What's up Oak Park! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Oak Brook Artisan Market - Oakbrook Center (Sat-Sun, Oct 3-4) and 10 more events.
Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Village of Oak Park released feasibility study on single-family zoning changes (oakpark.com) — Oak Park officials have released a feasibility study showing that proposed single-family zoning changes are unlikely to spur much new multi-unit housing without major subsidies or cost reductions, and could still mean high rents. Village leaders and residents are now weighing added tools like incentives, a stronger inclusionary housing ordinance, and an ad hoc affordable housing task force as Shape Oak Park moves into its next decision-making phase.
2. Oak Park village board extends trick-or-treating hours (oakpark.com) — Families in Oak Park can plan for a slightly longer Halloween, as the village board unanimously extended this year's recommended trick-or-treating hours to 3:30–8 p.m. Trustees stressed the times are advisory, not a legal curfew, and may be formalized in a future ordinance to keep hours consistent when Halloween falls on weekends or weekdays.
3. Best private high schools in Illinois (collinsvilledailynews.com) — Families in Oak Park will be interested to know that a local private high school earned an A+ grade in a new statewide ranking of Illinois' top private schools from Niche. The list highlights enrollment sizes, student-teacher ratios, and grade levels at standout schools across the state, helping parents compare options as they consider where their teens might thrive academically and socially.
4. Wright Conservancy announced its annual awards (oakpark.com) — Oak Park homeowners William and Frederick Grier are being honored with a Wright Spirit Award for rescuing and restoring Frank Lloyd Wright's Lucy and George Smith House on Home Avenue, once deemed uninhabitable. Their work, along with efforts to save another Wright home in nearby Austin, will be recognized at the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy's annual awards this November.
5. Recruiting: 100+ New Commits Since Sunday Including 18 in 2028 HOT 100, Four in Top 10 Alone! Key Pickups for Florida, Alabama, Baylor, Stanford & More… (Sept. 30, 2026) (linedrivemedia.com) — Oak Park softball fans can cheer a local standout as Fenwick High School pitcher and utility player Sofia Kateeb, ranked No. 28 nationally in the 2028 HOT 100, verbally commits to nearby DePaul University. She says the Lincoln Park campus, supportive coaching staff, and chance to stay close to home while competing at a high level made DePaul the right fit.
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Ok Oak Park! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
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