News Flash

Recycle unwanted Christmas lights through the Village of Park Forest until Jan. 19

As the holiday season is underway, the Village of Park Forest is collecting unwanted Christmas lights for recycling.

Area residents can dispose of their working and non-working string lights in the specially marked green collection bins inside Village Hall...

Village saves over $37K in first year since installing solar array at Water Treatment Plant

Sustainability Coordinator Carrie Malfeo took the podium at Monday night's board meeting and provided the mayor and Village trustees with an update on the first year of the solar project at Park Forest Water Treatment Plant.

Last year, the Village...

Nominations for the Katherine “Katie” Armstrong Sustainability Award due Nov. 15

It's that time of year again. 

The Park Forest Environment Commission is calling on residents to nominate someone for the Katherine “Katie” Armstrong Sustainability Award. Nomination forms must be submitted by Nov. 15.

The Katherine “Katie” Armstro...

Village hosts several events in October

The Department of Recreation, Parks & Community Health starts the month with a trip to the Studebaker Theater to watch "The Color Purple" musical on Sunday, Oct 1. 

For $130, you can travel via a luxury coach bus departing from Villa...

The Village, Solstice highlight accomplishments of solar program

The Village of Park Forest announced on Monday the achievements of its partnership with Solstice, a leading community solar provider. Through this collaboration, the Village has achieved substantial milestones in community solar enrollment, providing clea...

Park Forest participates in "Plastic Free July"

The Village of Park Forest is participating in "Plastic Free July," a global movement to encourage people to reduce the amount of single-use plastic they use. 

Sustainability Coordinator Carrie Malfeo said her department would post daily...

'Where is Away?' display at the Park Forest Library educates residents about recycling

The Park Forest Library is home to the "Where is Away?" display encouraging people to "rethink where to throw away your waste and where is away." The new display came to the library earlier this month and will remain until the end of J...

Waste recovery volunteers needed for resident BBQ, June 14

The Village of Park Forest is once again hosting a low-waste Resident Appreciation BBQ on Wednesday, June 14.

•  Volunteers needed to educate attendees on which bin to throw their waste.  
• No experience necessary, training on-site.
• Volunteers...

Municipal Fixed Rate Aggregation Program update and ComEd rate change

The Village recently renewed a municipal aggregation program in April with 100% renewable energy at a 7.99 cent rate, which was a significant drop from the previous ComEd rate of 9.7 cents when the program went into effect. However, in June, ComEd lowered...

Park Forest kicks off Earth Month with several events throughout April

April is Earth Month, an opportunity to raise awareness and advocate for change around the issues most impacting the planet. The Village of Park Forest is doing its part by hosting several events throughout the month to encourage residents to do the same....

Sustainability office seeking volunteers for Park Forest Annual Community Clean-Up, April 1

It's that time of year again! The Sustainability Office is seeking volunteers for the Annual Park Forest Community Clean Up on Saturday, April 1.

Sustainability Coordinator Carrie Malfeo is calling on residents to participate in this year's event, which wi...

2023 Park Forest shopping & services guide is now available

The 2023 Park Forest Shopping & Services Guide is now available online with active links to business websites. There will not be a hard copy available for this issue. Look for an updated issue later this year with hard copies available. Please contact...

Park Forest enters new electric aggregation program in April

The Village of Park Forest is participating in an electric aggregation program in April. Carrie Malfeo, the Sustainability Coordinator for the Village, says this means residential and small business customers will receive a fixed rate per kWh which will n...

Illinois Solar for All program rolls out

The Village of Park Forest is endorsing a program in partnership with Solstice and Buy Commercial Energy that can create even more Green Power with the Illinois Solar for All Program.

This program will allow residents to support local solar energy without ...

Join the Environment Commission

The Village of Park Forest has a legacy of living and growing sustainably. Since its founding in 1949, the Village has equally valued the three pillars of sustainability: environment, economy, and equity. In May 2012, Park Forest adopted the Growing Green...

Holiday Light & Tree Recyling

Old Holiday lights taking up space? Recycle them responsibly by participating in the Village of Park Forest Holiday Light recycling taking place Nov. 22 through Jan. 18, drop-off is at Village Hall. 

Recycle your real, undecorated Christmas trees ...

