The Shape Oak Park project team has developed a set of recommendations for the Zoning Ordinance relative to missing middle housing opportunities. The recommendation report, scheduled to be discussed at the July 28 Village Board meeting, responds to the needs identified in the adopted Strategic Vision for Housing Plan by removing regulatory barriers to middle housing village-wide and along key commercial corridors. Find the reports and analyses in the recommendations section at www.oak-park.us/shape.

Nominations are being sought for the Village’s 2026 community stewardship awards that recognize efforts made by individuals, organizations and businesses to improve the community. Residents are invited to submit nominations for contributions related to sustainability, public health, historic preservation and community development partnership. This year the Village is also seeking nominations for several new award categories related to neighborhood partnerships and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Visit www.oak-park.us/communityawards for online nomination forms and deadline information for each award category.

Save the date for the Oak Park Public Health Department's open house from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 30 at the Oak Park Public Library. Learn how Oak Park health officials serve people who grow up, live, work and age in Oak Park! The event offers a chance to meet staff, learn about the Public Health Department's divisions, enjoy free refreshments, giveaways and connections to resources. Be sure to ask about the community health plan (IPLAN) and give us your feedback on how to make a healthier Oak Park. More information is at www.oak-park.us/healthopenhouse

The Oak Park Climate Action Network is hosting a free in-person event to connect communities tackling climate change side by side. Oak Park Village Manager Kevin Jackson will be among the panelists participating in the event, which takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. this Saturday, July 18 at Elements Architectural Group, 407 South Blvd. Click here to register to attend.

The Village's next E.C.H.O. Exchange is taking place from 9 to 11 a.m. on Friday, July 24 at Whirlwind Coffee Company, 513 Madison St. Stop by, enjoy a cup of coffee, ask questions, discuss community concerns and learn about how the E.C.H.O. program works with public safety personnel to help connect community members in need with services in Oak Park. More information is at www.oak-park.us/JulyECHOexchange.

The Oak Park Police Department is excited to once again host National Night Out, a community celebration that aims to strengthen partnerships and positive interactions between law enforcement and residents. The free event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4 on the south lawn at Village Hall. The National Night Out festivities will feature music, food, bounce houses, face painting, lawn games and more. Oak Park will be joining thousands of communities nationwide participating in the National Night Out campaign, which takes place each year on the first Tuesday in August. For more information, visit www.oak-park.us/nno2026.

Mark your calendar for a free workshop series designed to help Oak Park residents explore how to manage utility costs and increase comfort at home. The Save Energy at Home workshop series is part of Oak Park Energy Navigator, offered by the Village and Elevate, a national nonprofit based in Chicago. The initial workshop titled Understand Energy Use and Savings will take place at 6 p.m. on Aug. 6 at the Oak Park Public Library main branch. The series continues later in the month with workshops titled Increase Comfort with Insulation and Air Sealing (Aug. 11) and Save More with Solar and Renewable Energy (Aug. 20). Click here for more information and to RSVP to attend.

The Village welcomed new employees in the Public Health, Public Works and Human Resources departments this week. Francisco Silva is the new Animal Control Officer in the Public Health Department. He is certified through the National Animal Care & Control Association and earned his associate’s degree. Alexander Wojtowicz is a new Equipment Operator in the Streets Division of the Public Works Department. He served five years in the Army after high school. In the Human Resources Department, Katie Vahling arrived as a new Human Resources Coordinator.

Village officials are aware that approximately 1,600 water shut-off notices were sent in error to residents this month. The Village’s Finance Department has placed a hold on all water shut offs related to this issue, and no impacted customer’s water service will be interrupted. Any late fees caused by the error will be reversed, and customers enrolled in autopay will remain enrolled without needing to take additional action. Village officials apologize for the confusion caused by the billing error. More information is at www.oak-park.us/waterbillingerror.

