W E D N E S D A Y
June 26, 2019 Vol. 39, No. 47 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
Pride section Page B1
State sends $500K to park district for rec center Partnership with Oak Park philanthropists could put building on Madison St. By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter
Oak Park is one step closer to getting a new community recreation center with a $500,000 check from the state of Illinois. The money comes as a line item in the state’s capital budget from the Build Illinois Bond Fund and was advanced by State Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-8th). The contribution is a bit of good news for the Park District of Oak Park, which already has $5 million set aside for the estimated $18 million project. Bringing the project to fruition could be closer than it appears, however, due to a potential contribution from Oak Park philanthropists Mary Jo and Stephen Schuler. Mary Jo Schuler said in a telephone interview that they have been in conversations with the park district foundation for about a year on the project. “We believe that all families should have access to affordable recreational and fitness opportunities in our community, and that opportunity currently doesn’t exist,” she said. Schuler said part of the charitable contribution could involve the donation of several parcels of land on Madison Street between See GRANT on page 15
Walk this way
SHANEL ROMAIN/Contributor
Fiona Moran, 2, of Oak Park, treads carefully through the tall grasses in the River Forest garden of Helene and Mark Connolly on June 23 during the 26th Annual Garden Walk, hosted by the Garden Club of Oak Park and Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory. For more photos, visit www.OakPark.com.
Sears redevelopment nearing finish line Chicago alderman, Plan Commission sign off By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter
The redevelopment of the former Sears at Harlem and North Avenues is close to
taking flight now that community members have weighed in and Chicago Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) has given the redevelopment proposal his formal blessing. During a community meeting held June 19 at Rutherford Sayre Fieldhouse in Chicago, the alderman polled the room of roughly 50 to 60 people on whether they were for or against the redevelopment pro-
posal. Based on raised hands, attendees were roughly split down the middle. The vote, along with phone calls and other forms of community input from residents who live in Galewood, Oak Park, River Forest and other Elmwood Park, seemed to be enough for Taliaferro to make up his mind. The alderman ultimately recomSee SEARS on page 15