🌱 $102 Million Renovation + Oak Park Parking Restrictions Lifted

Hello, neighbors! It's Saturday in Oak Park-River Forest and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in the community.

But first, today's weather:

Fog in the a.m.; mostly sunny. High: 82 Low: 62.

Here are the top three stories today in Oak Park-River Forest:

1. Oak Park and River Forest High School is set to embark on a $102 million construction project in 2024, aiming to modernize its outdated southeast corner. The new facilities will feature a 10-lane pool, larger multi-use gymnasiums, gender-neutral locker rooms, training rooms, dance and yoga studios, and space for the drama program. While concerns about increased taxes and racial equity have been raised, the school superintendent, Dr. Greg Johnson, assures the funding will come from the district's fund balance, private fundraising, and responsible borrowing. (Wednesday Journal)
2. Oak Park residents holding an active Village vehicle license are now allowed to override daytime parking restrictions on their residential blocks. This exemption aims to ease the burden caused by parking regulations meant for non-residents and commuters. Detailed information about this exemption, including a diagram illustrating its application on a typical residential block, can be found here or by contacting parking@oak-park.us or 708.358.7275. (Village of Oak Park, Illinois via Facebook)
3. Down the road, four Elmhurst aldermen, including Michael Bram, Chris Jensen, Jacob Hill, and Tina Park, are urging the City Council to allocate more funds for sidewalks and to revise the existing policy. They propose increasing the city's contribution percentage and lowering the threshold of 60 percent support for cost-sharing. The aldermen also advocate for counting only yes or no votes, excluding non-responses, and point to Wheaton's more aggressive sidewalk installation program as an example worth emulating. (Elmhurst Patch)

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Today in and around Oak Park-River Forest:

Saturday, September 30

• Free Home Show At Tinley Park Convention Center, Tinley Park (10:00 AM)
• Illinois Woman's Press Association Fall Writer's Workshop 2023 At Oak Park Public Library (12:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• A Rainbow Celebration will be taking place on Oct. 5 at Oak Park River Forest High School in the south cafeteria. Registration is required and a QR code can be found at the link. (Oak Park and River Forest HS via Instagram)
• Cook County is currently accepting applications for the position of Director of Community Behavioral Health. The application deadline is Oct. 11. To apply, click here. (Cook County Department of Public Health via Facebook)
• The Oak Park Community Recreation Center has updated its open gym schedule for October. For the latest schedule, visit their website here. (Park District of Oak Park via Facebook)

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• Laura Ruiz, REALTOR® at REALTY OF CHICAGO — (Visit website)
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Featured events:

• Oak Brook Artisan Market - Sat-Sun, Sep 30-Oct 1 (Oakbrook Center) (September 30)
• Illinois Woman's Press Association Fall Writer's Workshop 2023 (September 30)
• Starting with the Romantics... (October 1)
• Crafts & Drafts Handmade Market (October 1)
• Open House (October 1)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (October 2)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door this Saturday. I'll see you soon!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.