708-366-2323 - contact@forestpark.net

Village Council News

Village Council Meeting Information

The next meeting of the Forest Park Village Council will be held on Monday, February 27, 2023, at 7pm in the lower level of Village Hall.

Can't make the meeting in person? Village Council meetings are streamed live and recordings are published to the Village website within a few days after the meeting.

To view the meetings live via Zoom, click here and then click on the Zoom link for the current meeting. Meetings will start at 7pm.

To view recordings of the Village Council meetings, click here, then click on the date you would like to view.

News from the Village Clerk's Office

Upcoming Board and Commission Meetings

All meetings are held at Village Hall unless otherwise noted

March 9, Recreation Board, 7pm (Zoom)

March 16, Safety & Traffic Commission, 7pm

March 20, Planning and Zoning Commission, 7pm

March 21, Neighborhood Watch, 7pm

Vehicle Stickers Now On Sale

Due by April 1st

Senior Citizen Water Rates

The Village Clerk's Office adjusts a senior citizen customer's water/sewer rate once the County's website confirms that both tax bill installments have been paid while utilizing the senior citizen homestead exemption. A senior citizen customer is defined as "...any customer connecting to the village water system at a location utilized as such customer's primary residence and which location has been granted a senior citizens homestead exemption pursuant to section 15-170 of the property tax code (35 ILCS 200/15-170)." If you have questions regarding the Village's Senior Citizen water rate, please call the Clerk's Office at 708-366-2323.

Employment Opportunities



The Village of Forest Park has the following employment opportunities available:

Part-Time Parking Enforcement Officer

Bus Driver

Childcare Worker

Crossing Guard

Click here for more information

News from the Department of Public Health & Safety

Planning & Zoning Commission

The next Planning & Zoning Commission meeting will be held on Monday, March 20 at 7pm in the Lower Level of Village Hall.

News from the Public Works Department

Spring Tree Planting Notice

Spring is approaching quickly. In 2022, the Village of Forest Park compiled a full GIS Tree Inventory, along with a Forestry Comprehensive Management Plan. The Village is excited to finally be able to tap into these valuable resources in moving forward with its tree-planting goals. The majority of the trees planted per season will be based on Arborist recommendations from our new resources. The Forest Park Public Works Department is taking minimal tree requests in each planting season.   There are limited request amounts available, so act quickly. Please visit the Village of Forest Park’s GIS tree map FP Trees. The black circles with the blue pins inside represent open planting spaces. If your location falls in these areas, the Village will plant the tree at no charge. Otherwise, residents will be charged full price for the tree they request in all other areas. Included will be the free planting of the tree by the Public Works staff and a watering bag. All those interested should email the Director of Public Works at sstella@forestpark.net. You will be sent a tree list to pick from. Once the location and tree species is approved by the Director of Public Works, you will be added to the planting list for Spring 2023. Any requests that were not able to be met in Spring will be considered for the fall planting in the order they were received. Please have all requests sent to the Director of Public Works by March 1, 2023.  

Winter Weather Tips

When the weather dips below freezing for an extended period of time and during bursts of extreme cold, please follow these tips to help you avoid frozen interior water pipes:

• Let the water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe, even at a trickle, helps prevent pipes from freezing because the temperature of the water running through it is above freezing.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
• If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home or business set to a temperature no lower than 55ºF.
• Shut off outside water.

Snow Route Information

Colder temperatures also bring the chance of snow. In the event of 2 inches of snow or more, the Village's snow routes automatically go into effect. Snow routes signs are typically located on the side of the street with the streetlights. There is no parking in the snow routes. If you must park on the street, you must park opposite the snow route. Main streets will be plowed first, followed by side streets. Alleys and sidewalks will be plowed once the streets have been completed. Only streets will be salted. Snow routes will be in effect for up to 48 hours following this snow event.

Cars parked in the snow routes during snow events are subject to being ticketed and towed. Please help us get the word out by telling your guests and neighbors about the snow routes so everyone can be prepared for the upcoming Winter Snow Season. We appreciate your help!

News from the Community Center

Senior Newsletter

The January/February Senior Newsletter is now available by clicking here.

The March/April/May Senior Newsletter is now available by clicking here.

Senior Bingo

Food Pantry

Residents who are in need of assistance with groceries can visit the Forest Park Food Pantry located at the Community Center. For hours and more information, call 708-77-7737.

News from the Fire Department

Warming Centers- Cook County



When temperatures in Cook County are expected to dip to unsafe levels, the County's Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security provides an updated list of warming centers for residents to protect themselves and their families.  Click here for a list of Warming Centers in Cook County.

News from the Police Department

St. Patrick’s Day Parade Traffic Alert

Saturday, March 4

On Saturday, March 4^th at 1 pm, the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade returns to downtown Forest Park! The Chamber of Commerce will hold the parade on Madison Street from Van Buren Street to Harlem Avenue. Madison Street will be shut down to traffic from 11:30 am-4:00 pm. Traffic around Madison Street will be rerouted during this time. Please be alert to traffic changes and pedestrians attending the parade. Also, there will be no parking on Madison Street from Van Buren Street east to Harlem Avenue as well as on Adams Street from Harlem Avenue to Circle Avenue. Be aware of the no parking signs as cars are subject to being towed. We look forward to this annual celebration here in Forest Park!

