Big City Access Small Town Charm | |
Week Ending - August 10, 2024
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!
In this edition, please find updates from the Village Council, the Clerk's Office, Public Works, the Police Department, the Fire Department, the 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.
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Village Council Meeting Information
The next meeting of the Forest Park Village Council will be held on Monday, August 12, 2024, at 7pm in the lower level of Village Hall. As always, the public is welcome to join.
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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 |
Are you receiving all eligible tax savings on your property tax bill? Review you property tax bill to ensure you have received all eligible exemptions. For more information, from the Cook County Assessor's Office, click here.
Are you registered to vote? Whether you're new to the area or have been here for years, your vote matters. Take a moment to verify your voter registration status or register if you haven't already. Registering to vote is quick and easy and ensures that you have a say in the decisions that affect us all. More voter registration can be found here.
| News from the Mayor's Office |
This past week, Mayor Hoskins had the privilege of attending the US Mayoral Retreat in Pittsburgh, focusing on "Mayoral Leadership against Hate, Extremism & Polarization: Putting Communities First." The retreat brought together over 60 mayors and government officials from around the globe to tackle pressing issues of hate and division affecting cities worldwide. The Mayor was honored to participate in a panel discussion alongside leaders from Highland Park, IL, Kinston, NC, Athens, OH, and Hoboken, NJ, contributing to the crucial dialogue on fostering social cohesion and finding solutions in times of crisis. | |
News from the Department of Public Health & Safety |
Did you know that August is National Immunization Month? IDPH is highlighting the importance of getting required vaccines before the first day of school. Vaccines reduce your child’s risk of infection by working with their body’s natural defenses to help them safely develop immunity to disease. Find more information here.
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News from the Public Works Department
ComEd will be performing vegetation management activities on distribution circuits in
Forest Park within the next few months. The vegetation management activities are a
key component of ComEd’s maintenance program to ensure system electrical
reliability, as vegetation contact with ComEd equipment is a leading cause of outages.
This vegetation management is separate from the Village’s tree maintenance program. ComEd will notify residents with postcards when they will be in the area.
The Village's Lead Service Line Replacement Project is underway, and we need your help! If you receive a letter or have a sign on your front lawn like the one pictured below, please use the QR code to complete the form required for the Village to replace your lead service line. The replacement is free to homeowners in the Village's designated service areas.
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News from the Community Center | |
2024 Groovin in the Grove!!
August 20
Join us at The Grove (7824 Madison Street) for the final concert of the summer! Feel free to bring your own chairs, food and drink. Concessions will also be available for purchase. The fun starts at 7pm.
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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 708-771-7737.
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News from the Fire Department | |
9-1-1- Emergency and Non-Emergencies
Anyone requiring immediate assistance from the Forest Park Police and Fire Departments should call 9-1-1; this also includes non-emergency situations which require a response. The Village’s 9-1-1 dispatch center will route your call to the appropriate personnel to assist with the matter at hand. The Village’s 708-366-2425 number is not to be used to request service for public safety personnel.
This change is a result of the State's dispatch consolidation requirements that went into effect in May 2017. If you call Village Hall in need of police or fire personnel for either non-emergency or emergency response, you will be transferred to our WESCOM dispatch center where a dispatcher will route your call to the appropriate police or fire personnel. WESCOM services Forest Park, Oak Park, and River Forest. Since three towns are being serviced, you may be asked a series of questions in order to confirm your location.
Please share this news with your neighbors. 9-1-1 is for both emergencies and non-emergencies requiring police or fire personnel assistance.
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News from the Police Department | |
In a recent news, the Police Department and Chief Ken Gross received attention with the headline, "Police Department Expects to Be Fully Staffed by 2025." This milestone marks the first time the department will achieve full staffing levels since Chief Gross took the helm. The anticipated full staffing is a testament to the department's ongoing efforts and leadership under Chief Gross, promising a stronger and more effective force for our community in the near future.
Forest Park Review feature here.
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For more information about the Forest Park Police Department, visit their website by clicking here.
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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.
August 12, Village Council Meeting, 7pm
August 15, Safety & Traffic Commission, 7pm
August 19, Planning & Zoning Meeting, 7pm
August 20, Neighborhood Watch, 7pm
August 26, Village Council Meeting, 7pm
August 28, Environmental Control Commission, 7pm
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Environmental Control Commission (ECC)
Click here to view our July newsletter! it's Plastic Free July! Let's pledge to make every month as plastic-free as possible. Say no to single-use plastics by joining the take-out, opt-out challenge! Remember to sip sustainably with a reusable water bottle and bring your own bags for plastic-free shopping. Together, we can make a difference for a cleaner, healthier planet. 🌿💧
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Planning & Zoning Commission
The PZC meets as needed on the third Monday of the month at 7pm in the Lower Level of Village Hall.
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Happenings at the Park District
As we savor the last few weeks of beautiful summer weather, don't miss out on the fun events happening at the park district! Free summer concert on Wednesday, August 14 at 6:30 PM, and cap off the season with the final Movie in the Park on Friday, August 16 at dusk, featuring the magical film Wonka.
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Forest Park Theater Presents Pericles!
FREE SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK
AUGUST 9-11 & 16-18
5 PM
THE GROVE AT ALTENHEIM
7824 MADISON ST., FOREST PARK, 60130
This summer Forest Park Theatre will bring to the stage the story of a young prince exiled from his country, who finds, loses and regains his life in his search for a true home.
Pericles is Forest Park Theatre’s fourth free summer Shakespeare performance, a stormy tale of loss, love and redemption. In August, our diverse company will perform at the meadow behind Altenheim.
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Picnic Perfect in Forest Park!
Planning a picnic in Forest Park?
Grab Your Gourmet Picnic Fare
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Head to Starship, the beloved Star-Trek themed restaurant that's been serving Forest Park for over 45 years. They offer a delicious selection of cold and hot sandwiches, fresh salads, and are renowned for their homemade soups—boasting over 120 varieties with unique, high-quality flavors. Perfect for any season!
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Discover Miller Meadow Woods, a hidden gem in Forest Park. Enjoy walking trails, picnic areas, and special spots like an off-leash dog park and a drone/model airplane field. The 7-acre dog park features an outdoor shelter and two miles of trails. Annual memberships for dog park are $60 for Cook County residents and $120 for non-residents.
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Proviso Handyman July 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. More information can be found here.
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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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