Will County Gazette

In Park Forest, residents have been discussing the best ways to report concerns to the Village. These concerns range from issues like potholes, malfunctioning streetlights, or neighbors' yards not complying with regulations. Depending on the issue, some methods are more effective than others for contacting the Village.

The Village of Park Forest is comprised of ten departments, including Administration, Building & Community Development, DownTown Park Forest, Economic Development & Planning, Finance (which includes the Water Department), Fire Department, Housing Authority, Police Department, Public Works, and Recreation, Parks & Community Health.

Residents should direct infrastructure-related concerns, such as malfunctioning streetlights or potholes on Village-owned roads, to the Public Works Department. Issues with neighbor's yards or unauthorized construction should be reported to the Building & Community Development Department. The Recreation, Parks & Community Health Department handles concerns about park maintenance or graffiti. In emergencies, residents are encouraged to call 911, while the non-emergency number is 708-748-4700.

While social media is an available option for reporting concerns, the Village's communications team emphasizes that it may not be the most effective way to reach the relevant department. Residents can contact departments by phone or email, with department head contact details available on the Village's website. Alternatively, residents can call Village Hall to speak directly to a specific department. The Village also offers a chatbot named Leafy to assist in finding information on their website.

For property damage issues, such as damage from potholes, residents can report the issue to Public Works. If a vehicle is damaged as a result of a pothole, residents should fill out an incident report at Village Hall, located at 350 Victory Drive. This form is then submitted to the Village's insurance company for further steps.

In cases where repeated complaints to a department go unresolved, residents are advised to contact the village manager, who oversees day-to-day operations and can direct concerns to the appropriate department.

The Village also communicates important information to residents during emergencies through the CodeRED Emergency Notification System. This service sends emergency messages and important information to residents in specific areas. Residents are encouraged to sign up for CodeRED to receive messages by text, email, or phone calls.

Residents can sign up for CodeRED through the Village's website.