708-366-2323 - contact@forestpark.net

If you haven’t had the chance to attend yet, consider joining us at Soup & Bread, a monthly event at Robert’s Westside. Soup and Bread West is a community meal that raises funds for local nonprofits working to combat food insecurity. This week, I had the pleasure of attending with Fire Chief Lindsey Hankus and Commissioner Maria Maxham (see photo below). The next "soup night" will be on March 18. For more details, click here.

I also attended a Chamber of Commerce event hosted by Babs Comedy Club, which was a lot of fun! It was a great opportunity to connect with local business owners and community leaders, and Emily, the owner of Babs, led us in some funny icebreaker activities, making it a great way to meet new people.

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 24, 2025, at 7pm in the lower level of Village Hall. As always, the public is welcome to join.

News from the Village Clerk's Office

Vehicle Sticker Renewal

You can conveniently renew your sticker online, in person, or by mail. Be sure to renew by April 1 to avoid any issues. A big thank you to our staff for managing this busy time of year and ensuring everything runs smoothly!

The 29th Annual Forest Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade!

Mark your calendars for 1:00 PM on March 1, 2025, and get ready for a day of festive fun at the 29th Annual Forest Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade! This vibrant celebration will take over downtown Forest Park, showcasing the best St. Patrick’s Day parade in the western suburbs.

With over 65 entries, the parade will feature an exciting mix of bagpipers, the Proviso East Marching Band, Irish dancers, local businesses, Medinah Shrine parade units, and first responders from our police and fire departments, plus much more! The parade will kick off promptly at 1:00 PM from Madison and Van Buren, traveling east on Madison to Elgin.

Bring your family and friends out for a day full of entertainment and community spirit!

Siren-Free Zone: To ensure a safer, quieter experience for spectators, there will be a siren-free zone from the parade start at Van Buren and Madison to Desplaines and Madison. Emergency vehicles will travel through this area without sirens or horns until crossing Desplaines.

News from the Mayor's Office

The Mayor is looking forward to seeing everyone at the St. Patrick's Day Parade next weekend and is hoping for another beautiful day, just like last year! This week, the Mayor attended the Proviso Mayors Monthly meeting at Caffe De Luca, right here in our Village. It was a great opportunity for local mayors to come together, share concerns, and collaborate on solutions that benefit their communities. For additional resources available in Proviso Township click here.

Tomorrow, the Mayor will stop by the Community Center to attend the Pinewood Derby, with races kicking off at 11 a.m. The Mayor remembers attending Pinewood Derby races with his sons when they were in Scouts, and he’s excited to continue supporting this tradition in our community.

News from the Public Works Department

In 2022, the Village of Forest Park completed a GIS Tree Inventory and a Forestry Comprehensive Management Plan, which will now guide tree planting. Most trees will be based on Arborist recommendations from these resources. The Public Works Department is accepting limited tree requests each season, so act fast. Visit the Village’s GIS tree map FP Trees; black circles with blue pins show open planting spaces. If your location is in these areas, the tree will be planted for free. Otherwise, residents pay the full price. This includes free planting and a watering bag. To request a tree, email the Director of Public Works at sstella@forestpark.net for a tree list. Once approved, you'll be added to the Spring 2025 planting list. Unmet requests will be considered for fall, based on order of submission. Submit requests by March 1, 2025. 

News from the Department of Public Health & Safety

The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is urging all Illinois residents to review and practice their fire escape plans while also testing and inspecting smoke alarms. This important safety reminder comes in the wake of a recent wave of tragic, deadly fires.

Since Friday, February 14, eight fatal fires have claimed the lives of 10 individuals across the state. Tragically, Illinois has already experienced 16 fatal fires in 2025, resulting in 19 fire-related fatalities.

Take action now to protect yourself and your loved ones—make sure your fire safety plan is up-to-date, your smoke alarms are functioning, and your home is as safe as possible.

More information can be found here.

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.

Fire Safety Reminder from FPFD

In case of fire, a closed door can isolate the fire’s flow, reduce room temperatures and keep carbon monoxide levels down. Close Before You Doze aims to make closing doors at night part of people’s bedtime routine.

See the difference a door can make here.

News from the Police Department

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

For the latest summary of police activity, click here.

Scam Alert

Criminals are impersonating the SSA and other government agencies to steal personal information or money. They may call, email, text, or message you on social media, pretending to be from the SSA or the Office of the Inspector General, often using real employee names and attachments as “proof.” Remember, Social Security employees may contact you by phone for business purposes.

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 24, Village Council Meeting, 7pm

February 26, Environmental Control Commission, 7pm

March 5, Board of Health, 7pm

March 10, Village Council Meeting, 7pm

March 13, Recreation Board, 7pm

March 17, Planning & Zoning, 7pm

Neighborhood Watch, 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.



Seed Swap - registration required

Join the Forest Park Garden Club for a seed swap. Bring seeds and take seeds to start your garden this spring. It is not required to bring seeds to swap to participate. 

Sunday, Feb. 23

Forest Park Public Library, 7555 Jackson Blvd, Forest Park

2 to 4 p.m.

Community News & Events

Forest Park Arts Alliance 48-Hour Film Challenge

The Arts Alliance will be hosting its third annual 48-Hour Film Challenge. Filming will take place the weekend of March 7-9, with the screening scheduled for March 22. Be sure to register before February 28, and tickets will be available online after March 1.

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

Babybugs Storytime Celebrates Black Voices

Fridays in February at 11 am

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