708-366-2323 - contact@forestpark.net

If you missed Monday's Council Meeting, the video link is here. Also on our website are links to reports and updates from both our Fire and Police Departments, which highlight the incredible work our first responders do every day. I’m proud to not only live but work in a Village where our Fire and Police Departments consistently ensure our safety and meet the needs of our residents. Both departments handle thousands of calls every year, from emergency medical services to public safety interventions, demonstrating their commitment to our community.

This week, Village Hall had the pleasure of hosting students from Wolcott Academy, who visited to learn about the inner workings of municipalities. The Mayor and I enjoyed giving them a tour of the Mayor’s Office and Clerk’s Office, followed by a visit to the Police and Fire Departments. Who knows, maybe we have a future first responder among them! We also held our first St. Patrick's Day Parade meeting this week. Mark your calendars for March 1st as we kick off our annual parade. Let's hope for some great weather—it’s always a sign that warmer days are ahead!

Pictured below Lt. Pater with Wolcott students.

Rachell Entler

Village Administrator

Village Council News

Village Council Meeting Information

The next meeting of the Forest Park Village Council will be held on Monday, February 10, 2025, at 7pm in the lower level of Village Hall. As always, the public is welcome to join.

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.

January 27, 2025 Council Meeting Recap:

• Lauterbach & Amen Audit report presented.
• Opportunity Knocks presentation.
• Ordinance amending specific licenses and ambulance fees passed.
• Ordinance amending general purchasing procedures approved.
• Ordinance waiving bids and approving IT consulting services with Proxit, Inc.
• Ordinance authorizing sale or disposal of surplus property approved.
• Resolution approving application for State and Local Cybersecurity Grant.
• Resolution approving Change Order No. 1 for the Water Meter Replacement Project.
• Resolution ratifying Active Shooter Training Drill agreement with Adventist Midwest Health.
• Approval granted for O’Sullivan’s Public House public way use request.



News from the Village Clerk's Office

Vehicle Sticker Renewal Coming Soon!!

The Village is currently updating the data for all registered vehicles in preparation for the upcoming vehicle sticker renewal. Residents who did not purchase their 2024 sticker should expect to receive a notice in the mail this February.

The standard cost for a passenger vehicle sticker is $35.00. However, if you missed purchasing the 2024 sticker, the total cost will be $105. This includes the $35.00 for the current 2025 sticker and a $70 late penalty.

News from the Mayor's Office

It was a busy week for Mayor Hoskins. On Tuesday, the Mayor was a guest at Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’s Greek Vasilopita Celebration, which honored the Chicago Consular Corps. The Chicago Consular Corps is a group of leaders from 80 nations who work to enhance economic and cultural relations between their countries and Chicago. Vasilopita, meaning St. Basil's bread, is a tradition where New Year’s cake and bread are served. In addition to Treasurer Pappas, the event featured His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago and Consul General to Greece, Emmanuel Koubarakis, who celebrated with traditional songs.

The Mayor also met with transportation reform advocates this week to discuss the Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act (MMA), legislation aimed at creating a super-agency by merging the CTA, Metra, and PACE. Proponents of the MMA, including the Active Transportation Alliance and the Metropolitan Planning Council, hope it will bring greater efficiencies and accountability to the region’s transit system. Mayor Hoskins emphasized the need for safer transportation options, noting that “many Forest Park residents no longer feel safe taking the CTA,” and expressed hope that a new agency could help rebrand the system and restore confidence. Later in the week, the Mayor visited the construction site of the new U-Haul storage building to check on progress and development.

News from the Department of Public Health & Safety

Protect your home from Radon: A Silent Health Risk

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can lead to lung cancer, but you can't see or smell it. The only way to know if your home has high radon levels is through testing. Radon enters homes primarily through cracks in the foundation, openings around pipes and cables, construction joints, and crawl spaces. Once inside, it can accumulate, particularly in lower levels like basements, posing a long-term health risk.

Testing your home for radon is the only way to know if levels are high. For more information on radon and how to protect your home, visit Radon.

News from the Public Works Department

Spring will be here before you know it. 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 their 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 2025. 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, 2025.  

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.

High/Mid-rise Fire Safety

High-rise residents: Fires in high-rise and condominium buildings are especially dangerous. Please know where all the exit stairs are and how to escape in an emergency.

• Leave your unit. Close the door behind you.
• Pull the fire alarm on your way out to call the fire department and let your neighbors know there is a fire.
• Use the stairs to get out. Do not use the elevator unless directed to by the fire department.
• Go to your outside meeting place. Call the fire department. Tell the fire department if someone is trapped in the building.

News from the Police Department

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

Boards & Commissions

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.



February 5, 2025 Board of Health, 7pm

February 10, Village Council Meeting, 7pm

February 13, Recreation Board, 7pm

February 18, Neighborhood Watch Meeting, 7pm

February 19, Safety & Traffic, 7pm

February 24, Village Council Meeting, 7pm

Environmental Control Commission

Don't let February's chilly weather keep you indoors! The ECC found some exciting local events to help you connect with nature—no matter the temperature. Check out the details below and be sure to register in advance where required.

Walk the Poetry Trail for Black History Month

Celebrate Black History Month by walking a short, looped trail while reading poetry from African American authors along the way.

When: Sunday, Feb. 2 | 10 a.m. - Noon

Where: Bemis Woods-South (Ogden Ave, west of Wolf Rd)

Senior Fitness Walk - Registration Required

Join us for an easy-paced, one-mile walk through the scenic Thatcher Woods, led by University of Illinois Master Naturalist Roberta Jannsen.

When: Wednesday, Feb. 5 | 9 a.m.

Where: Thatcher Woods (Chicago Ave, west of Thatcher Ave)

Winterpalooza

Enjoy an afternoon of winter fun with hikes, broom hockey, orienteering, and more!

When: Saturday, Feb. 8 | 9 a.m. - Noon

Where: Thatcher Woods (Chicago Ave, west of Thatcher Ave)

Owls of Trailside - Registration Required

Get up close to the fascinating owls that call Trailside home and meet an ambassador owl! This family-friendly program is perfect for nature lovers of all ages.

When: Saturday, Feb. 8 | 1:30 p.m.

Where: Trailside Museum of Natural History, 738 Thatcher Ave, River Forest

Remember to register early for events with limited space. See you outside!

Community News & Events

Join the Library for a series of events celebrating Black History Month

Babybugs Storytime Celebrates Black Voices

Fridays in February at 11 am

More than a Month: a Celebration of Local Black Artistry

Saturday, February 1 from 6-8pm

Illinois Libraries Present: An Evening with James McBride (Virtual)

Tuesday, February 4 at 7 pm

Total-T Magic with Terrence Hunter

Sunday, February 9 at 4 pm

The Blues: The History & the Music

Sunday, February 16 at 2 pm

Edmonia Lewis & The Death of Cleopatra: Uncovering the Forest Park Connection

Wednesday, February 19 at 7 pm

Art & Flo

Thursday, February 27 at 7pm

More info and registration can be found here.



Proviso Handyman February 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:



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