National Police Week culminates today (May 15) with the official observance of National Peace Officers Memorial Day. Since 1916, seven Oak Park Police Department officers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Click here to learn more about these fallen officers. This week current OPPD personnel has received meals from the Village’s Employee Wellness Team, residents from Mills Park Tower and others.

Members of the Police Department joined law enforcement agencies across the state in taking part in the annual Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser to benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois. Off-duty personnel collected donations from 5 a.m. to noon this morning (May 15) at the Dunkin' Donuts at 6820 Roosevelt Rd. The in-person event raised around $3,000. Click here to donate to the Oak Park Police Department's team.

The Fire Department is beginning a commendation program to recognize actions by members that go above and beyond the call of duty, quick thinking and acting that breaks the chain of failure that can lead to injury or fatalities. Firefighter/Paramedic Cassandra Shifflet was the first member to receive a commendation for her actions while responding to a fire on the 700 block of Highland earlier this year. While performing exterior ventilation at the scene, Cassandra heard a radio transmission to assist firefighters in exiting the basement of the home, which was heavily charged with smoke and filled with heavy storage and debris that was impeding progress. Cassandra discovered a door had closed behind the crew, obstructing their egress. She opened the door, utilized her flashlight to provide a visual beacon and provided verbal cues to the crew. Her proactive response and quick intervention allowed the interior team to exit the basement safely.

Fleet Services Superintendent Ken Crowley served as a host for the Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation's annual Green Drives Conference & Expo in Wheaton on Thursday. As part of his role, Crowley, an IACT Board member, hosted panels on new technologies, alternative fuel options, trucking transportation trends and more. Click here to learn more about the Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation.

The Village’s Forestry Division recently completed its spring tree planting program. A total of 211 trees were planted in the parkways and medians throughout the Village. One of the goals in the Urban Forest Management Plan is to continue to diversify Oak Park’s parkway tree population. This year’s spring tree planting consisted of 35 different tree species from 27 different genera.

Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to recognize the importance of accessible, community-based care and the strong network of providers supporting Oak Park residents. Organizations like the Infant Welfare Society Children’s Clinic, Mosaic Counseling and Wellness, and PCC Community Wellness Center each play a vital role in delivering high-quality mental health services for individuals and families across all ages. While their approaches may differ, they share a common commitment to whole-person care, integrating mental health, physical health and supportive services to meet people where they are. PCC Community Wellness Center provides comprehensive, affordable care that brings together medical, behavioral health and preventive services, ensuring mental health is addressed as part of overall wellness. Mosaic Counseling and Wellness offers a personalized and holistic approach, combining traditional therapy with creative and trauma-informed practices to support individuals, couples and families. The Infant Welfare Society Children’s Clinic focuses on children and families, delivering coordinated pediatric medical, dental behavioral health and social services to those most in need. Across all three organizations, residents can access services such as counseling, therapy, care coordination and family support, along with programs that build resilience and promote long-term wellbeing. Many services are designed to be accessible, culturally responsive and integrated, reducing barriers and making it easier to seek help. Through the Pick Oak Park initiative, the Village is highlighting how these trusted organizations are embedded within the community, making it easier for residents to access high-quality mental health services close to home.

Don’t miss the Public Works Department's Touch-a-Truck event from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19. Residents of all ages are invited to visit the Public Works Center at 201 South Blvd. to enjoy light refreshments and get up close to some of the equipment and vehicles used to keep Oak Park running every day. The event is being held in celebration of National Public Works Week and this year’s theme, “Rooted in Service, Powered by Community."

Join the Village’s E.C.H.O team and members of the Oak Park Police and Fire Departments for coffee and conversation at locations around the community one Friday morning each month. The next E.C.H.O. Exchange event is scheduled for 9 to 11 a.m. on Friday, May 22 at Wise Cup, 1018 Lake St. These monthly events provide an opportunity for residents to ask questions, access resources and learn more about how E.C.H.O., Police and Fire work together to support community safety and well-being. More information is at www.oak-park.us/echo-exchange.

Building owners, developers and facility managers are invited to join the Village, the Illinois Climate Bank and Cook County CPACE for an in-depth webinar designed to help navigate the evolving landscape of low-cost, long-term financing in Illinois. The webinar will take place from 11 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, May 20 – click here to register. Chief Sustainability Officer Lindsey Nieratka and other experts will break down how to leverage available capital to fund comprehensive energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation projects that pay for themselves. More information is at www.oak-park.us/energysense520.

