The Department of Public Works reminds residents of how the Village removes snow from Village streets.
Public Works is responsible for 72 miles of roadway located within the Park Forest corporate limits, and clearing all streets can take some time. All public streets are plowed in order of most traveled streets to less traveled streets. Residents in some parts of Park Forest may be part of homeowners associations or cooperatives who hold contracts with outside companies for snow and ice removal.
Snow Route Parking Ban
Per Resolution, no parking on designated “Snow Route” streets at any time there has been an accumulation of two (2) inches or more of ice and/or snow. This ban remains in effect until the accumulation of ice and/or snow has been removed.
While not required by ordinance on streets not designated as snow routes, it greatly assists the Department of Public Works in plowing after snowfall and assist public safety in quickly reaching residents if vehicles are removed from side streets during heavy snowfall.
What to know about frozen pipes
(recommendations provided by the American Red Cross)
Before the onset of cold weather, protect your pipes from freezing by following these recommendations:
- Drain water from swimming pool and water sprinkler supply lines following manufacturer's or installer's directions. Do not put antifreeze in these lines unless directed. Antifreeze is environmentally harmful, and is dangerous to humans, pets, wildlife, and landscaping.
- Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors. Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs. Open the outside hose bibs to allow water to drain. Keep the outside valve open so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to break.
- Add insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. Insulation will maintain higher temperatures in these areas.
- Check around the home for other areas where water supply lines are located in unheated areas. Look in the garage, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Both hot and cold water pipes in these areas should be insulated.
- Consider installing specific products made to insulate water pipes like a "pipe sleeve" or installing UL-listed "heat tape," "heat cable," or similar materials on exposed water pipes. Newspaper can provide some degree of insulation and protection to exposed pipes – even ¼” of newspaper can provide significant protection in areas that usually do not have frequent or prolonged temperatures below freezing.
- Consider relocating exposed pipes to provide increased protection from freezing.
How to Prevent Frozen Pipes
- Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
- When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
- Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
- If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.
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