The first in a series of community information sessions where residents will be able to ask questions and provide feedback about proposed changes to Oak Park’s zoning code will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14 at the Community Recreation Center, 229 Madison St. The Village’s Shape Oak Park team prepared draft zoning recommendations earlier this summer with the goal of expanding housing options and creating more consistent zoning standards across the community. The Village is seeking feedback from the community before the recommendations are submitted to the Plan Commission and Village Board for a vote this fall, and six community information meetings are planned during September, including a virtual meeting on Sept. 24.

The Community Relations Commission (CRC) is working with Village staff to host a special joint commission/committee meeting focused on Shape Oak Park from 6 to 8 p.m. next Thursday, Sept. 17 in Council Chambers at Village Hall. The CRC wants to help make sure Oak Parkers know what is being proposed, have access to accurate information and know how to make their voices heard. The commission’s goal is to encourage Oak Parkers to learn the details about the plan. This meeting will allow members of citizen commissions to learn more about Shape Oak Park, ask questions and consider how they can help residents stay informed.

Join the Village for a panel discussion intended to provide community members with information and historical context as proposed changes to Oak Park’s Zoning Ordinance are considered. The goal of the History of Zoning Community Forum is to help residents better understand how zoning has shaped communities in the past while considering Oak Park’s housing needs, community values and future. The discussion will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28 at the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association, 178 Forest Ave. Through Shape Oak Park, the Board of Trustees is considering how the Village’s zoning regulations can create more housing opportunities while maintaining the character, walkability and scale that residents value.

The former IHOP building located at 6501 North Ave. has its demolition permit from Cook County, with demolition set to begin on Sept. 21. After sitting vacant for some time, the property is about to see its biggest change yet — marking the beginning of a new chapter for the site. More updates will be provided as demolition gets underway.

The Village’s Fire Safety Business Grants Program was recently highlighted in an article on the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board website – click here to read the article. Business Services Manager Noemy Diaz is quoted in the article, which highlights how the grants are part of the Village’s broader Business Assistance Grant Programs and offer eligible businesses and commercial property owners reimbursement for up to 50% of qualifying fire safety improvements, with grants capped at $5,000. Eligible improvements include installation (or upgrades) of fire alarm and fire sprinkler systems, as well as purchases of fire extinguishers, Knox boxes, signage and other fire safety-related items.

BarrieFest is happening from noon to 5 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 12 in Barrie Park. Billed as Oak Park's largest block party and hosted by the Southeast Oak Park Community Organization (SEOPCO), BarrieFest is a neighborhood celebration featuring food, fun and friendship. Several Village departments plan to be on hand to share information about municipal government programs and resources, including the Oak Park Public Health Department, which will be providing cycling and e-ride safety information along with free bike helmets while supplies last.

Start your weekend at the Oak Park Farmers’ Market, where more than two dozen independent farmers and producers sell a wide range of fresh produce from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday through Nov. 14 in the Pilgrim Church Parking lot at 460 Lake St. This week WTTW is inviting kids to come play with vintage Chicago toys at the Farmers’ Market as part of an upcoming “Chicago Stories” episode. For more information about the Farmers’ Market, visit www.oak-park.us/farmersmarket.

Looking for a unique way to expand your native garden? Malcolm Mossman, the Village’s Sustainability Coordinator, is joining the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory to discuss how to plant a pollinator garden in your parkway during a free virtual gardening lecture at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17 – click here to register. Participants will hear about how to prepare your garden space, guidelines on planting in the area between your sidewalk and the street and recommended low-growing, tolerant native plants for parkways. For more information about parkway planting guidelines and native gardening in Oak Park, visit www.oak-park.us/nativegardening.

Stop by at the Village’s Park(ing) Day festivities between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18 when space on the 1100 block of Westgate St. just west of Marion St. in Downtown Oak Park will be repurposed into a temporary, park-like community gathering spot for children and families with this year's theme of "Art & Play." The Village’s Parking and Mobility Services team will be coordinating the fun with refreshments, music, fun activities, giveaways and more. The event is part of the global Park(ing) Day celebration as communities around the world transform parking spaces into temporary green spaces while advocating for safer, greener, more equitable streets. More information is at www.oak-park.us/parkingday26.

The Village's next E.C.H.O. Exchange is taking place from 9 to 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 18 at Addis Café. Community members are invited to 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/SeptemberECHOexchange.

Save the date for Kitchen to Compost: A Food Waste Awareness Forum from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22 in the Veterans Room at the Oak Park Public Library. Hear from local experts about the impact of food waste, what our community is doing to combat these issues and find out more about what you can do to help. Light vegan refreshments will be available. Anyone planning to attend is encouraged to register via the Library website.

The Village’s Aging in Communities Commission is observing Ageism Awareness Day by hosting Raymond Jetson for a discussion on aging from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 9 at the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association. Jetson is the founder and author of “Aging While Black: A Radical Reimagining of Aging and Race in America.”  Refreshments will be provided. Information about the event is posted on the Village website at www.oak-park.us/AAD26.

