Forest Park Review 052720

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GROWING COMMUNITY WEDNESDAY JOURNAL, INC.

ForestParkReview.com ForestParkReview.com Vol. 103, No. 22 x

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F O R E S T PA R K

REVIEW MAY 27, 2020

Suicide risk rises during pandemic PAGE 11

CTA lot rehab starting soonn PAGE 6

@FP_Review@ForestParkReview @ForestParkReview @FP_Review

Al fresco dining by the end of the month? Village working to stay safe while helping businesses succeed By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

Outdoor dining may return to Forest Park as soon as May 29, with restaurants that already have permits for outside service reopening that aspect of their business and those not permitted being given special permission by the village. On May 20, Governor J. B. Pritzker announced that restaurants and bars will most likely be allowed to reopen for outdoor seating on May 29, when phase three of the Reopen Illinois plan is supposed to begin. Originally, the plan specified that eating and drinking establishments would be prohibited from opening until phase four, but Pritzker introduced an earlier option. “Epidemiologists now believe that summer offers us an opportunity,” said Pritzker in his daily briefing. “Today, I’m announcing an additional option for bars and restaurants interested in resuming operations early, opening for outdoor seating when phase three begins likely for everyone just nine days from now.” Forest Park village officials and chamber members were already discussing the option of opening up portions of Madison Street or surrounding streets to allow restaurants more seating when phase four began. But they’ve sped up talks in light of Pritzker’s news. Prior to the governor’s announcement, in a phone meeting on May 15 that included Mayor Rory Hoskins, Village Administrator Tim Gillian, Director of Building and Zoning Steve Glinke, a local architect and at See OUTDOOR DINING on page 4

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

RUNNING WILD

With less activity at the Park District of Forest Park since the COVID-19 slowdown, a coyote has regularly been sighted there over the past few weeks. Review photographer Alex Rogals caught this shot over the weekend.

Pool’s out for summer

Park district announces pool will not open in 2020 By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

The Park District of Forest Park will not open the pool this summer. In a May 21 park district meeting, the

IN Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 THIS Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 ISSUE Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

ins and outs of social distancing, training, disinfecting, staffing and limiting the number of patrons swimming at one time were discussed in detail. But ultimately, all board members decided there was no safe way to open for the 2020 swim season. Executive Director Jackie Iovinelli said she and Recreation Supervisor Rachell Entler spent many hours over the past weeks discussing all the options. With a background in aquatics,

Iovinelli said this decision has been difficult to make. “If anything will break my heart, this will do it,” Iovinelli said. Opening up during phase three of Pritzker’s Reopen Illinois plan would be an impossibility, as only up to 10 people are allowed to gather in one place. So the pool would have to wait until phase four, later in the season. See POOL’S OUT on page 6

Catalytic converter thefts on the rise

Church gives away 300 boxes of food

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