A record 780 properties in Park Forest have been awarded Beautification Awards this year, the Village's Beautification Awards Committee announced on Thursday.

Committee Chair Susan Blatchford said 64 properties received this recognition for maintaining their excellence for five consecutive years. She said this milestone highlights residents' ongoing commitment to keeping their homes and green spaces well-maintained.

“We’re thrilled to see this level of participation,” Blatchford said. “It shows that residents care about the Village they call home, and it’s inspiring to see so many people doing their part to keep Park Forest beautiful.”

Now in its 50-plus-year history, the Beautification Awards program emphasizes neatness and regular upkeep over expensive landscaping. Properties are judged based on curb appeal, healthy landscaping, visible house numbers, and the absence of code violations, such as peeling paint or damaged gutters.

Volunteer judges reviewed nominations between June 29 and July 18, after residents submitted entries online or at Village Hall earlier this summer. The awards were open to all property types, and judges displayed placards while surveying the nominated homes.

The winning properties will be listed in the Beautification Awards brochure, which will be available online and in print at Village Hall. Additionally, winners can pick up Beautification Award yard signs on Monday, Aug. 11, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall, while supplies last.

The committee encourages all residents to participate again next year, noting that good maintenance benefits the entire community.

“Your hard work and meticulous maintenance make Park Forest a more beautiful Village in which to live, grow, and discover,” the committee stated.