The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St. Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us
Oak Park offers a variety of services that can be accessed online from a computer, tablet or smart phone. Some of the services are managed directly by the Village, while others are third-party vendors authorized by the Village to conduct transactions.
The Village of Oak Park provides a wide range of services, from public safety programs like fire and police protection to support for housing, historic preservation and neighborhood relations. Don't see what you are looking for? Use the search feature at the top of the page.
Oak Park operates under the village manager form of government. A part-time, elected legislative body of a president and six trustees hires a professional manager to oversee the day-to-day administration of government programs and services.
Oak Park boasts excellent schools, world class architecture, shopping, dining and an extensive public transportation network. But Oak Park is more than a place – it also is a way of life. Use the links in this menu to learn more about our community and the many services available to residents and visitors alike.
Oak Park offers a variety of services that can be accessed online from a computer, tablet or smart phone. Some of the services are managed directly by the Village, while others are third-party vendors authorized by the Village to conduct transactions.
The Village of Oak Park provides a wide range of services, from public safety programs like fire and police protection to support for housing, historic preservation and neighborhood relations. Don't see what you are looking for? Use the search feature at the top of the page.
Oak Park operates under the village manager form of government. A part-time, elected legislative body of a president and six trustees hires a professional manager to oversee the day-to-day administration of government programs and services.
Oak Park boasts excellent schools, world class architecture, shopping, dining and an extensive public transportation network. But Oak Park is more than a place – it also is a way of life. Use the links in this menu to learn more about our community and the many services available to residents and visitors alike.
Here are links to some of the most popular items on the Village web site.
Here are links to some of the most popular items on the Village web site.
Property owners who see the parkways as fertile ground for their green thumbs may actually be putting the trees at risk — not to mention themselves. Digging on parkways can damage tree roots as well as utility lines that run from the streets into homes, including high-pressure natural gas lines.
Village ordinance governs the use of the parkways, which are the public property between private property boundaries and the public street. Most parkway planting rules, such as height restrictions to ensure driver and pedestrian sight lines, are linked to public safety and maintaining the health of the Village’s urban forest.
Raised planters and piling mulch up against the trunks of parkway trees — or volcano mulching — is prohibited because of their harmful effect on healthy tree growth. The same goes for hard surfaces, such as pavers, railroad ties, timbers, fencing or other structures that can damage tree roots, create habitat for harmful insects and restrict proper root growth.
Using fertilizers and pesticides on parkway plantings is prohibited as well since pedestrians and pets abound in our walkable community. And should the Village or a public utility company need access to the sewer, water or natural gas lines that run beneath the parkways, any plantings are almost sure to be damaged beyond routine, basic restoration standards.
Parkways also are likely poor sites for anyone considering an urban vegetable garden. Given the winter road salt spray and frequent use of parkways by the Villages more than 3,000 registered dogs and cats, most experts would say a raised garden in a back yard is a better site choice — especially since it also can be fenced in to keep out the rabbits, opossums and other wild animals that share the community.
Any resident who wishes to plant something other than grass on the parkway adjacent to his or her property should contact the Village forester for guidance prior to purchasing plants or beginning to dig. Just call 708.358.5700 or email publicworks@oak-park.us.
Please — no swings in trees
Tree swings in parkway trees may appear fun, but they threaten the health of the trees and safety of passersby. That’s why it is illegal to attach any rope, wire, nail, sign, poster or any other manmade object to trees and shrubs located on Village property. For more information, call 708.358.5700 or email publicworks@oak-park.us.
