News Flash

Nominate someone for the Sustainability Award

The Park Forest Environment Commission is currently seeking nominations for the 2018 Park Forest Sustainability Award. 

Nominations are accepted for three possible awards: 

• Most Sustainable Resident• Most Sustainable Bu...

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 Earth Week Rec...

Gardening series continues Aug. 12

The Saturday Morning Gardening Series continues Aug. 12 with a session on heirlooms: plants, vegetables, and herbs that have stood the test of time. The session begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Wetlands Discovery Center located inside the Park Forest Aqua Cente...Read on...

May 6 recycle events available to Park Forest residents

Two upcoming events offer an opportunity to Park Forest residents looking to dispose of household hazardous waste and electronics. See below for full details on each. 

Deadline for residents to order free rain barrels, Dec. 19

Since Park Forest first alerted residents several months ago to an opportunity to order free rain barrels, close to 350 have placed orders. For residents who have not placed orders but are interested in taking advantage of this free rain barrel program, s...Read on...

Final gardening course of the year, Oct. 22

The Saturday Morning Gardening Series presented by the Park Forest Environment Commission concludes for the season on Saturday, Oct. 22.

Have you ever bought seeds with every intention of planting them and never getting around to it? Have you suffered...Read on...

Free one-day gardening course on canning, Sept. 17

The Saturday Morning Gardening Series presented by the Park Forest Environment Commission continues on Saturday, Sept. 17, with a presentation on canning.

Now that you have worked so hard in the garden, the rewards are overflowing your pantry and coun...Read on...

Free rain barrels available to Park Forest residents in Cook County

Free rain barrels are available to Village residents in the Cook County section of Park Forest through the end of 2016. The rain barrel program is a cooperative effort by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and the Village of P...Read on...

Growing Green Recycle Fest, July 30

The Growing Green Recycle Fest, an event for the disposal of televisions, household batteries, used shoes, used eyeglasses, document destruction, and more, is scheduled for Saturday, July 30.

Free one-day gardening course on container gardening secrets, June 25

The Saturday Morning Gardening Series presented by the Park Forest Environment Commission continues on Saturday, June 25, with a presentation on container gardening secrets.

Whether you live in an apartment, condo, town home, or a single-family home, ...Read on...

Park Forest’s policy for safer, more convenient streets named among the nation’s best

In 2015, Park Forest, IL made a formal commitment to safer streets that work for everyone by passing a Complete Streets policy. Now, this policy has been named one of the best in the nation from last year.

The Best Complete Streets Policies of 2015, an...Read on...

Household Hazardous Waste & Motor Oil Collection Event, April 16

Household Hazardous Waste & Motor Oil Collection Event in Frankfort
April 16 | 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Open to Will County Residents Only

Lincoln-Way East High School Parking Lot201 Colorado Avenue
Frankfort, IL, 60423-1333815-727-8834

Coll...Read on...

Final gardening lecture of season, Oct. 17

Park Forest’s final lecture of the 2015 gardening series happens tomorrow, October 17, with a session on the basics of composting. The event takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Park Forest’s Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive.

The free lecture s...Read on...

Document destruction event, Sept. 12

The Village of Park Forest will hold a document destruction event on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in DownTown Park Forest at the corner of Main Street and Cunningham Drive. The event is free and limited to Park Forest residents only. ...Read on...

Gardening lecture on backyard fruits, August 15

Park Forest’s gardening lecture series continues on Saturday, August 15 with a session on backyard fruits. Dr. James Theuri from the University of Illinois will teach attendees how to successfully raise different fruit varieties in your own backyard.

...Read on...

Learn to recycle paints at Farmers' Market, July 25

Learn how to recycle water based/latex paint at the Park Forest Farmers' Market, Saturday, July 25 at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

The Park Forest Farmers' Market is located at 271 W. Lakewood Blvd., just across from the Park Forest Police Department.Read on...

Park Forest lands 3-STAR Community Rating for sustainable practices

The Village of Park Forest is pleased to announce its new 3-STAR Community Rating for leadership in sustainable practices by STAR Community Rating System (STAR).

The STAR Community Rating System is a robust sustainability rating system for cities, t...Read on...

Recycling tour Earth Day celebration, April 22

The Park Forest Environment Commission invites you to see what happens to your recycled items after they leave the curb. View the recycling process at Homewood Star Disposals state-of-the-art sorting and processing facility in Homewood.

This FREE tour...Read on...

Village adopts complete streets policy

The Park Forest Board of Trustees adopted the Park Forest Complete Streets Policy on March 23, taking another step toward more sustainable practices.

