The Village of Park Forest will hold its first Regular and Special Rules Meeting of August on Monday at 7 p.m. at Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive.

The evening will open on a celebratory note as several members of the Park Forest Fire Department are sworn into new roles, including Mark Contrano, who will take the oath of office and be officially recognized as the department’s fire chief.

Presentations will follow, including Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Mariyana T. Spyropoulos explaining the services of her office.  Also, Sustainability Coordinator Carrie Malfeo will explain the Village's recent EV Readiness Program recognition. Additionally, Cultural Arts Supervisor Victor Blackful will show a presentation recapping Main Street Nights, the Village' eight-week summer concert series. 

The Regular Meeting will start with many items on the agenda, including the following:

• $600K Housing Grant — A resolution to accept $600,000 from the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s Home Repair and Accessibility Program. The funds would support 22 projects for low- and very low-income households, covering full rehabs, accessibility upgrades, and roof replacements.
• Extrication Tool Purchase — The Park Forest Fire Department is requesting approval to replace its aging extrication tools, most of which are outdated corded hydraulic units, with new Genesis SLI 18-volt battery-powered tools. The $39,453.60 purchase, reduced through a $12,000 trade-in of older equipment, will improve safety, deployment speed, and operational efficiency
• Blackhawk Drive Road Project — Agreements and funding resolutions for Phase 1 and 2 engineering to improve Blackhawk Drive from Sauk Trail to Monee Road. The $324,621 cost would be fully covered by federal Surface Transportation Program funds and Tollway Credits, requiring no local tax dollars.
• Vehicle and Equipment Purchases — Approval of several vehicle and equipment acquisitions, including two Ford F250 pickup trucks, a Ford F550 dump truck, two Dodge Durangos, and tree service contracts.

• Pace Bus Agreement — The Village of Park Forest is considering a new 10-year agreement with PACE to install, maintain, and operate advertising transit shelters at no cost to the Village. The deal would allow PACE to manage advertising, share revenue with the Village, and provide regular maintenance, while giving the Village input on shelter styles, ad restrictions, and installation locations. 

Attention will then turn to one of the community’s most talked-about facilities — the Park Forest Aqua Center. A proposal of $6+ million to overhaul the 70-year-old complex will be discussed during the Rules Meeting.

Under the plan, the Aqua Center’s four aging pools would be demolished and replaced with a new four-lane East Lap Pool and a large splash pad. The project would keep the facility closed through 2026, with a grand reopening targeted for summer 2027.

Officials say the plan balances replacing failing infrastructure with maintaining essential aquatic programs, such as lap swimming, swim lessons, and family water play. A recent assessment revealed major leaks, corrosion, and outdated mechanical systems throughout the site.

The Village had initially budgeted $3.5 million for renovations and repairs, but updated cost estimates for that plan topped $7 million. Trustees reviewed five possible options — from a $20 million full rebuild to closing the facility entirely — before staff recommended the mid-range approach as the most cost-effective and sustainable.

Both meetings are open to the public.