🌱 Keystone Park Renovation Planned + St. Patrick's Day Parade

Good morning! Here's your Saturday edition of the Oak Park-River Forest Patch Daily.

First, today's weather: Warmer with a shower in spots. High: 69 Low: 44.

🏡 Are you a local real estate agent? Let us help you generate leads, build your brand in Oak Park-River Forest and stand apart from the competition. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top 5 stories today in Oak Park-River Forest:

1. The health department confirmed 103 new COVID-19 cases in Oak Park this week, an 11 percent increase from last week’s report. According to the CDC’s new guidelines, Oak Park is still at a “low” COVID-19 community level because it reported less than 200 positive cases per 100,000 residents. (VOP)

2. Officials in River Forest and Forest Park are supporting a plan to extend the Des Plaines River Trail through their villages. A starting date for construction will depend on funding from the Illinois Department of Transportation. (Wednesday Journal)

3. The River Forest Park District is looking to improve Keystone Park this summer with repairs to the tennis courts and batting cages. A public meeting will be held March 21 at The Depot for community input on the project. (Patch)

4. The Oak Park Public Library is still deciding which consulting firm will assist in the search for the next executive director. The board will hold firm interviews on March 8 to replace David Seleb, who retired in February after eight years in the role. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

5. The Forest Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade will return to Madison Street today after being canceled last year due to COVID-19. The 2020 event was one of the last large gatherings in the village before the pandemic began. (Forest Park Review)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Take a guided morning bird walk at Trailside Museum. (9 a.m.)
• Paint with ink at Dole Center. (10 a.m.)
• Forest Preserves of Cook County host a block print workshop. (1 p.m.)
• Public skate Saturday at Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex. (5:30 p.m.)
• Kristin Chenoweth performs at Dominican University’s Annual Trustee Benefit Concert. (7 p.m.)
• OPRF High School presents “Sister Act.” (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Shootings on the Eisenhower Expressway are down more than 70 percent from this time last year, the Illinois State Police report. (Forest Park Review)
• Bring broken small appliances to Fox Center today for the Park District’s monthly “Repair Cafe.” (PDOP)
• Local horticulturist Ken Goldstein will discuss planting at next week’s Elmwood Park Garden Club meeting. (Patch)
• River Forest Park District garden plots are now sold out. (Patch)
• Fenwick High School swimmer Mike Flynn will join his former Friar teammate Liam Hutchinson next year at Notre Dame. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Focus Point Training — (Visit website)
• Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX in the Village — (Visit Website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• First Saturday Evanston Art Events (March 5)
• Handel Week Festival III, O Be Joyful! The Chandos Anthems (March 6)
• International Women’s Day Concert Extravaganza (March 8)
• Free Drop In Violin Class (March 12)
• Chicago Artisan Market in Fulton Market — Sunday, March 13 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) (March 13)
• Add your event

Loving the Oak Park-River Forest Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
• Become a supporter (there are perks!)
• Get your local business featured in front of readers
• Send me a news tip or suggestion at georgi.presecky@patch.com

You're all set for Saturday! See you tomorrow for more local stories.

— Georgi Presecky

About me: Georgi is a Chicago-based newsletter writer and partner content curator. She spent five years on the entertainment beat for FF2 Media covering film festivals across the U.S. Her feature articles have been recognized with awards from the Illinois Women's Press Association and National Federation of Press Women. As editor-in-chief of the Lewis University newspaper, she and her staff earned honors from the Associated Collegiate Press and American Scholastic Press Associations. She began working for Patch in 2019.