As Chicago’s downtown center continues to welcome new residential towers and other large-scale developments, that trend is overflowing into the suburbs on the edge of the city as well. Oak Park in particular has seen an influx in construction and development, including the village’s tallest building yet, a 21-story rental tower delivered in 2016. With all the new developments and growing interest in Oak Park real estate, local officials are eagerly trying to improve streets, parks, and general infrastructure of the community. 

Courtesy of Oak Park

According to Chicago Magazine, Oak Park also welcomed a 20-story, 271-unit apartment building and a new Target store near the Harlem/Lake Green Line station, while a seven-story, mixed-use development project is currently underway near the CTA stop. The mixed-use project will deliver 263 rental units, 15,000 square feet of ground-level retail, and parking to accommodate 400 vehicles. Delivery is expected this year. 

In the coming years, Oak Park infrastructure and road conditions are expected to improve with several projects coming down the pipeline.

The Village of Oak Park has lofty plans to resurface a stretch of Lake Street between Harlem Avenue and Austin Boulevard, though not everyone is on board with the plans. The Chicago Tribune reported the $18 million project to add new streetscape elements and improve the road’s surface got a bit of resistance from trustees who say the proposal is too expensive. 

Community members met at a Feb. 26 board meeting to discuss the proposal, which trustees suggested should be redesigned to cost between $3 million and $6 million less than proposed. Concerns were raised largely because the funds would most likely have to be borrowed or largely paid for by the village. Officials will fund just $3 million of the project with a federal grant. 

Photo by David Wilson / CC BY

It’s not all about money either — some community members addressed concerns that the project will change the overall appeal of Oak Park. In the proposal, the village suggests using decorative brick and bluestone sidewalks. Trustee Deno Andrews told the Tribune that while he agrees the sidewalks need to be redone, the proposed improvements could make the area feel too “country club-ish.” 

The plan in essence is to connect Downtown Oak Park, the Hemingway District, and the Frank Lloyd Wright District. While that will give local business and property owners a headache for quite some time, one local building owner believes that if officials are going to close the street for 18 months, the outcome should be an improvement from what is currently in place.

The consensus is that officials, trustees, and locals want a space that looks attractive and inviting, but not at the expense of the village going broke. The Oak Park village board approved a $2.7 million plan to rebuild several residential alleys in need of replacement, according to the Tribune. The project includes rebuilding segments of 23 alleys throughout the village, and a $50,000 portion of the budget will go toward patchwork in alleys not scheduled for replacement in the next five years. 

The alleys that are going to be reconstructed have an average condition score of 36 out of 100. Overall, the alley system in Oak Park has an average score of 69. 

Scoville Park / Courtesy of Oak Park

Community officials are also aiming to get feedback on two local parks and their futures. At the start of the month, the Park District of Oak Park announced it would revisit the master plan of Scoville Park at 800 Lake St. The park was completely renovated in 2013, according to the Tribune, but it’s been eight years since the master plan was developed.

Park District officials are also asking for feedback on future renovations for Randolph Park at 300 S. Grove Ave. The park’s master plan was completed in 2009, and the park was renovated in 2010. Randolph Park includes a tot lot, a passive park, benches, and picnic tables. 

According to park district spokeswoman Diane Stanke, the policy of the park board is to review all park master plans every 10 years.