Oak Park University is the focus of the latest episode of the Inside Oak Park podcast. Neighborhood Partnerships Administrator Paola Garibay and Welcome Center Coordinator Ele Hein join Chief Communications Officer Dan Yopchick to discuss Oak Park University, a Government 101 program designed to help residents better understand how their local government works. OPU graduates Mary Chris Jaklevic and Macaire O'Connell also give their insights into their experience. The Inside Oak Park podcast is available through Spotify, and an archive of episodes is posted at www.oak-park.us/podcast.

Save the date for Kapwa, Oak Park’s Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month Celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 30 at Village Hall. The free, family-friendly event will feature food, music, cultural activities and more. Information about the event is posted at www.oak-park.us/kapwa.

The Village is partnering with the Oak Park Public Library to host a Tree Talk & Stroll from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27. Join Village Forestry Superintendent Grant Jones and Trinity Pierce of the Chicago Region Trees Initiative as they discuss trees in Oak Park neighborhoods, the economic, environmental and health benefits of trees, and ways to support green spaces. The event starts and finishes at the Dole Branch Library, 255 Augusta St., home to a diverse collection of trees. Registration is required via the Oak Park Public Library website.

The Public Works Department is celebrating the promotion of Max Libevato to the position of Water and Sewer Worker I. Max moves to the Water and Sewer Division after previously serving as an Equipment Operator in the Streets Division since joining the organization in 2024.

Alley improvement project – The alley between the 300 blocks of N. Humphrey Ave. and N. Austin Blvd. and the alley between the 900 blocks of Hayes Ave. and N. Taylor Ave. have been fully reopened to vehicular access. Sewer improvements were recently completed in the alley between the 1000 blocks of Clarence Ave. and S. East Ave. Sewer crews have begun construction in the alley between the 1150 blocks of S. Oak Park Ave. and S. Grove Ave. The sewer work in this alley is expected to continue to the end of next week. Meanwhile, pavement removals began in the alley between the 500 blocks of S. Grove Ave. and S. Oak Park Ave., beginning a three-week closure period at this location.

Renew the Avenue update – The electrical contractor began removing the existing lighting on Oak Park Avenue between Randolph Street and South Boulevard this week. The contractor is also installing temporary lighting in this area to maintain current lighting levels while proposed lighting conduit and foundations are installed in the coming weeks. The north crew completed the water main between North Boulevard and Lake Street earlier this week and is in the process of testing and sampling the new main for the upcoming water service transfers in the coming weeks. The south crew completed the water main installation on South Boulevard between Oak Park Avenue and Grove Street earlier this week and is also in the process of testing and sampling the new main for the upcoming water service transfers. With the sewer and water main installation completed for the area south of the tracks, the south crew will be mobilizing offsite, leaving the north crew to finish the remaining water service transfers. The concrete crew has been busy pouring new curbs, sidewalks and roadway patches on the outer blocks from Randolph to Pleasant Street and from Lake to Ontario Street. The crew will continue restoring these concrete elements into next week with the resurfacing of these two blocks to follow in the coming weeks. AT&T and Union Pacific will also be onsite periodically in the coming weeks repairing infrastructure within the project limits. Visit www.renewtheavenue.com for more project information.

Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) installations – The contractor continued the installation of the underground conduit for the bike push buttons this week, which included completing the intersections where Ridgeland Avenue meets Pleasant Street and Erie Street. Underground conduit installations will continue for the next few weeks with six more intersections to be completed. Parkways that are disturbed during this work will be restored within the coming weeks after all conduit has been installed.

Bridge repairs – All remaining punch list items for the bridge repair project over the I-290 expressway have been completed. This includes asphalt patches at the bridge approaches to the Oak Park Avenue and Lombard Avenue bridges and fence repair at the northwest corner of Oak Park Avenue and Garfield Street.

All children and families who will be starting kindergarten this fall are invited to the Blast Off to Kindergarten community event from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, May 17 at Rehm Park, 515 Garfield St. Hosted annually by the Collaboration for Early Childhood in partnership with Oak Park Elementary School District 97, the Park District of Oak Park, the Village of Oak Park and other local community partners, the event connects families with the people, programs and resources that support a smooth start to school. The event will feature after-school programs, Oak Park Elementary School District 97 staff and administrators, and staff from Oak Park kindergarten programs as well as parent teacher organizations from local schools. More information is available at www.collab4kids.org/blast-off-to-k.