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Week Ending - October 14, 2022

Welcome to the weekend and the latest edition of the Village of Forest Park's weekly e-newsletter! Please use this e-newsletter as a resource to provide you with the latest news, events and resources in and around Forest Park!

In this edition, please find updates from the Village Council, Public Works, the Forest Park Police, and Community Center, community news, job opportunities and more!

We want to hear from you! If you have news or events that you would like to include in future editions, please let us know. Have a wonderful weekend!

Village Council News

Village Council Meeting

The next meeting of the Forest Park Village Council will be held on Monday, October 24, 2022 at 7pm in the lower level of Village Hall.

Backyard Hens Townhall Meeting

The Commissioner of Public Health and Safety Maria Maxham and the Village of Forest Park will be hosting a townhall meeting to discuss the possibility of changing current code to allow a limited number of backyard hens (no roosters). The meeting is open to the public. Presentations will include code from nearby towns that allow hens and information on safe chicken-keeping. There will be a chance for resident questions and comments. The meeting has been moved to the Lower Level of Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Ave., on October 18th at 7 p.m.

Let's Talk About Rats

Rodent control has proven itself to be far more challenging this year than in previous years. The Village has received dozens of calls from residents reporting rats in the alley behind their homes. The callers all make the same request: Can the village bait the alley? Unfortunately, baiting the alleys alone has limited effectiveness. Department of Public Health and Safety Director Steve Glinke will present information about the best solutions to the problem of rats and answer any questions residents have on how best to help combat the issue of rats in Forest Park. This question & answer session will take place on Tuesday, October 25 at 7pm in the Lower Level of Village Hall.

A Message from the Village Clerk

Voter Registration Info

With elections coming up this fall, those who want to vote need to be registered. There are three ways to register:

Click here to register to vote online.

Click here to print out a paper form to mail in.

To register in person, visit the Village of Forest Park Clerk's Office during regular business hours. You must bring 2 forms of identification, one of which has to have your current address and one has to be a photo ID.

Employment Opportunities

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

Police Officer

Police Desk Clerk

Part-Time Parking Enforcement Officer

Bus Driver

Childcare Worker

Crossing Guard

Click here for more information

A Message From Public Works...

Leaf Removal Program

The Village of Forest Park offers an opportunity for residents to dispose of leaves during the fall season. There is no added cost for this service. Leaves should be raked curbside into the street gutters and will later be removed by the Village's Public Works Department. The Public Works Department Leaf Removal Program spans from October 1 – December 1 each year. The leaf pick-up schedule follows the street sweeper daily schedule, which is available by clicking here. Residents shall rake their leaves curbside a day before their scheduled pickup day. No grass clippings, bags or tree limbs are allowed. Contractors illegally dumping leaves (from other sites) will be cited. Residents are also encouraged to bag their leaves and place them by their trash receptacles. Unlimited yard waste removal is included during spring, summer, and fall, in the Village’s refuse contract.

Jackson Blvd Construction

Lindahl Brothers, Inc began work on the IDOT-funded Jackson Boulevard Resurfacing Project (between Madison St. and Desplaines Ave.) on Tuesday, September 6th. Work is expected to take two (2) months, weather permitting. Work will consist of the removal and replacement of the existing asphalt pavement surface, curb & sidewalk spot repairs, detectable warning installation and all incidental restoration within improvement limits.

What are these?

The Village of Forest Park has started the process of painting the water tower on the north end of town. In the process, the water tower needed to be drained. This adds pressure to the water system when the pumps turn on. These devices attached to random hydrants are called pressure relief valves. They are designed to blow off any additional pressure to the water system to prevent water main breaks. There is one at 611 Harlem (has a slow leak) and one at 7419 Franklin.

Upcoming Alley and Sidewalk Improvements

Beginning Monday, October 17th, the 1100 Elgin - Harlem Alley will begin alley improvement construction.

Beginning Monday, October 31st, the 400 Elgin -Harlem Alley will begin alley improvement construction.

Sidewalk replacement will take place this Fall. For a list of sidewalks that will be replaced, click here.

Please be cautious when travelling in and around theses areas as large trucks and machinery will be present.

Tree Planting Event

On Thursday, October 27th, at 12pm, the Village of Forest Park’s engineering firm, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd., will sponsor an event to plant an Exclamation Planetree behind the Altenheim, at 7824 Madison St., to celebrate The Morton Arboretum's 100th anniversary and The Conservation Foundation's 50th anniversary. Please join the Village of Forest Park and Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd. for this wonderful celebration.

Community Center News

Senior Newsletter

The October/November/December Senior Newsletter is now available! Click here for information on senior movies, trips and more!

Cindy Lyons Health Fair

News from the Police Department...

Neighborhood Watch Meeting

The October Neighborhood Watch meeting we will be on Tuesday, October 18 at 7pm at Village Hall. Forest Park residents and business owners are welcome to join.

Trick or Treat Hours

Trick or Treat hours in Forest Park will be 3:00pm to 7:30pm on Monday, October 31.

Overnight On Street Parking Restrictions

Just a friendly reminder that there is no parking on any street in the Village between the hours of 2am – 5am. If overnight parking is needed, please call 708-366-7272 between the hours of 8 PM & 2 AM or click here to obtain a parking pass. Only five passes can be issued per month. You will need the license plate number, make of vehicle and where the vehicle is parked.

This parking restriction is in place for street sweeping and the safety of our residents. Please obey the restrictions. Violators will be ticketed and possibly towed.

Attention Vehicle Owners

Owners of some 2011 - 2021 Kia models and some 2016-2021 Hyundai models should be aware that there is a keying issue with these autos that make them easy to steal and vulnerable to theft especially with information being put forth on social media showing the glitch that makes certain autos easy to steal. Owners of Kia and Hyundai autos are encouraged to lock their autos and park in well-lit areas in an effort to curtail thefts. Owners are also encouraged to purchase and utilize auto theft prevention devices such as "The Club" to help discourage thieves from stealing Kias and Hyundais in our community.

Community News

Blue Line Boarding Change and Delays for October 17-18

Source Grow Grant Assistance

West Suburban Cook County businesses are invited to join the Berwyn Development Corporation for an informational session on the now open, Source Grow Grant for small businesses. For more information here.

Free Mammograms in October

Throughout October, women who live in Oak Park, River Forest or Proviso Township can get a screening mammogram for no cost at Rush Oak Park Hospital. Now there is no reason not to have one. Mammograms save lives. To see if you qualify for a free mammogram click here.

Cook County Promise Pilot Program

Cook County’s Promise Pilot is the nation’s largest publicly funded guaranteed income pilot. The $42 million program will provide $500 monthly payments—no strings attached—to 3,250 Cook County families for two years to improve the economic stability, health, and independence of our residents and communities.

More than one-third of all Cook County households are eligible to apply. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, a resident of Cook County, and meet income eligibility. For more information here.

Des Plaines River Trail Central Feasibility Study

Help make Forest Park a better place to walk and bike! The Des Plaines River Trail Central Feasibility Study is exploring how the Des Plaines River Trail can be extended from the CTA Forest Park Blue Line Station and Illinois Prairie Path to the Salt Creek Trail near 26th Street. The study will consider both on-street and off-street routes and guide improvements to sidewalks, paths, intersections, and streets to make it easier to bike and walk through Forest Park, Maywood, Broadview, or North Riverside. Take our short survey to provide your input! Click here to take the survey!