Oak Forest Hospital Demolition Continues, County Seeks Community Input On Future Plans

OAK FOREST, IL — As demolition work continues at the site of of the shuttered Oak Forest Hospital, Cook County officials are looking to the public for input on the property's future.

On April 8, Cook County hosted a community planning meeting at the Markham Courthouse, bringing together more than 100 residents and stakeholders in-person and online to help shape the future of the Oak Forest Campus, county officials said in an update newsletter.

Attendees participated in a collaborative design workshop, also known as a charrette, where they reviewed a menu of ideas and initial concepts, discussed priorities, and shared input for how the site could serve the community in the years ahead.

The 150-acre property offers a unique opportunity, officials wrote. As one of the largest contiguous redevelopment sites in the south suburbs, the campus could support a mix of uses that reflect community priorities and area potential, including economic development, preservation, open space, and stronger connections to surrounding forest preserves and natural setting.

Community input highlighted several consistent themes:

• Preserve and enhance the site’s natural assets, including open space, trees, and trails, while improving accessibility and connectivity.
• Create a plan that reflects and honors the site’s history, offering long term appeal and viability.
• Create a health and wellness focused community that is sustainable and supports healthy living.
• Focus on viable uses that support everyday needs and activity, encouraging repeat visits.
• Support economic development that fits and benefits the community, balancing increased tax base and quality of life.

Officials said a more complete synopsis of community input will be compiled after the online survey deadline of April 30 and shared publicly in the May newsletter.

Residents are still invited to share input via an online survey; the survey closes to feedback on April 30.