Renew the Avenue project – The roadway crew for the Renew the Avenue project will continue pouring the new roadway concrete base course between Pleasant Street and South Boulevard into the beginning of next week. The Pleasant and Oak Park Avenue intersection will be closed to vehicular traffic on Monday, July 20, reopening Wednesday, July 22, to accommodate the concrete placement in this intersection. Other updates related to the project include the following:

• The electrical contractor will be drilling, pouring and installing the new light pole foundations on Oak Park Avenue from Pleasant to South Boulevard next week.
• The underground crew has completed all water service transfers and will retire the old water main between North Boulevard and Lake Street this week.
• Union Pacific continues to complete concrete abutment repairs on the bridge overpass between South and North Boulevards on Oak Park Avenue. AT&T will back onsite next week installing new communication manholes to replace older existing infrastructure between North Boulevard and Lake on Oak Park Avenue. 
• Don’t forget to check out the Village of Oak Park and Hemmingway District’s new Bike to the Biz promotion. Click here for more details.

Alley improvement project – Removals were completed in the alley between the 200 blocks of S. Kenilworth and S. Grove this week. The contractor plans to pour concrete late this week and install the new bricks early next week. Work in the final alley undergoing reconstruction will begin Monday between the 800 blocks of N. Harvey Ave. and Mapleton Ave. Starting next week, asphalt patches will be completed on streets adjacent to alley approaches to restore the pavement that was disturbed by sewer installations earlier in the project. There will also be four separate alley patching locations. These locations will not receive full reconstruction, rather a small portion of the alley will have pavement removed and replaced in-kind. No garage access is expected to be interrupted during this work, however, access from Chicago Avenue to the alley between the 400 blocks of N. Cuyler and N. Harvey Ave. will be closed for 10-14 days for the work to be completed and for the concrete to cure. This is the only alley that will have a concrete patch, the other three will be patched with asphalt. The four alleys slated for patching are:

1. Alley between the 800 blocks of N. Ridgeland Ave. and N. Elmwood Ave.
2. Alley between the 400 blocks of N. Cuyler Ave. and N. Harvey Ave.
3. Alley between the 1000 blocks of S. Euclid and S. Oak Park Ave.
4. Alley between the 1150 blocks of Clinton Ave. and S. Kenilworth Ave.

Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) installations – The contractor installed the RRFB’s at Ridgeland Avenue/Pleasant Street, Ridgeland/Erie Street and Ridgeland/Thomas Street. The remainder of the RRFBs are set to be installed next week with signage installations and electrical connections to follow.

Water and sewer project – Sewer main and sewer service installations on the 1100 block of S. Scoville Ave. began Monday. The contractor began work at Harvard Avenue and moved south towards Fillmore Street throughout the week. This work is expected to continue through the end of next week. The contractor also began work to replace water and sewer mains along the 1100 and 1200 blocks of N. Euclid Ave., starting with sewer main installation on the 1100 block. Crews will continue to work their way north next week.

Resurfacing project – All planned work has been pushed back one week. Now, the contractor will begin installing tree protection in addition to saw cutting in preparation for removals, which includes sidewalk, curb, gutter and pavement at all resurfacing locations the week of July 20. Removal operations will also begin the week of July 20 on Erie Street between Elmwood Avenue and Taylor Avenue and at Van Buren Street between East Avenue and Ridgeland Avenue. The first of four sewer repairs associated with this project along Augusta Street between Harlem Avenue and Oak Park Avenue and one repair near the Marion Street/Thomas Street intersection will also begin next week.

Oak Park’s Hemingway District is celebrating Ernest Hemingway's birthday with a three-day festival, The Fun Also Rises, taking place this Friday, July 17 through Sunday, July 19. Inspired by the 100th anniversary of Hemingway's iconic novel, "The Sun Also Rises," the weekend combines literature, live music, family activities, outdoor dining and local shopping into a community-wide celebration of Oak Park's literary heritage. Catch a reading of Hemingway's works, take part in the scavenger hunt, watch the popular Running of the Bulls Kids Race or just eat, drink or shop at one of the businesses along Lake Street and Oak Park Avenue in the Hemingway District Oak Park. Click here to see the full schedule of events and locations.

Want to help set a world record, right here in Oak Park? Candycopia is celebrating National Sour Candy Day by attempting the Guinness World Record for the largest sour candy tasting from 1:30-2:30 p.m. this Saturday, July 18 at Ridgeland Commons, 415 Lake St. Registration is required to participate – click here for more details.