Oak Park Residents Invited To 'A Place To Belong' Celebration

Press release from The Parks Foundation of Oak Park:

Sept. 17, 2021

On Saturday, September 18, Oak Park residents of all ages are invited to the Parks Foundation of Oak Park’s (PFOP) “A Place to Belong” celebration at the future site of the new Oak Park Community Recreation Center (CRC) at 229 Madison Street. The event will take place from 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

The free event features activities, refreshments, updates on the CRC and several local and state leaders are expected to attend including CRC campaign co-chairs Mary Jo Schuler and Dr. David Ansell; Senator Don Harmon, Representative Camille Lilly and more. The outdoor event will feature a status report on the $22 million campaign and preview the CRC’s diverse offerings and amenities.

The celebration marks the public launch of a capital campaign designed to raise the remaining funds to build the CRC; the Parks Foundation has already reached the 75% mark for the campaign. Engraved tribute paver bricks will be available for purchase beginning September 19, as a way to help reach PFOP’s fundraising goal as well as leave a lasting imprint at the gateway to the CRC. Bricks can be purchased in honor of a business, organization, family member or in memory of a loved one. Anyone contributing to the campaign will receive a free yard sign as a thank you and to show their support. Bricks can be purchased here, when the campaign begins on September 19.

The event will feature the following speakers:

• Edward Kerros, Vice-President, Parks Foundation of Oak Park
• Mary Jo Schuler, CRC Campaign Co-Chair
• Dr. David Ansell, CRC Campaign Co-Chair
• Patty Hunt, CRC donor
• Kassie Porreca, President, Park Board of Commissioners
• Village of Oak Park President Vicki Scaman
• Senator Don Harmon
• Representative Camille Lilly
• Representative La Shawn Ford

This press release was produced by The Parks Foundation of Oak Park. The views expressed here are the author's own.