Oak Park updates neighborhood greenways plan to enhance bike safety and accessibility

The Oak Park Board of Trustees meeting on June 3, 2025, focused on the update of the neighborhood greenways plan, originally established in 2015. The discussion highlighted the importance of creating a comprehensive all-ages and abilities network aimed at enhancing safety and accessibility for cyclists throughout the village.

The plan update emphasizes short-term recommendations to be implemented within the next five years, with a structured approach categorizing recommendations into short, medium, and long-term goals. Key short-term initiatives include the addition of the Marion Street Greenway, adjustments to the Hayes Avenue Greenway, and the introduction of bike lanes on Harvard Street. The plan also proposes protected bike lanes on Chicago Avenue and Jackson Boulevard, as well as the establishment of downtown bikeways.

The meeting underscored the need for community engagement and evaluation of the plan every five years to adapt to evolving bike culture and community needs. The Transportation Commission supported the recommendations, which aim to improve traffic safety and reduce vehicle speeds on key streets.

In addition to the main recommendations, the meeting addressed specific traffic data and crash statistics for Augusta and Harvard Streets. The analysis revealed moderate traffic volumes and highlighted the need for bike lanes to enhance cyclist safety. The proposed changes include removing parking on Augusta Street to install striped bike lanes and similar recommendations for Harvard Street, particularly near schools.

Overall, the meeting set the stage for Oak Park to become a leader in cycling safety and accessibility, with plans to reevaluate and adapt the network as community needs evolve. The next steps involve further community engagement and the implementation of the proposed short-term initiatives.