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Park Forest is known for its artsy twist, great events, and diversity. Our motto is LIVE. GROW. DISCOVER. Whether it is starting off with a co-op, one-level range style home, or a 4–5-bedroom family style home, we can accommodate any family size. Park Forest is a Village located 30-45 minutes from Downtown Chicago and south of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, with a small southern portion in Will County, Illinois. The Village was originally designed as a planned community for Veterans returning from World War II. As of the 2010 Census, the Village had a population of 21,975. It is home to the Michelle Obama School of Technology and the Arts, with multiple public and private schools. In addition to the arts and cultural scene, including Tall Grass Arts Association, Salon Artist Gallery, Freedom Hall Nathan Manilow Theater, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, and John Ruffin's Theater 47. Residents also have access to a myriad of recreational opportunities for children and adults, such as Community Relations events, Recreation and Parks activities and programs, Park Forest Aqua Center, and Park Forest Indoor Tennis and Racquetball Club. Notable people from Park Forest include the former Artistic Director of the Illinois Theatre Center, Etel Billig, and Kim Thiyal, who was on the top "100 best guitarists of all times" by Rolling Stones in 2003. Olympia Fields borders Park Forest to the north, Chicago Heights to the east, University Park to the south, and Richton Park and Matteson to the west. Check out the video below of why our residents Love Park Forest:
Successful Kickoff of Our Resident Welcome Event (February 28, 2026)
We are excited to share that our recent Resident Welcome Event kickoff was a tremendous success! The event brought together new residents for an engaging introduction to our community and provided a meaningful opportunity to connect with Village leadership.
We were honored to have the Mayor, members of the Board, and key Village staff in attendance to personally welcome residents and share updates about our community’s vision, priorities, and commitment to engagement. Their presence helped set a warm and welcoming tone for everyone in attendance.
The event included introductions, valuable information about Village services, and opportunities for residents to ask questions and meet one another. It was a wonderful reminder of the strength of our community and the importance of continued connection between residents and leadership.
Thank you to everyone who attended and supported this kickoff. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to create opportunities for engagement throughout the year.
Upcoming New Resident Welcome, March 28. Questions? 708.283.5621 or erandle@vopf.com.