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Village to remove Forest Gate Road parking near Oak Brook baseball fields, Park District warns of operational and capital impacts
Summary
At its Sept. 16 meeting the Oak Brook Park District board said the Village will remove on-street parking along Forest Gate Road adjacent to baseball fields after a traffic study cited safety concerns; the district said the loss of spaces will require tree removal, inner-lot expansion, and could increase capital costs, and has asked the Village to assist funding.
At its Sept. 16 meeting, the Oak Brook Park District Board of Commissioners was told the Village of Oak Brook has informed the district it will remove on-street parking along Forest Gate Road by the park's baseball fields after a traffic study commissioned by the Forest Gate Homeowners Association identified safety issues. President Knitter relayed the Villagenotification and said the change is intended to improve safety by adding a median and eliminating roadside parking.
Executive Director Dr. Laure Kosey said she requested the traffic study but had not received the final report as of the meeting. "I requested the traffic study and we have not received it yet," Kosey said. She told the board that historically there were about 20 parking spaces on the south side and 13 spaces on the north side of Forest Gate Road, and that the district previously removed 20 south-side spaces as a compromise. Kosey said removing the remaining on-street spaces will require taking out trees that had been planted at the request of the Forest Gate HOA to screen field lights, and that adding parking inside the park will increase capital-project costs. The Park District has asked the Village to help fund additional inner-lot parking.
Commissioner Gondek highlighted the safety concern that motivated the study, saying one issue is children running to vehicles: "One of the safety issues is when a child runs to the road when entering the car on that side," he said. President Knitter said Little League and other users will be informed of the parking changes.
Board members discussed the potential operational impacts and the timing of any work. The district will provide Little League notice and continue following up with the Village for the traffic study and to discuss possible municipal assistance for additional parking construction and related capital adjustments.
The board is scheduled to meet next on Oct. 21, 2024, when members may receive further updates if the Village provides the traffic study or funding commitments.
