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Message from the Mayor
Thank you to the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce for providing this community guide for residents, businesses and visitors. We take great pride in sharing everything that makes Orland Park the family-friendly and vibrant community that it is. This year, the Village of Orland Park turned 129 years old — the 129th anniversary of when then State Senator John Humphrey moved in 1892 to have the Village incorporated as a municipality. Orland Park has come a long way from its beginning as a small farming community. Orland Park offers easy access to downtown Chicago, O’Hare and Midway Airports as well as the many attractions in the metropolitan Chicago area. Convenient accessibility to all that the Chicago area offers is available via several interstate highways and Metra’s commuter rail service making travel convenient for residents and commerce alike. We are very proud of the quality of life that the Orland Park community enjoys. Orland Park was named the Safest City in Illinois for 2021 by Safety.com, a leading home security and safety advocacy website. This is the first time in the Village’s history to receive this distinction. Analysts from Safety.com assessed data provided by the FBI Crime Report, Gun Violence Archive, U.S. Census Bureau, Insurance Journal and America Health Rankings to create its list of safest cities in Illinois. We intend to continue on this path well into the future. While COVID-19 had a huge financial impact on many, we have weathered the storms and are persevering nonetheless. The Village has not skipped a beat when it comes to providing services while collecting only 6.47% of your total tax bill. 79% of your tax bill can be attributed to taxes collected by schools and the fire district. Since 2016, we have reduced our longterm debt by $50 million while not reducing services offered. We were able to handle the reduction in revenue due to our strong financial position and smart planning. The Village’s Recreation and Parks Department offers a year full of activities and special events and maintains the many acres of parkland throughout the community. The award winning Centennial Park Aquatic Center, outdoor ice arena, ballfields, trails and natural areas all add to the many amenities the town offers. The school districts that serve Orland Park are known for excellence and innovation in education. Shopping opportunities range from the antique stores in the Old Orland Shopping District to regional malls that house a number of specialty stories. With more than 11 million square feet of commercial space and a trade area of more than 800,000 people, there is something for everyone in Orland Park. Superb restaurants cater to every taste as national chains and locally-owned continue to choose Orland Park as their next location. A majority of restaurants and chain retail in Orland Park continue to report top sales in the country at their Orland Park locations. A variety of housing options from starter homes to the upscale is available for homeowners of all ages. Orland Park’s housing options include an array of pleasant single family homes, townhomes, condominiums and apartments. Offices and business parks offer diverse employment potential and a positive and welcoming business environment. More than one million visitors come to Orland Park’s business parks to attend to their medical and health needs each year. Orland Park is a very active town and its residents participate in a network of athletic, business, academic, religious and social organizations providing a rich tapestry of talent within the community. Please visit orlandpark.org for a plethora of information about the Village, the vast services offered and to learn more about this great community. You can also follow us on social media for day-to-day updates, event information and more.
I hope you enjoy all that Orland Park has to offer,
KEITH PEKAU
Mayor of Orland Park
