Living In Oak Park -- Community

Environment

Street & Parkway
Maintenance

Oak Park - a clean, green and sustainable community

Globally, Oak Park is known as the home of world-renowned residents like prairie-style architect Frank Lloyd Wright and Nobel Prize winning author Ernest Hemingway. Regionally, Oak Park is recognized as a leader in environmental initiatives. Oak Park boasts an impressive list of environmentally conscious accomplishments, including the following:

Earning platinum designation from Clean Air Counts and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
Being an Illinois Green Fleets community by maintaining one of the region's largest alternative-fuel municipal vehicle pools
Hosting the GreenTown Conference, which brought more than 200 officials to Oak Park to discuss ways to make communities more eco-effective.
Construction of a green Public Works Center, the first in Illinois to seek LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Creating the multi-modal station in the central downtown area that links mass transit systems.
Purchasing Energy Star equipment for all municipal offices.
Conducting a gasoline-powered lawn care equipment exchange.
Maintaining natural grass plantings in commercial planters and landscaped area.
Adopting seasonal leaf blower restrictions.
Using public education to encourage residents to reduce pollution on Ozone Action Days.
Adopting policies to use low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and cleaning products in public buildings.
Converting traffic signals and emergency vehicle lighting systems to LEDs.
Installing energy efficient induction street lights in select areas.
Increasing the number of bicycle racks throughout the community.
Adopting the International Energy Conservation Code.

Visitors are invited to experience the thriving, environmentally aware community residents know and love. With its celebrated architecture, eclectic business districts and welcoming accommodations, there is something here for everyone. No carbon emissions are required for enjoyment. Enjoy the sights by accessing public transportation, riding a bicycle or walking the beautiful tree-lined streets.

For more information on Oak Park's environmental initiatives and programs, call 358.5700 or e-mail the Public Works Department .

Click on any of the icons below to visit the web sites offering a range of interesting and useful information

EnviroFlash

Chicago Wilderness

Citizens Utility Board

Clean Air Counts

CNT Energy

Composting Council

ComEd incentive and assistance programs

Construction-related federal tax credits

Environmental News Network

Keep Oak Park Beautiful

I-Go car sharing

Illinois EPA

Illinois Recycling Association

Illinois Solar Energy Association

NEED Project

Openlands Conservation Organization

Partners for Clean Air

Rain Garden Network

U.S. EPA

U.S. Green Building Council

West Cook County Solid Waste Agency