Big City Access Small Town Charm | | |
Week Ending - September 6, 2025
Welcome to 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!
Joke of the week: What is the best way to learn how to make ice cream?
Go to Sundae School.
| News From the Village Administrator's Office | |
The weather is cooling down, and as they say—we’re heading into pumpkin spice latte season! With the crisp air comes a wave of exciting fall events in the village.
Kick off autumn with the Park District’s annual Fall Fest, happening tomorrow from 2:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the park. It’s a fun-filled day for all ages, featuring great food, live music, and family-friendly activities. New this year: a Community Garage Sale—a perfect chance to find treasures and connect with neighbors. Don’t miss it! And don't forget to sign up for Invasion of the Scarecrows! More information below in the community section but tomorrow at fall fest is one of three pick up dates.
And speaking of seasonal traditions, it’s also time for the Forest Park Arts Alliance's “Tellers Night”—an evening of compelling storytelling by professional performers. The first event of the season will be held Tuesday, September 9 at Robert's Westside. Doors open at 6:30 PM, with the show starting at 7:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased online or $15 at the door.
If you’ve never been, here’s what to expect: Tellers are dynamic storytellers who use words, music, and performance to bring real-life experiences to life on stage—entertaining, moving, and always memorable.
More information on Tellers Night can be found here.
Let’s celebrate the start of fall together—with community spirit, creativity, and plenty of pumpkin-flavored treats.
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Rachell Entler
Village Administrator
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Village Council News
The next meeting of the Village Council will be held on Monday, September 8 at 7:00 PM at Village Hall. All residents are encouraged to attend—either in person or via Zoom—to stay informed, share comments, and engage with the issues that matter to our community.
Council meetings are your opportunity to hear updates on village projects, budget decisions, planning proposals, and other matters that affect daily life in our community. Whether it's road maintenance, park improvements, or community events.
Details about the upcoming agenda and the Zoom link can be found here. Be sure to check it out ahead of time so you know what will be discussed!
Why Attend? Attending Village Council meetings is one of the best ways to stay connected with what’s happening in your neighborhood.
| News from the Village Clerk's Office |
Who to Call at the Village — Quick Reference for Residents
Have a question but not sure who to contact at the Village of Forest Park? We’re here to help!
General Questions
If you're unsure which department to call, start with us!
Call 708-366-2323 or email contact@forestpark.net, and we'll point you in the right direction.
Questions About...
- Water bills
- Garbage & recycling pickup
- Vehicle stickers
- Dog park passes
Building Permits or Inspections
Contact the Building Department at 708-615-6276 or email building@forestpark.net.
Public Works
For issues or questions regarding streets, snow removal, or trees, contact Sal Stella at:
708-366-4876 or sstella@forestpark.net
Community Center
Call 708-771-7737 for senior services, children programs, and rentals.
Police & Fire
- Emergencies: Call 911
- Non-emergency police inquiries, records, or parking: Call 708-366-7272
FOIA Requests
Submit to foia@forestpark.net
Contact Your Village Council Members
Forest Park is hiring!!!
Two new job opportunities are now open:
Explore these roles and see all current openings here.
| News from the Mayor's Office | |
Tour de Proviso Returns – Saturday, October 4
Forest Park residents are invited to take part in the Sixth Annual Tour de Proviso, happening on Saturday, October 4. This free, community-wide bike ride promotes health, wellness, and connection across Proviso Township and neighboring villages.
This year, Forest Park is proud to co-host alongside Oak Park and River Forest. The event highlights the strength of collaboration between our communities and the importance of coming together to support shared goals of healthy, connected neighborhoods.
Those who register by Sunday, September 14 at 11:59 PM will receive an official Tour de Proviso T-shirt and medal.
Register here.
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News from the Public Works Department
As we move into fall, Public Works crews are preparing for the annual leaf pickup—and we’re asking for your help.
Residents are allowed to rake leaves into the street for collection, however curbside pickup will not begin until mid-October. When large amounts of leaves are left in the roadway, they can clog catch basins during fall rainstorms. This increases the risk of street flooding and adds extra strain on cleanup efforts.
