Tom Mick Village Manager | Village of Park Forest
Tom Mick Village Manager | Village of Park Forest
The Village of Park Forest is set to hold its first Regular and Special Rules Meeting of August on Monday at 7 p.m. at Village Hall, located at 350 Victory Drive.
The meeting will begin with the swearing-in of several members of the Park Forest Fire Department. Mark Contrano will take the oath of office and be officially recognized as the department’s fire chief.
Presentations are scheduled to follow. Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Mariyana T. Spyropoulos will explain the services offered by her office. Sustainability Coordinator Carrie Malfeo will discuss the Village's recent recognition in an EV Readiness Program. Cultural Arts Supervisor Victor Blackful will provide a recap presentation on Main Street Nights, which is the Village’s eight-week summer concert series.
Several items are listed on the agenda for the Regular Meeting:
A resolution proposes accepting $600,000 from the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s Home Repair and Accessibility Program. The funds would support 22 projects aimed at low- and very low-income households, including full rehabs, accessibility upgrades, and roof replacements.
The Park Forest Fire Department seeks approval to replace its aging extrication tools—primarily outdated corded hydraulic units—with new Genesis SLI 18-volt battery-powered tools. The total purchase cost is $39,453.60 after a $12,000 trade-in for older equipment. This upgrade is expected to improve safety, deployment speed, and operational efficiency.
Agreements and funding resolutions are also up for consideration regarding Phase 1 and 2 engineering work to improve Blackhawk Drive from Sauk Trail to Monee Road. The project cost of $324,621 would be fully funded by federal Surface Transportation Program funds and Tollway Credits, requiring no local tax dollars.
Other agenda items include approvals for several vehicle and equipment purchases: two Ford F250 pickup trucks, a Ford F550 dump truck, two Dodge Durangos, as well as tree service contracts.
The board will also consider a new 10-year agreement with PACE Bus for installing, maintaining, and operating advertising transit shelters at no cost to the Village. Under this agreement, PACE would manage advertising in these shelters while sharing revenue with Park Forest and providing regular maintenance; input from the Village would be allowed on shelter styles, ad restrictions, and installation locations.
During the Rules Meeting portion of Monday’s session, discussion will focus on a proposal exceeding $6 million to overhaul the Park Forest Aqua Center—a facility that has served residents for 70 years. If approved, all four existing pools would be demolished and replaced with a new four-lane East Lap Pool along with a large splash pad. The renovation would keep the center closed through 2026; reopening is targeted for summer 2027.
Officials state that this plan aims to balance replacing failing infrastructure while maintaining essential aquatic programs such as lap swimming, swim lessons, and family water play. A recent assessment found significant leaks, corrosion issues, and outdated mechanical systems throughout the site.
Originally budgeted at $3.5 million for renovations and repairs based on earlier estimates—which have since risen above $7 million—the trustees reviewed five options ranging from a full rebuild costing about $20 million to closing the facility entirely before staff recommended this mid-range approach as both cost-effective and sustainable.
Both meetings are open to public attendance.
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