The Park Forest Public Works Department announced the winners of the inaugural "Name the Snowplow" contest at the Park Forest Board meeting on Monday night at Village Hall.

During the meeting, Director Roderick Ysaguirre delivered a PowerPoint presentation to the Board, outlining the purpose and successes of the contest. He explained that the initiative aligns with the Board's strategic goals, which focus on enhancing public relations and finding innovative marketing and communication strategies to promote the community of Park Forest.

Ysaguirre emphasized his ambition to connect with residents freshly and interactively, mainly to engage younger community members. He explained that the contest fosters community spirit and raises awareness about the essential services provided by the Public Works Department.

After the presentation, Ysaguirre announced this year's winners: Matthew Albano and Hayden Chiappetta, a father-son duo. They chose "Snowbegone Kenobi," which pays homage to the beloved Star Wars franchise. 

"This creative name reflects both a sense of humor and a connection to popular culture, enhancing community engagement in a fun and memorable manner," Ysaguirre said. "In the end, we wanted to start a fun new trend in the Village."

The contest kicked off in the first two weeks of December, during which the Communications Team actively promoted it across various social media platforms and the Village's official website to encourage residents to submit creative names. Over this period, 18 names were proposed by community members. In a democratic process, the Public Works crew reviewed all submissions and voted to narrow it down to the top ten names.

Once the finalists were selected, these names were presented to the residents, inviting them to vote for their favorite. The voting period concluded on Dec. 20, and after tallying the votes, the Village announced "Snowbegone Kenobi" as the winning name.

Ysaguirre expressed optimism for this year's contest, hoping to see an increase in community participation. He looks forward to fostering this tradition, emphasizing its importance in bringing residents together and celebrating creativity in the years to come.