Nominate someone for the Sustainability Award today

Nominate someone today for the Sustainability Award. Do you know someone who commits themselves to conscious sustainability practices.Do they collect water via rain barrels? Cycle to work to reduce carbon emissions? Recycle electronics responsibly? Do the...

Shredding and Drug-take Back event, Sept. 24

Do you have documents you'll like to shred? Or do you have prescription medicine you want to discard, but you don't know where to go?  Two events are happening that'll help you with these issues.

 The Village of...

Solar and Water Treatment Plant ribbon cutting, Sept. 19

The Village of Park Forest is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Sept. 19 to celebrate the unveiling of the roof and ground-mounted solar arrays at the water treatment plant. The event takes place at Park Forest’s Water Treatment Plant, located ...

Compost food waste with Urban Canopy

The Village of Park Forest is encouraging residents to compost food waste to help improve the environment. However, some people may have heard the term 'composting' but may not know what it entails.

Carrie Malfeo, the village's sustainability coordinator, ...

Solar project unveiling, Sept. 19

The Village of Park Forest is leading the way by installing roof and ground-mounted solar arrays at the water treatment plant to reduce its carbon footprint.  

Village officials are hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony in mid-September to celebrate t...

Grow Solar Power Hour event, Aug. 17

The Village of Park Forest and Park Forest Public Library in conjunction with Grow Solar Chicagoland are co-hosting a Solar Power Hour on Wednesday, Aug. 17, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The event will include all the basics you need to know to c...

Nominate someone for the Sustainability Award

Do you know someone who makes a great use of rain barrels, rain gardens, raised planter beds, solar panels, minimal use of lawn chemicals, bikes to work, or one of a host of other sustainable practices? Nominate someone today by completing the nomination ...

Volunteers Needed for RecycleFest!

Volunteers are needed for the Village of Park Forest's RecycleFest on July 30, 2022.

Volunteer's will work 7:30 a.m. -12:15 p.m.

Please Bring:

• Reusable Water Bottle
• Gloves
• Safety Glasses Recommended
• Masks Optional

Can be Counted as Volunteer Hours!

Please meet in...

Volunteers Needed for Shred Event!

Volunteers are needed for the Village of Park Forest's Shred Event on April 30, 2022.

Volunteer's will work 8:30AM-12:15PM.

Please Bring:

• Reusable Water Bottle
• Gloves

Can be Counted as Volunteer Hours!

Please meet in the parking lot of Orchard...

Annual Community Clean Up

Volunteers Needed!

Join us for the Park Forest Annual Community Clean Up!

April 2, 2022 from 9am-Noon.

Meet at Hidden Meadows Golf Range, 23521 Crawford Avenue, Park Forest, IL 60466.

Bring gloves and dress for the weather!

**Sponsored by the Park Forest Susta...

Park Forest one of 88 cities in the world named as climate leader

The Village of Park Forest has been recognized by Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), an international non-profit organization that helps cities disclose their environmental impact, as one of 88 across the globe that continue to lead on environmental action ...

Park Forest ranks 13th in the nation in green power percentage of electric use

Park Forest is one of the top communities in the country in green power usage.Park Forest was officially recognized as a Green Power Community at the Sept. 6 board meeting held via Zoom.Green Power Communities are communities where the local government, b...

Park Forest goes green with renewable energy

Park Forest is looking to go green with renewable energy.Residents this week are receiving letters in the mail alerting them to an electric aggregation switch approved by village board members last month.  Residents will continue to receive their...

Free BioSolids Available to Park Forest Residents

The Village of Park Forest offers free mulch and Exceptional Quality Compost (through a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District program) to its residents. You can pick it up for free or, for a delivery fee, the Village will deliver the mulch and compost t...

Park Forest Environment Commission presents Earth Week 2019, April 13 - April 22

The Park Forest Environment Commission celebrates Earth Week with the following events: 

April 9 - 30

Recycled Art ExhibitionTuesdays from 10 - 3, Wednesdays from 12 - 4, Fridays from 1:30 - 4, and Saturdays from 1 - 4Being held in conjunction with...

Village adopts new Climate Action and Resilience Plan

Park Forest is taking action to prepare the community for the future impacts of climate change.Park Forest board members Monday night unanimously approved a Climate Action and Resilience Plan.The new plan builds on Park Forest’s Sustainability Plan adopte...