Get ready to celebrate culture, community and connection at Oak Park’s Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Kapwa! Join us from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, May 30 at Village Hall for this fun and vibrant celebration of Kapwa – a Filipino value of togetherness and shared identity. Anyone planning to attend is encouraged to reserve a spot so organizers can have an accurate count for the free, family-friendly event featuring great food, music and more. More information is at www.oak-park.us/kapwa.

The Village recently formed a new partnership with Granicus, a global leader in customer experience technologies for government, to launch an AI-powered chatbot on its official website. This new digital assistant is designed to provide residents with instant, accurate and easy-to-understand answers to their questions — anytime, day or night. The chatbot is available at www.oak-park.us. Named Oak Parker, the agent appears near the bottom right corner of the site, and it works on any device type and browser. More information is at www.oak-park.us/GXA.

Approximately 25 Oak Parkers gathered Wednesday at the Dole Branch Library to learn more about Oak Park's tree canopy. Participants heard from Forestry Superintendent Grant Jones and Trinity Pierce, the Senior Stewardship Manager of the Chicago Region Trees Initiative at Morton Arboretum. Participants learned how the Village selects and cares for parkway trees, some basics of tree care and built tree identification skills. This partnership with the Oak Park Public Library was part of the Village's Climate Ready Canopy Program, which is focused on improving tree canopy on private property in Oak Park. In 2026, a total of 250 trees have been added to Oak Park as part of this program.

Village Hall will be closing at noon on Fridays during June, July, August and Sept. 4 as part of an initiative designed to provide Village employees more flexibility during the summer. The shortened summer hours begin Friday, June 5 and continue every Friday through Sept. 4. Anyone needing to conduct in-person business on Fridays during June, July and August is encouraged to do so between 9 a.m. and noon. Residents are also reminded that many routine municipal services that do not require a visit to Village Hall are available online via links at www.oak-park.us/onlineservices. Services provided by sworn public safety staff in the Village’s Fire and Police Departments will not be impacted by this seasonal change. More information is at www.oak-park.us/summer26. 

Throughout Mental Health Awareness Month this May, the Village has been highlighting community partners that strengthen access to care and support for residents across Oak Park. Organizations such as Infant Welfare Society Children's Clinic, PCC Community Wellness Center, Mosaic Counseling and Wellness, Thrive Counseling Center and NAMI Metro Suburban serve as vital connectors to mental health, wellness, crisis response and family support resources for individuals of all ages. The Village’s E.C.H.O. team also helps residents navigate available support and connect with services that meet their needs. Whether someone is seeking counseling, substance use resources, or assistance identifying the next step, E.C.H.O. works to ensure that support remains accessible, coordinated and community centered. For more information about E.C.H.O., visit www.oak-park.us/ECHO or contact the E.C.H.O. team at 708.358.5640 or echo@oak-park.us.

Mosaic Counseling and Wellness has officially opened its third location in Oak Park. The new office at 810 North Blvd., was welcomed with a ribbon-cutting celebration this week by the Oak Park Chamber of Commerce and attended by community members, Village staff, Village President Vicki Scaman and a representative from State Senator Don Harmon’s office. This expansion reflects Mosaic Counseling’s continued commitment to providing compassionate, client-centered mental health care and increasing access to support for individuals, couples and families throughout the community.

Vehicle license renewal notices are being sent to residents who previously registered vehicles in Oak Park. All Oak Park residents who own or lease a motor vehicle are required to purchase a local vehicle license by July 15. A $20 late fee will be applied after this deadline. Vehicle licenses must be renewed annually. Vehicle license rates vary based on vehicle type, with discounts available for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, disabled veterans and active-duty military. For more information call 708.358.7275, email parking@oak-park.us or visit www.oak-park.us/vehiclelicense.

Deputy Public Works Director Erin Duffy participated in a grant-funded FEMA course in College Station, Texas earlier this month. The TEEX MGT 314 course allowed participants to work through emergency management scenarios with fire and law enforcement personnel. Erin was the only representative from a public works department in the room, underscoring the often-overlooked role public works personnel play in emergency response management.

The Finance Department welcomed Louis Hall-Makarewicz as the Village’s new Deputy Chief Financial Officer this week. Louis has worked with state and local governments across the country on public finance, economic development, grants management, risk/internal audit and strategic planning. He earned an MPP at University of Chicago, where he specialized in municipal finance, and previously worked as a public school teacher in Chicago before moving into government operations. Louis will be working alongside and cross-training with fellow Deputy Chief Financial Officer John Kramer leading up to John’s retirement in August. Elsewhere, Matt Lenhardt arrived as the newest Forestry Technician in the Public Works Department. Matt has 10 years of experience working in the tree care industry, including time spent working at a large nursery. He studied psychology in college.

