News Flash

Park Forest Civic Leadership Academy now enrolling for 2018-19

The Park Forest Civic Leadership Academy is an invaluable nine-month experience that allows you to meet area leaders, hear their stories, become more familiar with your community, and take part in informational briefings on the realities and challenges of...

Park Forest budget review sessions set for May and June

The Village of Park Forest has approved the budget review schedule for the proposed 2018-19 budget. Residents are welcome to attend any or all of the upcoming budget review sessions at Village Hall.

Monday, May 7 at 7 p.m.

Board/Public Introduction of Budge...

Park Forest Aqua Center pre-sale offers discounted rates on season passes

Season passes to the Park Forest Aqua Center are currently on sale for a discounted rate.Specials are taking place throughout the months of March and April.

March Into Summer Special

From March 1 to March 31, residents and non-residents of Park Forest pay t...

Board Committee seeking recommendations on street names

Following the Charlottesville, Virginia tragedy in August of 2017, which began as a rally to protest the removal of the statue of a confederate general, Park Forest furthered its review on issues of race in the community by announcing the intent to invest...

Phone lines at Village Hall experiencing technical difficulty

Phone lines at Park Forest's Village Hall are currently experiencing problems. Technical support said it may be a few weeks before the problem is corrected. In the meantime residents will need to be aware of the following:

• Park Forest's automated system at...

Vehicle stickers on sale, rates increase May 1

Sales of the 2018-19 Village of Park Forest vehicle sticker begin March 1. Stickers may be purchased at Village Hall or online.

Vehicle stickers must be purchased and properly displayed on all vehicles registered in the Village of Park Forest by the end of...

Park Forest Environment Commission presents Earth Week 2018, April 14-22

April 14

Gardening Series: Basic Beginning Gardening 2: What’s the difference between annual/perennial, or raised bed vs.digging in the ground? Also basic tools. 10:30 a.m.Wetland Discovery Center | 30 N. Orchard Drive

Opening of the Eart...

Rare color photographs of King, Jr. in Chicago on display at Village Hall

When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. moved to Chicago in 1966 to further the Civic Rights Movement, a priest from Wheaton – also an amateur photographer – captured rare color images of King in the Windy City which now are on display at Par...

Park Forest to recognize Officer Tim Jones Monday with honorary street

The Park Forest Board of Trustees Monday evening will officially designate a section of Lakewood Boulevard, from Forest Boulevard to Orchard Drive, as Honorary Officer Tim Jones Way.

A dedication will take place at 6 p.m. just outside of the Park Forest Po...

Park Forest mayor to co-chair national group on race, equity and leadership

Mayor John A. Ostenburg of Park Forest has been appointed co-chair of the National League of Cities (NLC) Race, Equity and Leadership (REAL) Council for 2018. The council has the lead responsibility for developing NLC’s strategic focus on elimin...

Congresswoman Kelly to speak in Park Forest on gun violence

Congresswoman Robin Kelly will address issues of gun violence, both mass shootings and street incidents from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 25, at St. Irenaeus Church in Park Forest.

The program is sponsored by the interfaith Park Forest People of Faith. ...

Early voting details for Park Forest residents

COOK COUNTY EARLY VOTING

Please note, Park Forest's Village Hall is only an early voting location for Cook County residents. Early voting information, including early voting locations, for Will County residents is below.Early Voting for Cook County residen...

Neighborhood meeting program continues with Feb. 28 meeting at Freedom Hall

Park Forest continues its Neighborhood Meeting Program in 2018 with several meetings this year, beginning with a Feb. 28 meeting at Freedom Hall.Upcoming neighborhood meetings are as follows:

Wednesday, February 28 at 7 p.m.  |  Location:...

Park Forest police officer pens article about career in law enforcement

Park Forest Police Officer Meghan Vold penned an article for the police news website TenTwoTimes this week detailing why she serves in law enforcement.In the article, Vold shares her love for kids, her belief in empathy and acts of kindness, and her missi...

