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Residents ask Forest Park council for traffic-safety fixes, crossing guards near schools
Summary
Two public commenters urged the Village of Forest Park to study dangerous crossings near Grant-White and Garfield elementary schools and to restore or install crossing guards, push-button beacons or flashing school signs to improve safety for students, seniors and residents with mobility challenges.
Two residents used the public-comment period at the March 28, 2022 Forest Park village council meeting to press for pedestrian-safety improvements at school crossings.
Gail Reese told the council she lives at Randolph and Marengo, two blocks from Grant-White School, and described motorists routinely ignoring the 20 mph school speed limit. "Somebody's gonna get killed," Reese said, adding that about half the units in her building are owned by seniors and that her adult daughter uses a walker and a wheelchair and struggles to cross the street safely. Reese asked the village to commission a traffic study and to consider push-button beacons or other crossing controls similar to those on Madison Street.
A submitted letter read into the record on behalf of Rachel Ernst and Southside PTO board members asked the village to work with District 91 to restore a crossing guard at Hannah and Jackson near Garfield Elementary. The letter recommended several options: a permanent crossing guard, a large flashing sign to warn drivers of school activity, or Forest Park police monitoring at peak times. "We are open and welcome to other solutions that will allow for a safe crossing situation at Garfield Elementary," the letter stated.
Neither commenter called for immediate village-funded capital work at the meeting; both requested coordination with the school district and studies or temporary measures (a crossing guard or police monitoring) to improve safety. Council members did not debate the requests during the meeting; there was no staff report or vote on either item. The record shows the public asked for specific follow-up: a traffic study at Randolph and Marengo, and coordination with District 91 about a crossing guard and signage at Hannah and Jackson.
The council did not schedule or announce a follow-up during the March 28 session. The items were presented during public comment and will require staff review and intergovernmental coordination before any changes are made.
