Tinley First Vision

VISION – TinleyFirst

The Tinley Park election is near – TinleyFirst wants you to know what we stand for, what we’ve done and what we’ll do.

TinleyFirst supports the branding study – MUSIC is our brand – with one of the largest music venues in the country – live music in most of our dining establishments on Oak Park Ave – as our Downtown Tinley destination strengthens.

TinleyFirst will further promote our Downtown as our roots – the train station and the community that developed around it. Zabrocki Plaza has become a gathering place – and TinleyFirst will promote usability to 250 days a year – that means winter – an ice rink, in addition to our special events – music, farmers market, cruise nights, Caribbean Block party, Boo Bash, Christmas and parades. We want people to visit and live in our Downtown. With some of the best commuter rail and schedules in the METRA system, convenient interstate access – Tinley Park should be recognized as the place to live and recreate – eclectic dining experiences, brew pubs, and a new Downtown venue in the works that will permit us to conduct special events in a dedicated facility. The TinleyFirst vision will enhance our position in region, increasing demand for residential properties, positively impacting home values.

2017 Tinley Park Downtown Projects
Tinley Park Downtown Projects
TinleyFirst will assure the redevelopment of the 280 acre state site campus at 183rd and Harlem. The vastness of the property means great possibilities – sports, commercial and residential – of all types – multi-family, single family, senior facilities – a great neighborhood – linked to our Downtown. Connectors that parallels the METRA tracks are planned linking the 80th Avenue station to the Oak Park Avenue station (the Tinley Park 606) with a walking/bike path and a connector to the Convention Center linking it the Downtown – utilizing the recently improved Oak Park Avenue bike lane/walking path. Divvy type rental bikes will provide visitors a chance to experience our Downtown and the Forest Preserve District’s paths that literally surround Tinley Park – the Dunne Path to the north and the Orland Grassland to the west.

TinleyFirst stands behind and supports improving what professionals consider one of the strongest ethics ordinances in municipal government. In addition to live streaming of our Village Board meetings, we are working on town meetings that will allow residents to call in – ask questions – get answers.

TinleyFirst supports Village investment in our neighborhoods – since 2014, nearly 9,000 trees have been planted, 948 this year alone replacing parkway trees ravaged by the emerald ash borer. The Village continues to invest and focus on core responsibilities, specifically, infrastructure – our streets, water and sewer – one of the best maintained systems in the region. The water meter failures are being aggressively addressed since 2014, with over 6,000 new meters installed so far, over 2,600 this year alone. Village street maintenance continues with nearly 9 miles of Village Street being resurfaced in 2017. The Village continues to monitor and address neighborhood flooding issues with an $800,000 investment in Parkside in 2016.

TinleyFirst will enhance those assets that enhance the Village – Oak Park Avenue and 80th Avenue stations – regarded as two of the best in the METRA system. The Tinley Park Convention Center – a world class facility attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually – visitors that use our amenities, shop in our stores and consider Tinley Park for their next home!

TinleyFirst is behind business growth and will support those businesses who have demonstrated their confidence in Tinley Park through expansion, creating hundreds of new jobs.

TinleyFirst will increase its partnering efforts, working with METRA for improved service levels – more 33 minute express trains from the City – a huge benefit for our resident commuters. TinleyFirst will work with the Cook County Board – to replace 175th Street (from Ridgeland to Oak Park Ave) and Ridgeland (from Oak Forest Ave to 175th) – project value in excess of $6,000,000. We are working with State and federal agencies to improve the intersection of 191st and Harlem and adjacent roads that will improve the ability to develop vacant properties – project value in excess of $8,000,000

TinleyFirst will continue the Tinley Park tradition of conservative financial management has allowed the Village to address issues before they become problems – police pension funding levels have improved and is one of the better funded plans in the State due to our ongoing commitment to staff generally and our police in particular.

TinleyFirst will continue to effectively manage revenue streams permitting future abatement of real estate taxes that totaled nearly $6,100,000 in 2016 – TinleyFirst won’t assume debt unless we define revenue streams to pay for it – and maintain the property tax levy freeze.

TinleyFirst looks forward to “Building a Village Together” with your support on April 4, 2017.