The Illinois Department of Transportation is moving closer to finalizing recommendations for rebuilding the Eisenhower Expressway from Interstate 88 on the west to Racine Avenue on the east.
Just how these proposed changes might affect the community have been the subjects of multiple public...
The first comprehensive review of Village zoning regulations since 2002 is now underway, as efforts focus on revisions to better align local laws with recommendations in Envision Oak, the community’s long-range comprehensive plan adopted last year. Camiros Ltd., a Chicago-based planning and zoning...
A maximum of two garage sales may be held by members of one residence and/or family during any calendar year. Garage sales are intended for disposing of personal property, not for merchandise purchased for resale or on consignment. A permit is not required. However, certain rules do apply:
Sales...
Residents selected to take a community survey who have not yet returned the document are urged to do so as soon as possible. Surveys were mailed in early September to addresses chosen randomly. About 1,200 responses are needed for a 95 percent confidence level. Respondents remain anonymous. While...
Daylight saving time reverts to standard time at 2 a.m., Sun., Nov. 1. Public safety officials recommend changing smoke detector batteries when changing clocks.
October is the final month for the 2015 season of Oak Park Farmers’ Market, held from 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. every Saturday, mid-May through October in the Pilgrim Church parking lot on Lake Street, just west of Ridgeland Avenue.. Traditional stone soup made from Farmers’ Market vegetables will be ladled...
Sat., Oct. 31 will be the last opportunity this year for residents to safely dispose of unwanted electronic items now banned from landfills. Items will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd. Just about any kind of electronic item will be accepted, including...
The Park District of Oak Park’s annual Frank Lloyd Wright Races will bring street closures along the route from about 7:30 to 10:30 a.m., Sun., Oct. 18, including from Lake Street north to Division Street. Traffic on other streets within the race route also may experience delays. Residents are...
The annual fall leaf collection program is scheduled for Oct. 19 through Dec. 3 with seven pickups planned for each section of the Village. Leaves should be raked into the street at least 18 inches from the curb the day before the scheduled pickup dates indicated on the map below. Leaves raked into...
Although larger multifamily buildings contain much of Oak Park’s rental housing stock, the Village also has plenty of smaller properties that must be licensed through the Village.
Landlords and managers with apartment buildings of one to three must be licensed by Dec. 31. This includes owners that...
Pets are an important part of many households in Oak Park. Along with the companionship they provide come responsibilities for the owner to ensure the health and safety of the pet and the community.
Licensing – All dogs and outdoor cats in Oak Park are required to display a current animal license....
Overnight parking restricted…Parking is prohibited on all Village streets from 2:30 to 6 a.m., seven days a week, year around, except when allowed by permit or pass. Up to 10 on-street overnight passes are allowed for each vehicle every month — the first three are free, and additional passes are $7...
Property owners who disconnect their gutter downspouts from the municipal sewer system can help reduce the chances of backups during heavy rain.Storm water from roof gutters is not a problem during a normal rainfall. But during heavy rain events, the main sewer system can become overwhelmed with...
Oak Park residents who disconnect downspouts from the sewer system are eligible to receive up to four rain barrels and hardware from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. With roofs representing more than 40 percent of the impervious surfaces in Cook County, diverting...
Applications are now being accepted for the 2016 round of sewer backup protection grants, a program that provides financial assistance to install systems to protect from sewer backup during a heavy rain event. Work eligible for funding includes installing an overhead sewer system or a backflow...
Property owners who receive a letter from the Village asking them to call a private vendor or visit the company’s website to set up an appointment to replace a water meter are urged to respond promptly. The 30-minute process does not require any plumbing changes although the water will be turned...
Because Oak Park relies on Lake Michigan water, much of the cost consumers pay is beyond the control of local government. But how much water a household uses can be managed through conservation. Just follow these simple tips:
Turning off the water while brushing teeth
Install low-flow showerheads...
A community meeting to review the Andersen Park site plan is scheduled for 7 p.m., Tues., Oct. 27 at Andersen Center, 824 N Hayes Ave. Park District officials are seeking citizen input regarding future improvements to the park located in northeast Oak Park. To view the current plan developed in...
Police officer Kevin Collins, a school resource officer who works in Oak Park’s Brooks Middle School, has been selected to receive the Award of Excellence from the Illinois State Board of Education’s Those Who Excel recognition program. The award will be presented at a banquet in October. Collins’s...
Oak Park Police rely on residents taking an active role. If you see unusual activity, suspicious people or vehicles in your neighborhood, don’t hesitate to call 9-1-1 immediately. For more information visit www.oak-park.us/police.
Official hours for Halloween trick or treating are 3 to 7 p.m., Oct. 31. Parents should accompany young children, especially after dark, and inspect all treats. Other safety tips include:
Use make-up instead of masks
Choose flame-retardant costumes
Wear light-colored clothing at night or add...