Medication Disposal Information

The Forest Park Police Department takes part in the Cook County MEDS Disposal Initiative. If you have expired, unused or unwanted prescription or over-the-counter medications, you can bring them to the Forest Park Police Department located at 517 Desplaines Ave, Forest Park, IL. Police department staff will dispose of the medication in a secure receptacle that is emptied regularly by staff from the Cook County Sheriff's Police. More information can be found at: https://cookcountymeds.org/

Neighborhood Watch



Neighborhood Watch meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. The group is always looking for new members. If you are interested in joining, please call 708-366-2425 for more information.

The February Neighborhood Watch meeting we will be on Tuesday, March 21st at 7pm at the Village Hall. Forest Park residents and business owners are welcome to join.

For more information about the Forest Park Police Department, visit their website by clicking here.

LOSS (Loving Outreach to Suicide Survivors)

LOSS is a well-regarded non-denominational program funded and run by Catholic Charities. LOSS provides services for anyone affected by suicide loss, including spouses, parents, children, siblings, other relatives, and friends. For more information, click here.

Community News & Events

St. Patrick's Day Parade

Saturday, March 4th

Emerge Workforce Development Program

Cook County Property Taxes Due April 3

The due date for Tax Year 2022 First Installment property taxes this year is April 3. Nearly

1.8 million tax bills will arrive in mailboxes by early March. Typically, First Installment property tax bills are due on March 1. But state lawmakers extended the due date because Second Installment bills were late last year. They are currently available online here.

Proviso East Class of 2003 Fund

The Proviso East Class of 2003 Fund is now accepting applications for this year’s scholarship available to seniors at Proviso East High School. For more information, click here.

Coyote Mating and Whelping Season



Coyote mating and whelping season is upon us and lasts through May. Residents may see an increase in coyotes in residential neighborhoods and streets of Forest Park. Cook County’s Department of Animal and Rabies Control reminds us of some tips to keep pets safe during coyote mating season. During this time, coyotes are establishing territories and dens to whelp their pups. Until weaning, coyotes are more visible and more aggressive.

ARC offers the following tips to prevent tragic encounters between coyote and cats or small dogs:

• In areas near heavily wooded parts of Cook County, studies have found that cats can be a substantial part of coyote’s diet. This time of year, it’s essential to keep your cats indoors, especially at night.
• Small dogs are also a food source as well as a perceived threat to coyotes looking after their own pups. This time of year, small dogs should be supervised at all times in the backyard, especially after dark. Barking may also attract coyotes so it’s important to stay alert.
• Switch up your routine. Coyotes are smart and can learn your schedule. If you always let your dog out or take them for a walk at a certain time, coyotes will learn that and be ready at that time.
• Walk dogs on a short leash and always be aware of your surroundings.
• Bird feeders attract small mammals looking for food that may have fallen from the feeder. Raking and removing the bird feed from the ground will keep small mammals and coyote from being attracted.
• Most coyotes are naturally very shy of human contact, but if you encounter a coyote on a walk make yourself very big and loud to scare it away. Carrying and using a whistle, bell or horn can help scare them away as well. You can also jump around and bang on garbage cans or whatever is nearby.

The population of coyotes roughly doubles in Cook County during mating and whelping season. By the end of summer, disease and other events bring the population back to its normal size of approximately 2,000.

For more information about the County’s Department of Animal and Rabies Control, please visit: https://www.cookcountyil.gov/agency/animal-and-rabies-control

February is Spay and Neuter Awareness Month

Pet owners can bring their dogs and cats to participating veterinarians throughout Cook County to receive a $40 discount on spay or neuter services in February. The County’s Department of Animal and Rabies Control (ARC) is offering the spay and neuter program during February – Spay and Neuter Awareness. For more info, click here.

Forest Park PTO

Click here for info on the January and February Starship fundraiser.

Click here for the Forest Park PTO Newsletter.

ComEd Launches New Assistance Programs

to Help Families Working to Make Ends Meet

Proviso Handyman March Flyer

Local Hiring Opportunities

The Village of Forest Park and several community partners are hiring. Please see the links below for more information and to apply:



• Village of Forest Park
• Forest Park Public Library
• Forest Park School District 91
• Village of Forest Park

Important Phone Numbers

Police, Fire and Medical Needs 

Emergency and Non-Emergency - 911

24/7 Mental Health Crisis Support - 988

Text to 911 Now Available

West Suburban Consolidated Dispatch Center which provides emergency response services to Forest Park, along with Oak Park and River Forest can now receive 911 texts from a cell phone to report an emergency.

While calls to 911 will best assist emergency responders in being able to locate a caller, texting is an option for those who may need it. Text should only be used when some is unable to voice call to 911.

A text to 911 cannot include any other recipients. Texts to 911 may also take longer to reach the dispatch center.

Texts to 911 should be brief. Please include the type of help needed and the location where help is needed. Be prepared to respond to follow-up questions via text to better assist emergency responders.

Village Hall/Clerk's Office - 708-366-2323

Police Department - 708-366-2425

Parking/Records - 708-366-7272

Fire Department - 708-366-1234

Community Center - 708-771-7737

Forest Park Public Library - 708-366-7171

Park District of Forest Park 708-366-7500 

School District 91 - 708-366-5700

Proviso Township High School - 708- 338-5900