Learn about sustainability organizations and initiatives in Oak Park during Go Green Days at the Oak Park Farmers’ Market. This eco-focused event takes place while the Market is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, May 30 in the Pilgrim Church parking lot at 460 Lake St. Market officials also encourage customers to go plastic free by bringing a large reusable tote for all of their Market goods, smaller containers for delicate items like berries, and a mesh or cloth bags for items like tomatoes and smaller vegetables. Find more information about the Market at www.oak-park.us/farmersmarket.

Excitement is building for the 52nd A Day in Our Village festival on Sunday, June 7 in Scoville Park. Exhibitor registration closed earlier this month for the premier community event as organizers say capacity has been reached with more than 140 groups signed up to host activity booths representing ways to get involved with Oak Park civic, cultural, social service, educational and religious organizations. Live music, food and extensive activities for kids are a few of the highlights in store. The Park District of Oak Park is once again bringing its foam machine in a nod to A Day in Our Village tradition from previous decades. More information about A Day in Our Village is available at www.oak-park.us/dayinourvillage. The latest episode of the Inside Oak Park podcast includes a preview of A Day in Our Village and the Village’s other special events taking place over the next few weeks. Find an episode archive at www.oak-park.us/podcast.

Community members interested in learning more about an upcoming resurfacing project and planned traffic safety improvements along Ridgeland Avenue between Augusta Street and North Avenue are invited to attend an open house public meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9 in Room 101 at Village Hall. The federally-funded proposed improvements, which are scheduled to be implemented in 2027, will primarily resurface the pavement throughout the project area along Ridgeland Avenue from Augusta Street to North Avenue. In addition, plans call for the implementation of various traffic calming improvements, including medians, curb bump-outs and left-turn restrictions. For more information about the open house, visit www.oak-park.us/ridgelandresurfacing or contact publicworks@oak-park.us or 708.358.5700.

The Village’s Office of Sustainability & Resilience is aware that marketing letters were recently sent to building owners from third-party companies indicating that the building should sign up for a paid service to comply with the Village's Energy and Water Benchmarking Ordinance. The Village is reminding building owners that all official communication regarding the Village’s Benchmarking Ordinance will come directly from the Village. The Village does not work with third-party companies to administer the benchmarking program, nor are building owners required to hire or work with a third party to comply with benchmarking requirements. While some private companies may offer benchmarking-related services, participation in those services is entirely optional and is not affiliated with the Village. Anyone with questions regarding the legitimacy of a communication related to benchmarking compliance is encouraged to contact the Village directly by emailing sustainability@oak-park.us.

Alley improvement project updates – The alley between the 200 blocks of Welsey Ave. and S. East Ave. has been fully reopened to vehicular access. While this alley is now complete, here are updates from other locations in the midst of alley improvements:

• Sewer improvements were completed in the alley between the 1100 blocks of S. Grove Ave. and S. Oak Park Ave. this week. Sewer work will start in the alley between the 800 blocks of N. Harvey Ave. and Mapleton Ave. on June 8.
• Pavement removals began in the alley between the 1000 blocks of Clarence Ave. and S. East Ave. this week.
• Brick pavers are being installed in the alley between the 500 blocks of S. Grove Ave. and S. Oak Park Ave.

Renew the Avenue update – The water-sewer utility crew moved to Hunter Court and the alley west of the Avenue Garage to install the remaining storm sewer catch basins and water main looping back to North Boulevard. With the long holiday weekend, the project team is still awaiting IEPA water main approval to begin water service installations between South Boulevard and Lake Street. The water service work is anticipated to begin next week. Other project updates include:

• The paving crew is preparing for the placement of the asphalt binder course on the outer blocks from Randolph Street to Pleasant Street and from Lake to Ontario Street. Adjustment of structures and parkway restoration will continue next week with a tentative reopening to traffic for these two blocks on June 12, two weeks ahead of schedule.
• The electrical contractor continued removal of the existing lighting infrastructure and installation of temporary lighting between North Boulevard and Lake Street.
• Union Pacific continues structural steel repairs to the bridge overpass between South Boulevard and North Boulevard on Oak Park Avenue.

Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) installations – The contractor completed all underground conduit installations this week. Crews will begin restoring parkways next week. The RRFBs and bike push buttons are expected to be installed by mid-June.

The Oak Park Arts District is hosting its annual What’s Blooming on Harrison Street Festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. this Saturday, May 30. From Humphrey Avenue to Ridgeland Avenue, Harrison Street will transform into an art fair with live music, food vendors, maker's booths and a children’s carnival. More information about the family-friendly event can be found on the Arts District website.