Madison Street Public Hearing | Lake & Lathrop Court Hearing | Service Request Portal

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Dear River Forest residents,

Last weekend, Village staff members and I traveled to Denver because River Forest was one of 20 finalists for the prestigious All-America City Award. Although our Village was not selected as one of the 10 winners, I am very proud of how our community was represented and grateful to our Village staff for their work that went into preparing and delivering our presentation.

During the most recent "Casual Conversation with the Village President," questions came up about the best way to report concerns or request Village services. Our online Service Request Platform is the fastest and most effective way to make a service request, from streetlight outages, tree branches in the street, sidewalk or curb issues, to water billing and more. Learn more about this convenient portal in an article below.

Finally, Village Hall will be closed tomorrow (Friday, July 3) in observance of the Independence Day holiday. Regular business hours will resume on Monday, July 6, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please note that refuse collection will not be affected by the holiday. On behalf of the Village Board and staff, I wish you and your family a safe, happy, and memorable holiday weekend!

Sincerely,

Cathy Adduci, Village President

Village of River Forest

Madison Street Public Hearing

The proposed mixed-use development at 7620 Madison Street by developer Five Thirty One Partners has now entered the Village's formal public review process. Residents are encouraged to review the application here, which includes a timeline of the proposal process that began in February 2025, along with updated renderings, a traffic study, an economic analysis, and supporting memos from the Village and consultants.

Community members are invited to attend the Development Review Board (DRB) Public Hearing regarding this proposal on Thursday, July 9, at 7 p.m. in the Trinity High School Gymnasium. Residents can submit public comments here. Please note: For comments to become part of the public record that is shared with the DRB and Village Board, they must be submitted through the channels provided at vrf.us/madison or made in person at the public hearing.

Attend Lake &

Lathrop Hearing

Residents are encouraged to attend the next court hearing regarding the Lake and Lathrop property development foreclosure case on Thursday, July 9. While members of the public will not be able to address the court, a strong community presence can highlight the importance of resolving this long-standing matter. Transportation to the Daley Center is available for interested residents. To reserve a seat, please contact Village Hall for additional information by Wednesday, July 8.

Use the Service Request Portal

The Village is committed to improving the way residents can request services. The Service Request platform provides a fast and convenient way to submit requests and ask questions online. Residents can use the platform to report road or sewer issues, request a garbage cart replacement, schedule branch pickup, ask questions about Metra parking, and much more - all in one place. Watch the accompanying video to learn how this portal works, and utilize the Platform here.

Railway Crossing Closures July 6 - 10

(Click the image to enlarge)

CN Railway will be updating the Augusta Street and Forest Avenue grade crossings (where the roadway and sidewalk intersect at the railroad tracks). This project includes removal of the existing rubber crossing surface, reconstruction of the track structure, and installation of new rubber panels and asphalt approaches to improve safety and long-term durability. A full road closure will take place at both crossings for the duration of the work. Traffic control will be managed by High Star Traffic, and will include advance warning signage, barricades, and clearly marked detour routes prior to the start of construction. Weather permitting, construction is scheduled to take place from Monday, July 6 through Friday, July 10.

Young Residents Thank Police Officers

Recently, a group of local children visited the Police Department to thank officers for their quick response and efforts in apprehending an individual who confronted members of their group. Find more information here.

The visit by these young people was a heartfelt reminder of the strong relationship that can exist between Police and community members. The Department also extends its appreciation to everyone who assisted with the investigation of this case.

Celebrate Safely: Follow Fireworks Laws

As Independence Day is celebrated this coming weekend, please remember that the use, sale, delivery, possession, or discharge of fireworks is prohibited in River Forest under Village ordinance and Illinois State law. This includes firecrackers, cherry bombs, M-80s, bottle rockets, Roman candles, and similar devices. Help keep our community safe by celebrating responsibly. For additional information about fireworks laws and safety, click here.

Plastic Free July and Beyond!

This July and whenever you can, join millions of people around the world in taking the Plastic Free July challenge to reduce plastic waste. Participants in more than 190 countries are making a difference by choosing to avoid single-use plastics and adopting simple, sustainable habits.

A great way to get started is by replacing one single-use plastic item every day. You can refill a reusable water bottle instead of purchasing bottled water, bring a reusable coffee cup or mug, and swap plastic wrap for reusable food containers or beeswax wraps. These small changes can significantly reduce plastic waste over time. Learn more about the Plastic Free July challenge and find additional tips here.

River Forest Business Spotlight

River Forest is excited to welcome Joy Tea to the business community. The new business specializes in award-winning teas and handcrafted beverages inspired by ancient tea recipes - offering a fresh, modern take on traditional flavors. Be sure to stop by, support this new local business, and welcome Joy Tea to River Forest! Learn more here.

Please support local businesses whenever possible! If you have a business located in River Forest with a valid business license, it can be featured in the Village’s business spotlight. If you’d like your business to be featured, please send us an email. You can find a listing of River Forest businesses on the Village’s Shop River Forest website.