Oak Park Sounds Off About Parking Pilot Program

OAK PARK, IL — After presenting its proposals in a public forum on Nov. 9, Oak Park is asking for residents to leave their input on the the Parking Pilot Program page of the village website. The village has proposed two options to help clarify parking in this area and to make parking easier for residents who live in multi-unit or single-family homes in the area.

• Both of the proposals share some common aspects:
• Permit overnight and visitor parking in metered spaces
• Allow 2-hour parking on non-residential streets for those without permits
• Lower price of residential permits or offer subsidies for low-income individuals
• 24-hour premium permits in city-owned lots
• 72-hour parking or odd/even parking
• 3-hour paid parking limit in commercial areas
• Simplify signage
• Increased parking enforcement

Both proposals work with 3,800 parking spots in an area with 4,583 single- and multi-unit residences.

The first proposal would implement an odd/even rule, in which residents must move cars daily and only 1,400 parking spaces would be dedicated for residents on "even" days. Village officials believe that this option could make street sweeping, snow removal, and leaf removal easier.

The village's second option limits those with residential or visitor permits to 72-hour parking on days and nights, but will require leaf cleaning and street sweeping to be consolidated.

Oak Park residents have been sounding off already on the village website, with some calling the proposals "asinine" and some threatening to relocate out of the village. Others brought up concerns for safety.

To add your comments about the Oak Park Parking Pilot Program, click here. Residents can comment even if they don't live near the initial test area.

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