We know that putting leaves in the street is sometimes the easiest or only option, and that’s okay. But if you’re able, we encourage you to bag, mulch, or compost your leaves instead. It makes a big difference.
Just a reminder: Unlimited yard waste pickup is already included in the garbage fee you pay—so there's no additional cost to bagging your leaves.
By working together, we can help protect our stormwater system, reduce overall costs to the Village, and ensure we can continue providing the many services our residents rely on.
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News from the Department of Public Health & Safety
September is Suicide Prevention Month, and it’s an important time to check in on ourselves and the people around us. Mental health struggles can affect anyone, and it’s okay to ask for help. If you or someone you know is going through a tough time, support is available. You can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline—someone is there to talk 24/7. Whether it’s a friend, neighbor, or loved one, sometimes a simple conversation can make all the difference.
| | News from the Fire Department | | |
As the days get shorter and the nights cooler, the Forest Park Fire Department encourages everyone to take a few minutes to ensure their homes are ready for the fall season. Now is a great time to inspect your heating sources—whether it's a furnace, fireplace, or space heater—to make sure everything is functioning safely and efficiently. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heat sources, and never leave them unattended.
Also, don’t forget to check that your address numbers are clearly visible from the street. In an emergency, every second counts—and visible house numbers help us find you faster.
| | News from the Police Department | | |
Fraud Alert from the Forest Park Bank
Last week, Forest Park Bank reported that customers received fraudulent phone calls appearing to come from the Bank’s main number (708.222.2800). These calls are not from the Bank or any authorized representative. According to the Bank, scammers may claim there is fraud on the customer’s account, then ask for a mobile number to send a password reset code, request online banking User IDs, or instruct individuals to create and share new login credentials. Residents are reminded that caller ID can be spoofed, and Forest Park Bank will never ask for login information, passwords, or security codes. Anyone who receives a suspicious call should hang up immediately and contact the Bank directly at 708.222.2800. If any personal information has already been shared, it is important to notify the Bank right away to protect the account.
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Upcoming Board and Commission Meetings
All meetings are held at Village Hall unless otherwise noted.
Dates and Times are subject to change- check the village website for the most up-to-date information.
September 8, Village Council Meeting, 7pm
September 11, Recreation Board, 7pm
September 16, Neighborhood Watch, 7pm
September 17, Safety & Traffic, 7pm
September 22, Village Council Meeting, 7pm
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5th Annual Community Clean Up!
Help Keep Forest Park Beautiful! Join us for the 5th Annual Forest Park Community Clean-Up on Saturday, September 13, from 9 AM to Noon at the Roos Recreation Center Pavilion (7329 Harrison St). Thank you to our sponsor U3!!!
This is a great opportunity to come together with neighbors, give back to the community, and make a visible difference in our village. All ages are welcome — participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, and all volunteers must sign a waiver.
Registration can be found here.
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Back by Popular Demand: Invasion of the Scarecrows!
The scarecrows are returning to Forest Park! Join your fellow residents in this fun and creative village-wide tradition.
The Forest Park Historical Society and the Forest Park Arts Alliance are once again teaming up this fall for their annual Invasion of the Scarecrows fundraiser—and everyone is invited to participate!
Want to join in?
Registration and information can be found here. Don’t miss your chance to be part of one of Forest Park’s favorite fall events.
Already registered?
Scarecrow kits will be available for pick-up on the following dates:
- Tomorrow, Saturday, September 6 at the Park District Fall Fest, beginning at 2:30pm
- Saturday, September 13 and Saturday, September 20 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at 7410 Madison Street
Let’s fill Forest Park with creativity and fall spirit—one scarecrow at a time!
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Proviso Handyman August News
Proviso Handyman department is here to serve the needs of our senior residents over the age of 60 and /or disabled residents who are homeowners in our community.
| | 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:
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Important Phone Numbers
Police, Fire and Medical Needs
Emergency and Non-Emergency - 911
24/7 Mental Health Crisis Support - 988
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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.
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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
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