W E D N E S D A Y
February 12, 2020 Vol. 39, No. 28 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
YMCA C ‘‘upstream’’ of homelessness Page B13
Lake Street construction right around the corner Gearing up for a months-long rebuilding process By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
The expansive $15 million Lake Street reconstruction project could start as early as the end of February, weather permitting. Upon the expected November completion, a substantial section of Lake Street in Oak Park will have improved accessibility, a completely updated infrastructure and a more beautiful visage. “It’s been something the village has been planning and designing for a little over a decade now, since about 2006, 2007,” said Oak Park Village Engineer Bill McKenna. The project—from Harlem to Austin -- encompasses three major efforts that correspond with certain sections of Lake Street. The infrastructure portion, which tackles water and sewer main replacements, will be the first to begin construction in March, maybe end of February and finish in May. The infrastructure work will replace underground pipes that are a century old and start at Euclid Avenue, then move west to Grove Avenue. This project will cost roughly $2.1 million and be paid for with village funds. Following the start of the sewer and water work, the streetscaping and resurfacing portion will begin April and is expected to last until Thanksgiving. From Harlem Avenue to Euclid Avenue, Lake Street will get resurfaced, See LAKE STREET on page 15
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A BIG DEAL: St. Catherine-St. Lucy Principal Sharon Leamy, center, is surrounded by students and Father George Omwando during a ribbon-cutting for the school’s new playground in 2019. The playground was made possible, in part, by Big Shoulders Fund, which announced last month that the school would be among 30 in the Chicago area to receive a portion of a nearly $50 million investment in the form of both in-kind support and direct financial assistance.
Area Catholic schools to get nearly $50M boost St. Catherine-St. Lucy and St. Angela among 30 to receive Big Shoulders Fund support By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
Two Catholic schools in Oak Park and Austin were listed among 30 in the Chicago area to receive a $47.5 million commitment over 10 years from the Big Shoulders Fund, an independent charitable organiF EBRUARY 2020 zation that supports inner-city Catholic schools. Officials with the organization
CampGuide
made the announcement in a statement released on Jan. 29. The schools — St. Catherine-St. Lucy School, 27 Washington Blvd. in Oak Park, and St. Angela School, 1332 N. Massasoit Ave., in Austin — will receive “significantly increased” funding for operations, explained Big Shoulders Fund officials in their statement. The commitment represents a 51 percent financial stake in the 30 schools, according to Crain’s Chicago Business.
In addition, the organization will “take on an expanded leadership role with principals in these schools to help them manage their schools toward specific goals in key operating areas of academics, enrollment, development and finances,” the statement explains. “We are honored to be able to provide this historic level of investment to See SCHOOLS on page 18
Don’t Miss the Spring 2020 Camp Guide, starting on page B1