The Complete Streets movement aims to develop integrated, connected networks of streets that are safe...Read on...

Christmas tree disposal at the Aqua Center

If you're looking to dispose of your Christmas tree, the Park Forest Aqua Center is a drop-off site, now through Jan. 31.

The north side of the parking lot of the Aqua Center is sectioned off where residents should look to drop their trees.

Resident...Read on...

Village adopts Bike & Pedestrian Plan

The Park Forest Board of Trustees adopted the proposed Park Forest Bike & Pedestrian Plan at the Dec. 8 Village Board meeting.

A Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) Local Technical Assistance grant application was written and awarded f...Read on...

Cook County to hold Long Range Transportation Plan open houses

Nine months into the development of Cook County’s first Long Range Transportation Plan in 70 years, the County is hosting several open houses seeking resident and business input on transportation priorities and potential long-range scenarios. Cook County ...Read on...

Public Open House for Park Forest Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan, Nov. 19

On Wednesday, November 19, the Village of Park Forest will host a public open house for its draft bicycle and pedestrian plan at Dining on the Green, 349 Main Street in DownTown Park Forest, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The draft plan will guide the Village's deci...Read on...

Final gardening lecture for season, Saturday, Oct. 18

The Sustainability Saturday Gardening Series concludes for the season on Saturday, October 18, with a presentation on caring for hand tools.

Bring a hand tool, learn how to sharpen and clean them like a pro.

The lecture begins at 9:30 a.m. at Park...Read on...

Park Forest sustainability plan to be featured at Sept. 25 conference

Did you know…

That Park Forest was ahead of its time? As a planned community built in the 1950s and 60s, Park Forest was conceived of as an early model for smart growth (decades before the term “smart growth” was popularized). The Village was specific...Read on...

Food Co-op to hold discussion on organic food, August 19

The South Suburban Food Co-op will host a discussion on organic foods and healthy families on Tuesday, August 19, at 7 p.m.

Dr. Shannon Chidlow-Williams will lead the discussion.

For more information, contact the South Suburban Food Co-op at 708-747...Read on...

Solar Chicago available to Park Forest residents in Cook County

Thinking about installing solar on your home but don't know where to start or think it's just too expensive?

Cook County is participating in Solar Chicago to help residents simplify the process of researching installation options for your home, while h...Read on...

Just announced: FREE Document Destruction Event, September 13

The Village of Park Forest, in partnership with the Will County Land Use Department, will hold a document destruction event on Saturday, September 13, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., in DownTown Park Forest at the corner of Main Street and Cunningham Drive.

R...Read on...

Free lecture on herbs, August 16

The Sustainability Saturday Gardening Series continues Saturday, August 16, when Pam Bassu presents a lecture on herbs.

Throughout human history, herbs have been used as flavorings, medicines, decorations, scents, and protective garden plants. Herbs de...Read on...

Butterfly Gardens lecture to be held July 19 at Village Hall

The Sustainability Saturday Gardening Series continues this Saturday, July 19, when Bill and Jennifer Tobin, U of I Master Gardeners, present a lecture on butterfly gardens.

Find out the basic needs of the common Illinois butterflies so you can design ...Read on...

Pollinator insects lecture to be held June 21 at Village Hall

The Sustainability Saturday Gardening Series continues this Saturday, June 21, when Kelly Allsup, U of I Extension Horticulture Educator, presents a lecture on pollinator insects.

Learn to identify the most common beneficial insects in your garden, th...Read on...

Clothing, shoe recycling at Farmers' Market through September

The Park Forest Farmers’ Market will now offer clothing and shoe recycling services from 9 a.m. to noon every second Saturday through September.

The dates when accepted items may be dropped off are:
- June 14- July 12
- August 9- September 13
...Read on...

Star Disposal expands residential recycling program

Star Disposal recently announced that they have added cartons to the residential WeSort curbside recycling program. Star Disposal’s recycling facility is now able to sort out milk, juice, soy milk, broth, soup and other food and beverage containers. The...Read on...

Park Forest Fire Chief joins chief's energy challenge

Park Forest announced today it has signed on to take the Chief’s Energy Challenge, a nationwide program for fire departments to reduce their energy use. Participants commit to reducing energy use by 10 percent in the first year and 20 percent by year thre...Read on...

What can you do to better conserve water?

Conserving water could mean some real savings for you and your family. Below are some things to consider.

• Plumbing fixtures installed before 1990 use 30-75 percent more water. Update your fixtures with EPA’s WaterSense certified fixtures to save the...Read on...