Carrie Malfeo Sustainability Coordinator at Village of Park Forest | Village of Park Forest
Carrie Malfeo Sustainability Coordinator at Village of Park Forest | Village of Park Forest
A new initiative is set to launch in Park Forest, providing residents with free access to a variety of home and garden tools. The Tool Lending Library, part of the Village's Climate Action and Resilience Plan, aims to empower residents, promote sustainability, and foster community connections.
The library will be housed in the Discovery Center Room at 30 North Orchard Drive, alongside the Park Forest Aqua Center. It is scheduled to open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon starting in August. The project is led by the Sustainability Office and the Environment Commission.
Sustainability Coordinator Carrie Malfeo highlighted that while community support for the idea has been strong, assembling a reliable team of volunteers posed challenges. “The main challenge we've encountered is obtaining volunteers, as this will be a volunteer-based project, and we want it to be sustainable,” Malfeo said. “We could use some more volunteers. We have a good base, and it’s looking promising that we’ll be able to launch next month.”
Training sessions for volunteers are currently being conducted at the library's location as interest and commitment levels are assessed ahead of opening day.
The initial tool collection was funded by the Park Forest Sustainability Office and Environment Commission several years ago. It includes commonly used home and garden items with plans for gradual expansion through donations of new or gently used tools.
“This will be an organic growth process,” Malfeo explained.
Malfeo emphasized that the Tool Lending Library offers significant benefits by providing affordable access to equipment, reducing waste, and strengthening neighborhood ties. “A tool lending library is essential for a community because it offers affordable access to tools, reduces waste, and fosters community building,” she said.
Residents interested in volunteering or learning more can contact the Park Forest Sustainability Office at 708-503-9372 before the August launch. The program is free for Park Forest residents aged 18 and older.
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