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.
May 23, 2024 - Village Manager Kevin J. Jackson announced that Jonathan Burch, a housing policy and planning expert with extensive knowledge of federal, state and local approaches - and an Oak Park resident - has been named Assistant Village Manager/Neighborhood Services Director. Burch begins the new role on June 10.
In 2023, the Village Board approved a reorganization that included the creation of a standalone Neighborhood Services Department to oversee and elevate housing programs, code compliance and grants management, while placing a renewed focus on neighborhood and community engagement, as well as civic education and participation. Burch’s role will also strengthen the Village’s capacity to accelerate the implementation of the Climate Ready Oak Park plan, a comprehensive and long-range plan developed in response to the global climate crisis.
“Our aim in standing up a separate Neighborhood Services department is to continue to align with industry standards across the country and elevate Oak Park as a world-class community,” said Jackson. “We are thrilled that we were able to identify the best fit to lead this group from right here in our own backyard. Jonathan’s depth of knowledge, wealth of experience and innovative approach to the role will allow him to hit the ground running and make an immediate and important impact for Oak Park, a place that he loves to call home.”
Burch, a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), has worked for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) since 2012. As a Principal Planner for CMAP, Burch managed a large portfolio of grants, research and technical assistance projects, including all housing technical assistance. He worked on several important projects, including Regional Housing Solutions, Homes for a Changing Region and the Regional Housing Initiative. Between those three developments, Burch and his team were awarded $1.7 million in funding to support work being done. Additionally, he oversaw the launch of CMAP’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) technical assistance program and secured $3 million in funding from the State of Illinois within the first nine months of launch.
“As a resident, I see the passion and care that Village staff brings to issues big and small,” said Burch. “I am excited to tackle these challenges and improve the community where I live as the leader of the new Neighborhood Services department.”
Prior to his work with CMAP, Burch worked as a Senior Planner with the Lake County Community Development Division. He managed approximately $9.5 million in HOME, CDBG and NSP grants that were received by Lake County, Illinois.
From 2006-2010, Burch served as an Associate Planner and Senior Planner with Heyer, Gruel & Associates. In those roles, he served as the firm’s lead affordable housing planner, creating and implementing affordable housing plans for more than 18 municipalities, among other duties.
All told, Burch has had a significant hand in creating and implementing more than 60 affordable housing plans in Illinois and New Jersey.
In addition to his vast professional experience, Burch has volunteered as a Commissioner and Chair on the Village’s Housing Programs Advisory Committee (HPAC) since 2021. HPAC is an advisory board concerning programs and methods to accomplish the following goals within the Village of Oak Park: enhance the quality of residential properties, attract an economically and racially diverse population, develop and maintain affordable housing options, and increase the value of residential properties.
Burch, also a member of the American Planning Association, graduated from St. Olaf College in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Economics. He went on to earn a Masters of City and Regional Planning from Rutgers: The State University of New Jersey in 2006.
Burch and his family currently reside in east Oak Park.
About Oak Park
The Village of Oak Park, located just nine miles west of downtown Chicago, offers a distinctive urban/suburban lifestyle in a thriving, multi-cultural community. Well-known for progressive values, tree-lined streets and bustling business districts, Oak Park serves as an ideal place to live, work and play. As a longstanding community of choice, the Village benefits from convenient access to local and regional transit, high-quality public schools, and arts and cultural attractions, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio and his acclaimed Unity Temple, which was recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
