Residents urge Forest Park officials to address safety and nuisance tied to Pioneer Tap

Residents near Pioneer Tap told the Village of Forest Park council on Sept. 8 that problems tied to the bar’s patrons have continued despite prior enforcement actions and a corrective plan.

"We come to you with a request for the village of Forest Park response because of recent incidents including domestic violence," Liz Gould read from a petition and letter representing five households near Pioneer Tap. She recounted multiple police reports since April — including noise, drunken fights, fireworks and public urination — and said one neighbor moved away after a 2023 shooting. The letter asked the police to increase patrols after 10 p.m. on weekends and holidays, publish the bar’s corrective action plan and enforce it, require staff to pick up patrons’ trash, and meet quarterly with residents.

At the podium, resident James Michael described witnessing an Aug. 31 assault in which, he said, a woman was beaten in the street. Michael said he called 911, intervened as a witness and that officers on scene labeled the incident "mutual combat" and did not detain either party. "He was hitting her as hard as he could," Michael said of the attacker, adding that officers told him to leave and declined to accept a witness statement at that time.

Council members did not vote on a new, standalone enforcement action during the meeting. Mayor Hoskins and commissioners publicly heard the complaints during the public comment period and did not announce a specific follow-up motion, though multiple council members later thanked speakers for bringing details forward.

The context: council minutes from earlier this year show the village earlier fined Pioneer Tap and required a corrective action plan after complaints and a temporary closure. Residents told the council that incidents have spiked again after Labor Day weekend and that increased patrols and security cameras have not been sufficient to restore safety and order.

What’s next: residents asked the police department to prioritize night and holiday patrols, share the text of the corrective action plan and enforcement records with the neighborhood, and meet quarterly or more often if incidents increase. The council did not announce a vote enforcing new restrictions at the Sept. 8 meeting.

Representative quotes:

"Based on what we have experienced over the past few months, the corrective action plan does not appear to be a deterrent to reckless driving after leaving, public urination, loitering, consuming alcohol outside, leaving trash and noise violations," Liz Gould told the council.

"It's not acceptable at all," James Michael said of the police response he observed when officers left both people at the scene and allowed them to drive away.

Ending: The council received the public comments and proceeded with the agenda. Residents asked for clearer enforcement and more information from police; the council and administrator acknowledged the concerns and did not announce a formal enforcement motion that night.