Orland Park leaders review Centennial Park West costs, median plantings and parkway pruning

Mayor Jim Dodge provided an update on recent board meetings, saying Public Works has broken down expenditures for Centennial Park West and that the village is reviewing landscaping choices after residents raised concerns.

Public Works Director Joel told the board the Centennial Park West project cost was "well over $12 million" and provided a detailed accounting of expenditures to the village and community, Mayor Jim Dodge said. The mayor said the village is assessing resident feedback about how those costs affect taxpayers and future use of the site.

The update also addressed a no-mow pilot on a median along Low Grange Road that drew complaints from neighbors who equated the taller grass with a drop in services. "We are looking at this decision now, determining if it was really the best choice for the entrance of our village from the North," Mayor Jim Dodge said.

Trustee Lawrence, identified by the mayor as an environmental engineer, raised ideas for replacing the no-mow approach with native plantings on the median to better serve the village. The mayor said the village will consider residents' perspectives when deciding how to proceed.

The mayor described the annual parkway tree-pruning program as an essential maintenance activity and said the Public Works team will be out in neighborhoods soon to prune parkway trees to promote health and street aesthetics. Residents will receive notifications about timing and schedules, he said.

No formal votes or contract awards on these items were described in the update. Village officials said they will continue to review the Centennial Park West cost breakdown and resident input on landscaping before taking any formal actions.