Park Forest remembers Katherine Armstrong

A memorial service for former Village Trustee Katherine Armstrong is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 25, from 4 p.m. to  8 p.m. at University Park Golf Club, 23520 Crawford Ave. in University Park.A resident of Park Forest for over six decades, Armsto...

Park Forest hosts youth providers summit

Close to 60 local organizations that provide service to area kids attended a summit Friday in downtown Park Forest at Dining on the Green banquet hall.Participants included Park Forest staff members, schools, public service agencies, local civic groups an...

Ostenburg participates in 'State of the County' event

Mayor John A. Ostenburg of Park Forest represented the South Suburban Mayors & Managers Association (SSMMA) at the “State of the County Community Breakfast” held at Nehemiah Christian Center in Harvey on Jan. 26. The event was sponsored by Cook County...

Park Forest 1 of 4 to receive highest designation for efforts in solar

Today, the national SolSmart program recognized 15 Chicago-area municipalities and counties for making it faster, easier, and more affordable for residents and businesses to go solar.

These communities have taken bold steps to encourage solar energy growth...

Board members to consider future of Health Dept. at Monday meeting

On Monday, Feb. 5, Park Forest board members will consider a resolution to discontinue the home healthcare and clinical services of the Park Forest Health Department Nurses Plus.A special workshop was held Jan. 29 to begin to discuss the future of the dep...

Homewood Disposal says no increase to yard waste bags, stickers

Homewood Disposal recently announced that there will be no increase in the cost of yard waste bags and stickers in 2018. The garbage disposal service says it will experience a three percent increase in the amount they are charged to dump at the compost si...

Mayor named panelist at February housing conference

Mayor John A. Ostenburg of Park Forest will serve on a panel discussing the topic “Clean It or Lien It: Dealing with Vacant and Blighted Properties” as part of the 2018 Governor’s Conference on Affordable Housing Feb. 21 and ...

Park Forest wins best tasting water award in regional competition

Park Forest has the best tasting water in Chicago’s south suburbs according to the Illinois Section American Water Works Association (ISAWWA).Taste Contest Chair Chuck Lawrence presented Park Forest's Chief Water Plant Operator David Vavrek with the award...

Board approves electronics recycling agreement with Homewood Disposal

Park Forest board members on Jan. 16 approved a measure that now allows residents to place electrics at the curb on garbage day for pick-up by Homewood Disposal at no extra charge. To have electronics picked up at your home, residents should review the be...

Village welcomes new deputy police chief

The Park Forest Police Department’s Brian Rzyski, who since October has assumed the role of deputy chief following the promotion of former deputy chief Christopher Mannino to police chief, was officially sworn in Monday evening.Rzyski is in this...

Ostenburg named panelist for Congresswoman Kelly's Teach-in Town Hall, Jan. 13

Mayor John A. Ostenburg of Park Forest will discuss the impact of the new federal tax legislation on local government when he serves on a panel for a Teach-In Town Hall sponsored by Congresswoman Robin Kelly on Jan. 13.The program takes place from 9:30 a....

Czupryn is 2017's Park Forest Business Person of the Year

Ed Czupryn of the Park Forest Currency Exchange is Park Forest’s Business Person of the Year for 2017.

Czupryn was presented the Sam Montella Business Person of the Year Award Monday at Village Hall during Park Forest’s Board of Trustee...

Notice of proposed property tax levy

Update: The proposed property tax levy referenced below was discussed during the board meeting on Dec. 4. Board members will now vote on the proposal during the board meeting on Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. taking place at Village Hall.I. A public hearing to approve...

Resident helps others rediscover play

Georgette Gladstone’s grandson had a grand idea to bring a new slide to a park in need of attention.“You should call up President Obama,” the seven-year-old said.The thought, humorous to the adult, was far from a joke to the ...

Park Forest sells office, industrial building to ForeBio Nutrition Inc.

An office and industrial building vacant for nearly 10 years in Park Forest is under new ownership and back on the tax rolls.The property located at 80 North Street in Park Forest’s industrial park had been owned by the village since 2010 after being acqu...