News Flash

Village of Park Forest - Top Story News

Posted on: February 15, 2023

Park Forest vehicle stickers for 2023-24 go on sale March 1

Vehicle sticker NF size

Park Forest is rolling out a new vehicle sticker for 2023-24 that touts the Village’s grant funding success since 2005.

 The new sticker offers a picturesque view of the Village’s Central Park Wetlands just above language that refers to Park Forest as “A Municipal Leader in Grant Funding.” The sticker goes on to note the awarding of over $45 million in grants the Village has secured since 2005.  
 

Larrie Kerestes, Park Forest’s director of community development, said that grant funding has been crucial to the financing of infrastructure projects, like water main replacement that comes at a cost of $1 million per mile.

 "If we didn't have these grants, then this money would come from the general fund," Kerestes said. 
 That means tax payers would have financed much more of the cost of improvements, or improvements would have been much fewer.

 Kerestes said residents might not realize, but the grants the Village received greatly reduced taxpayer funding for major projects like the resurfacing of Shabbona Drive and the overhaul of Somonauk Park.

Mark Pries, the finance director, said that it is uncommon for a community to land the level of grant funding the village has over the last few decades.

"I am not aware of any other local or regional municipality that has received anywhere close to the amount of grants we have," Pries said. "The majority of large-dollar grants require "shovel ready" projects which means we have to ensure these projects are ready to go with minimal additional steps."

Pries explained that Park Forest plans ahead and has large projects ready when a grant opportunity presents itself.

"It's all about proper planning," Pries said.

Pries added the most significant impact to the public from grant awards are COPS grants that fund additional police officers, SAFER grants that fund additional firefighters/paramedics, and infrastructure grants that finance water and sewer improvements along with road reconstruction/resurfacing.

The new Park Forest vehicle sticker goes on sale March 1 and is available for purchase at Village Hall and online. For more information, visit villageofparkforest.com/finance

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in Village of Park Forest - Top Story News

GSU Job Fair Pic nf size

Village hosts Job Fair on May 27

Posted on: May 23, 2023
Village Hall

April 4, 2023 election results

Posted on: April 4, 2023
Electric Aggregation

Illinois Solar for All program rolls out

Posted on: February 8, 2023
PFNPC

Candidate forums begin Jan. 29

Posted on: January 20, 2023
Sustainability NF Size

Join the Environment Commission

Posted on: December 19, 2022
lights NF size

Holiday Light & Tree Recyling

Posted on: November 12, 2022
Yard waste NF size

Last day for yard waste pick-up, Nov. 30

Posted on: November 10, 2022
Street Sweeping image NF size

Final street sweeping Monday, Nov. 14

Posted on: November 8, 2022
nicor gas news flash image

Nicor natural gas meter relocation program

Posted on: September 27, 2022
Village Hall

Early voting hours and locations

Posted on: October 12, 2022
BC Awarness image news flash size

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on: October 4, 2022
Halloween in Park Forest 2020

Safe Halloween, Oct. 29

Posted on: October 12, 2022
blood drive Oct 2022 flyer news flash size

Blood drive, Oct. 20

Posted on: September 30, 2022
Engine 56 and A shift members news flash size

Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 9-15

Posted on: October 6, 2022
Child Composting News flash size

Compost food waste with Urban Canopy

Posted on: September 15, 2022
Farmers Market

Main Street Market continues

Posted on: August 12, 2022
Police logo New flash size

Kia and Hyundai thefts

Posted on: September 9, 2022
Hydrant Flushing

Hydrant flushing, Sept. 6 - 23

Posted on: September 3, 2022
VillageWideSale19

Village-wide Garage Sale, Sept. 24 - 25

Posted on: August 24, 2022
Solar at the Water plant News flash size

Solar project unveiling, Sept. 19

Posted on: September 7, 2022
September 2022 Business Breakfast Flyer PNG

Quarterly Business Breakfast, Sept. 15

Posted on: August 16, 2022
senior-resource-book-launching21024_1

Senior resource book launching, Sept. 1

Posted on: August 30, 2022
Paint n Sip sm news flash size

Main Street Fest, Paint n' Sip, Aug. 20

Posted on: August 10, 2022
Electric Aggregation

Grow Solar Power Hour event, Aug. 17

Posted on: August 8, 2022
Youth Day  2016 news flash size

Unity Day canceled

Posted on: August 2, 2022
2022 RecycleFest Flyer

Volunteers Needed for RecycleFest!

Posted on: June 6, 2022
Halloween in Park Forest 2020

Park Forest celebrates Halloween

Posted on: October 21, 2021
Fizer

Park Forest remembers Edwin J. Fizer

Posted on: October 28, 2020
Village Hall

Will County early voting locations

Posted on: October 7, 2020
Village Hall

Curfew ends in Park Forest

Posted on: June 2, 2020
street sweeping

Street sweeping begins Nov. 18

Posted on: November 15, 2019
Campbell

Park Forest remembers Steve Campbell

Posted on: November 13, 2019
HBrownPF

Park Forest remembers Harold Brown

Posted on: November 5, 2019
Resident Appreciation Month

November is Resident Appreciation Month

Posted on: November 1, 2019
Village Hall

April 2, 2019 election results

Posted on: April 2, 2019