday evening. The meeting with RBO zones 4-8 in the southern section of Oak Park marked an important step in strengthening community engagement and public safety efforts. The kickoff meeting introduced residents to their assigned RBOs – Officers Eric Locke, Christine Simkus and Raphael Murphy – and provided an overview of current crime statistics and trends within the area. The meeting also highlighted the partnership between the Police Department and the E.C.H.O. initiative. Vanessa Matheny and Mary Naughton represented the E.C.H.O. team, sharing an overview of the program, key accomplishments from its first year of implementation, and upcoming community engagement events. An additional meeting for zones 1-3 in the north section of town is scheduled 6 p.m. next Monday, March 23 – click here for more information.

The Office of Economic Vitality obtained sales tax receipt data released by the Illinois Department of Revenue last week. The sales tax receipt data for the Village by major retail category was converted to retail sales. Oak Park’s total retail sales increased from more than $647 million in 2024 to more than $829 million in 2025, representing a boost of 28% year-over-year. Click here for a chart showing Oak Park year-over-year retail sales data going back to 2014. The Drugs & Miscellaneous Stores category experienced a strong sales increase rising from $229 million in 2024 to more than $306 million in 2025. Apparel sales increased to more than $32 million in 2025, while Drinking and Eating Places sales increased from $113 million in 2024 to more than $131 million in 2025. The Furniture, Electronics & Household Accessories category also increased to more than $22 million in 2025. The Illinois Department of Revenue sales tax receipt data indicates robust sales, a resilient consumer and the strength of demand for retail merchandise in Oak Park via brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce. In 2025, more than 110 new businesses opened in Oak Park, with several new businesses slated to open in 2026, including Pete’s Fresh Market, Barnes & Noble, Holiday Inn Express and Dutch Bros Coffee.

The Village was nominated for the 2026 Climate Action Hero Award from the Climate Action Museum. The Village released its comprehensive Climate Ready Oak Park Plan in 2022. Examples of plan implementation include the Climate Ready Energy Grants, the Oak Park Energy Navigator the Climate Ready Canopy Program, and many other programs and policies designed to make the Village more sustainable and to meet the CROP plan goals. A ceremony for the 2026 Climate Action Museum Hero Awards is planned for April 16 in Chicago.

The Village invites non-profit organizations serving the Oak Park community to attend the annual mandatory Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) workshop for Program Year 2026 (which runs from Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027). This virtual workshop will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1. Non-profits interested in applying for federal CDBG funding are required to attend the workshop to be eligible for funding consideration. The workshop will provide an overview of CDBG eligibility requirements, the public service application process, required documentation, key timelines. Non-profits interested in applying for federal CDBG funding are required to attend the workshop to be eligible for funding consideration. Organizations must RSVP by emailing grants@oak-park.us to receive confirmation and access details.

Join us this Saturday, March 21 for a Women’s History Month celebration featuring keynote speaker Sekile Nzinga, an intersectional feminist executive leader whose work invites us to think deeply about power, possibility and the ways women continue to shape institutions and communities. The free event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Art Studio 928 at 451 South Blvd. After the keynote, join us for a facilitated reflective conversation – a space to pause, consider what resonated and share our perspectives with each other.  Registration is encouraged as space is limited – click here to register.

The Village’s first round of street sweeping provided by LRS is scheduled to begin next week, weather permitting. Sweeping will occur in designated cycles across various areas of Oak Park, including residential streets, business districts and permit parking zones. Street sweeping will take place overnight in most areas and in parking permitted areas as posted. Residents are asked to refrain from blowing leaves, grass clippings or other debris onto the street as such actions can block storm drains and reduce the effectiveness of street sweeping efforts. Free yard waste bags are available for residents to pick up at Village Hall, 123 Madison St. and the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd. For more information, contact 708.358.5700 or publicworks@oak-park.us.

The Village and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) are partnering on a renewed study funded by federal earmarks to examine existing conditions and future possibilities for the I-290 bridge crossings within the Village limits. A public information kickoff meeting for the Bridging the Ike project is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7 in the Rubinstein Community Room at the Oak Park Conservatory. This initial meeting will serve as an opportunity to introduce the Bridging the Ike project and solicit resident feedback to understand the important issues that will help develop and refine the improvement opportunities at I-290 bridge crossings. More information about the project is available at www.engageoakpark.com/ike.

Oak Park Avenue will be closed through the Hemingway Business District from Lake Street to Randolph Street for starting Monday, March 23 until November as Renew the Avenue construction moves to stage 2 (out of five) for the 10-month project. Crews will start utility installation in this section with pavement sawing and materials. Lake Street, North Boulevard, and South Boulevard will all remain open for east-west traffic through the project. Visit www.renewtheavenue.com for more information and local access maps on how to navigate the new traffic patterns to visit and park in the Hemingway District. Water service transfers will also begin next week in the north section of the construction zone along Oak Park Avenue between Lake and Ontario Street. With the water and sewer work wrapping up next week between Lake and Ontario, the electrical contractor will be onsite the week of March 30 to install the new street lighting improvements. To the south, crews will complete the new sewer main and service installations on Oak Park Avenue between Randolph and Pleasant Street this week. Private utilities (AT&T & Nicor) will continue installation of their infrastructure upgrades next week within the project limits.

Beyond Hunger welcomed supporters into its soon-to-be new space at 6209 North Ave. on Thursday morning. The Village's Office of Economic Vitality identified the space as an available property and viable option for Beyond Hunger in September of last year, the Zoning Board of Appeals approved an application unanimously last month and the Village Board gave final approval just over a week ago. Thursday's ceremony featured remarks from Village President Vicki Scaman, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, Beyond Hunger CEO Jennie Hull and others. With the help of committed supporters, the organization has made tremendous progress toward its $3.7 million capital campaign goal.

Early voting for the Gubernatorial Primary Election wrapped up at Village Hall on Monday with 4,586 voters casting ballots at this location during the period. That was the third-highest total in Cook County behind Evanston’s Robert Crown Community Center (7,244) and Schaumburg’s Trickster Art Gallery (4,917). On the final day alone, 862 voters came through Village Hall, marking the second-highest turnout of any Cook County site that final day. Overall, Village Hall saw a 41% increase in turnout in 2026 from the last Gubernatorial Primary Election held in June 2022.