Sign With Late Orland Mayor's Name Returns, Family Questions Location

ORLAND PARK, IL — A sign bearing the name of former Orland Park Mayor Fred Owens at Orland's Village Hall has been re-erected, in the rear of the building.

The sign has been re-instated at the rear of the building on the west side, facing the Orland Park Civic Center, the Save Orland Park Names Committee told Patch.

Since 1993, when the Orland Park Board of Trustees voted to name the building for the late mayor, the sign identifying the Orland Park’s Frederick T. Owens Village Hall was on the east side, facing Ravinia Avenue where it was visible from the street until it was removed in February 2024.

"While we note the mayor’s efforts to place the sign at the rear of the building—where no one will see it—the more than 600 people who signed our free online petition in just four days would disagree," said Maura Kownacki, the late mayor’s daughter.

The Owens family joined efforts with the Vogel and Loebe families to express their concern with their loved ones’ names being removed from the exterior signage at the Village Hall, Civic Center and Recreation Center. Kownacki said they were told that the sign for the Frederick T. Owens Village Hall would not be going back up, and that the Loebe and Vogel signs were slated for removal. The families started an online petition for people to voice their opposition to the changes.

"Once we began a public awareness campaign and the free online petition, the Frederick T. Owens Village Hall sign was returned to the rear of the building where no one can see it," Kownacki said. "Those for Bill Vogel and Franklin Loebe remain intact."

<< READ ALSO: Former Orland Officials' Families Question Removal Of Names From Signs >>

Kownacki said the village manager mentioned new signage being needed "to provide actual way-finding signage for four village facilities of the village center."

"The Village recently completed a facilities study that, among other things, called for greater utilization of the buildings in the Village Center campus for recreation programming," Village Manager George Koczwara wrote to Patch in an email last week. "As a result, new wayfinding signage was needed to improve awareness and uniformity.

"All of the signage along Ravinia Avenue has been updated to match our standardized Village sign design and to provide actual wayfinding signage for four Village facilities of the Village Center."
A 2022 facility assessment led to a number of recommendations, Koczwara said. One very important change, he noted, was to move recreation programming from the former Cultural Arts Center to the Civic Center and the Franklin Loebe Recreation Center.

"This change, which saved the Village $6 million, has been implemented," he said. "Because of the various buildings, and their respective access driveways, the new wayfinding signage was an important element to assist patrons."

Koczawara asserted that a plaque bearing Fred Owens' name and image remains on display inside the Village Hall building.

Kownacki acknowledged the need for clear signage but questioned the decision to remove the signs bearing the names.

"Again, we’re all for clear directions for signs but do not see the reasoning behind removing the name of a longtime public servant who impacted Orland Park history and then moving the sign to the back of the building," she said.

"People walking from the parking lot to the building will not see the sign and know which building is the Frederick T. Owens Village Hall," Kownacki added. "A placement sign at the front of the building or along the main walk way as a ‘way-finding sign’ would work better."

The families thanked those who have supported their petition.

“The Owens, Vogel and Loebe families are grateful for the hundreds of people who offered their support to help keep the names on the buildings," Kownacki said. "The outpouring of support to remember our dads has been amazing."