Slideshow: Tinley Park Residents Enjoy Oak Park Avenue Benches

TINLEY PARK, IL — The newest set of Oak Park Avenue benches returned to Tinley Park and residents are already flocking to see how local artists captured the "Animal Adventure" theme.

This is the 19th year the village has commissioned artwork for the Benches on the Avenue program. According to village officials, 22 benches are featured from 172nd to 176th streets and will remain out until October.

Submission guidelines asked artists to send in their unique, family-friendly designs that also included one component of "three-dimensional art." In a press release looking for artists, village officials said they wanted the installation to "take visitors on an animal exhibit without ever leaving Oak Park Avenue."

Artists took the theme and created benches featuring sharks, dogs, lions, otters, fish and one giant cat.

Each wooden bench is sponsored by a business or family who will then get to keep the bench at the end of the season. Artists were given $425 for supplies.