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We Need a Better Gauge for Economic Development

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We Need a Better Gauge for Economic Development

I attended the June 1 town hall meeting on development in the village, and I agree with your observation [Madison Street plan draws supporters, detractors, News,June 8] that the bulk of the discussion was about the effect of the Madison Street plan on traffic patterns.

Looking at the big picture, it appears that this proposed development is similar to the pattern established by the other "mixed use" projects at Lake and Forest, Lake and Harlem, Harlem and South Blvd., and the Tasty Dog site — retail space on the ground floor, some parking, topped with multiple floors of high-end or luxury residential space.

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Protect Oak Park from Pesticides

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Protect Oak Park from Pesticides

Go Green Oak Park asks residents of Oak Park to add their names to a petition, which calls upon our Board of Trustees to take bold measures toward eliminating the use of toxic products within the borders of our village.

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Village "Renewable Energy Fund" is a Bright Idea

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Village "Renewable Energy Fund" is a Bright Idea

Solar panels on all 11 public school roofs? Windmills atop Village Hall? A local clean energy network that feeds energy into our grid? Some ideas never see the light of day, but thanks to the efforts of citizens and staff, these clean energy projects, or others like them, may become reality in the coming years.

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Biking Gets Better in Oak Park

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Biking Gets Better in Oak Park

As a 20-year resident of Oak Park, I’m excited to share a number of changes coming to Oak Park that will improve conditions for biking and walking. A few weeks ago, the village board approved the Oak Park Neighborhood Greenways system as an addendum to its 2008 bike plan. Elements of the 2008 bike plan have already been adopted, such as significantly more and better bike parking near transit stations, bike lanes, wayfinding signs and creating a village government bike fleet.

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Robinet Option Gains Traction with Oak Park Village Board

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Robinet Option Gains Traction with Oak Park Village Board

Mac Robinet is deeply concerned about climate change. A physicist by training, Mac worked for 37 years at Argonne National Laboratory performing research in the field of health physics. He has lived in Oak Park for 50 years, and served for six years on the Energy and Environment Commission where he became involved in the issue of renewable energy and community aggregation for the purchase of electrical power. The aggregation issue became contentious last year when the Village Board contracted for the so-called ‘brown energy’ option when they chose our municipal electricity provider.

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Free Rain Barrel Program Takes Off

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Free Rain Barrel Program Takes Off

The Village of Oak Park has been flooded with requests for rain barrels since announcing a new give-away program. Already, Environmental Services Manager Karen Rozmus has ordered 536 rain barrels from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago, the partner and financial backer for the project. Up to four 55-gallon rain barrels (in blue, gray, terra cotta or black) are available for each qualified household. The Village of River Forest also has a program that offers discounted rain barrels. Read on for more details. There are several benefits to using rain barrels.

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Natural Grass or Artificial Turf?

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Natural Grass or Artificial Turf?

Many towns across the country are converting their natural grass fields to artificial turf. Following this trend, Oak Park has four artificial turf fields. Two new artificial fields are being added to the middle schools this summer and an additional proposed artificial surface is up for consideration at Barrie Park. That could be seven fields total by the end of 2016. This doesn't include the many new artificial playground areas that have been added to Scoville Park and the elementary schools.

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Oak Park Moves Toward Arboretum Accreditation

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Oak Park Moves Toward Arboretum Accreditation

When we think about nature in winter, we may think about snow, ice and gray skies. We may think about squirrels, and maybe cardinals. This is also the time of year when the graceful architecture of trees is starkly visible. Trees give us so many important gifts: cleaner air, fresh oxygen, stormwater management, shade, even energy efficiency for buildings. How well do you know the trees around you?

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Connect to Action: Help Transform Madison Street in Oak Park

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Connect to Action: Help Transform Madison Street in Oak Park

Madison Street has long been a street that does not meet the expectations of safety for walking and biking for Oak Park. The Oak Park Board of Trustees will meet December 8 to discuss a plan to invest TIF money to redesign Madison Street. Let’s take this opportunity to make a significant difference in the degree of biking and walking friendliness in our community. Please see the letter/petition to OP Village Board.