Chief Communications Officer Dan Yopchick traveled to Denver this week to join nearly 900 government communicators for the annual City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) conference. He is pictured here with other attendees from Illinois. It was an opportunity to connect with leaders from around the country to discuss best practices, innovative solutions, obstacles to success and more. He also attended the annual Savvy Awards luncheon, which highlights the best in communications, marketing and engagement. The Office of Communications & Engagement’s Inside Oak Park podcast was a nominee in the category of Communications & Marketing Tools (Digital Interactive).

The Fire Department recently celebrated Firefighter/Paramedic Chris Berardi’s graduation from the Northern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA). Chris is now completing two weeks of additional in-house training before beginning work on shift later this month. Elsewhere, the Development Services Department welcomed Usana Allgood as a new Parking Compliance Specialist within the Parking & Mobility Services Division. Usana is currently working toward a degree in psychology with a focus in the field of law enforcement.

The Oak Park Public Health Department’s next free, in-person training on opioid overdose prevention and the use of Narcan nasal spray is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Community Recreation Center, 229 Madison St. Click here to sign up to participate in the training. The 90-minute training is ideal for people who want to be ready to respond if they encounter a person experiencing a potential opioid overdose. The training covers harm reduction principles, signs and symptoms of opioid overdose, how Narcan works in the body, hands-on practice with Narcan nasal spray and time for questions and answers. Participants will also receive a free opioid overdose prevention kit to take home.

Renew the Avenue project – Brick paver installation has begun on the south block between Pleasant Street and South Boulevard. Paver installation will continue for the next three weeks on this block. The roadway excavation crew will continue excavating next week along the north block between North Boulevard and Lake Street in preparation for the new concrete roadway base. Other updates related to the Renew the Avenue project include:

• The lighting and traffic signal conduit installation will continue along South Boulevard and into the intersection of South Boulevard and Oak Park Avenue for the next week. The electrical crew will then head to the north block to install conduit and light pole foundations once the roadway excavation is complete.
• Concrete work along South Boulevard will be ongoing as crews continue to remove the old curbs, sidewalk and plaza area at the southeast corner of Oak Park Avenue and South Boulevard in preparation for the placement of new curbs and concrete sidewalk base.
• AT&T will complete installation of its last communication manhole at the corner of North Boulevard and Oak Park Avenue this week.

Water and sewer project – The contractor is making the final water main connections on Scoville Avenue this week. The connections will be at Fillmore Street, S. East Avenue, and Harvard Street. Water service replacements are also in progress on the north side of town on Euclid Avenue. The replacements will continue through Sept. 18. After all water services are transferred to the new watermain, the contractor will make the final connections for the new water main at North Avenue and Greenfield Street.

Resurfacing project – Crews are working on milling Forest Avenue, Lombard Avenue, N. Euclid Avenue and Iowa Street this week. Binder placement will resume on Sept. 16 starting with the Lombard Ave project location. Concrete curb and sidewalk work will occur this Saturday on Clinton Avenue and Carpenter Avenue and continue into next week. Sewer improvements are in progress on N. Euclid Avenue and will soon begin on Augusta Street.

Pavement preservation project – The annual pavement preservation project is starting soon. The contract was awarded to R.W. Dunteman and crews will be in town starting next week. The project consists of pavement patching, concrete work on Austin Boulevard, crack sealing, microsurfacing and rejuvenator application, and pavement markings at various streets throughout the Village. Minor traffic delays are anticipated while work is in progress. The contractor will post “No Parking” signs 48 hours in advance and remove the signs once the work is complete. All affected residents have been notified.

Bike boulevards project – The Bike Boulevard project set to begin soon consists of installing pavement markings – including polyurea, methyl methacrylate (MMA) and thermoplastic – as well as fabricating and installing signs for bike lanes. Crews started earlier this week on Kenilworth Avenue. The newly installed shared bike lane and pavement symbols will be completed before the end of this week. Crews anticipate moving to Thomas Street, Erie Street and Pleasant Street in the coming days. The exact schedule may vary based on daily progress and weather conditions. Residents and motorists should remain alert for crews and temporary traffic impacts while work is underway.

Sidewalk project – The angle cut contractor for the annual sidewalk program will begin work later this week. The schedule has been delayed due to rain. Crews are focusing on locations in the southwest quadrant of Oak Park, starting with S. East Avenue.

The Oak Park IL Film Festival is set to return to the community next week, and tickets are on sale at www.opilff.org. The festival kicks off with a screening of “Enough Said” on Sept. 16 at the Lake Theatre. The event continues with an independent film showcase Sept. 19-20 at Madison Street Theater. Audiences can enjoy a diverse selection of films from a variety of genres including documentaries, shorts and more – all with an Oak Park connection.

The seventh annual Tour de Proviso community bike ride is coming up on Oct. 3. This year’s race is being hosted by the Village of Melrose Park and will start and finish at Melrose Park Village Hall, 1000 N. 25th Ave. Click here for more information and to register to participate. The Village of Oak Park hosted last year’s race, which attracted more than 1,000 registered riders and traveled through multiple communities in west suburban Cook County.