We’re excited to see businesses reopening, employees getting back to work, and patrons out and about supporting local businesses and enjoying some semblance of normalcy. The Chamber of Commerce has been hard at work doing all we can to help our business community by providing information, promoting their businesses, and assisting them through each and every phase.
The Chamber’s Economic Advisory Committee has taken on the task of identifying initiatives and actions that we believe are an important part of successful recovery. One of those action items is beautification of Madison Street — Forest Park’s downtown corridor.
The committee believes a well-taken-care-of and cheerful downtown district plays a large part in creating the feel of a safe, clean and inviting environment for consumers, visitors and prospective tenants. Getting flowers planted was first on the list.
The village has done quite a bit to provide relief and help the business community, but with budget constraints, they had to forego planting flowers. It’s a significant cost and cuts had to be made somewhere.
On June 11, we reached out to the business community for donations to fill the flowerpots on Madison. The response was overwhelming and in just eight days, Madison Street was blooming! We’re so grateful … but not really surprised. Coming together whenever there’s a need is part of the fabric of our community. Our downtown looks great, and that’s good for business. Power-washing the sidewalks is next on the list and will be completed before the end of June.
So thank you to the following donors, and to McAdam Landscaping and our Village Public Works Department for coordinating and planting so quickly:
And then there was well; AvenueOne – Mariano Mollo; Bella Angel Music; Beti Vere; Brave Files Podcast; Centre Physical Therapy; Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore; Clear Skies Homes; Counter Coffee Air Roasters; Crystal Car Wash; Elements Massage – Forest Park; Everett Wealth Solutions; Fantastic Sam’s – Forest Park; Farmington Foods; FatDuck Tavern & Grill; First Community Management; Forest Insurance; Forest Park Bank; Girl Scouts Troop #45774; Global Citizen USA; Guaranteed Rate; Park District of Forest Park; Law Offices of Kristen Marie Lyons; Lynn & Marty Sorice; Macdaddy Salon; Marty Tellalian; Mexican Republic Kitchen & Cantina; Military & Police Supply; O’Sullivan’s Public House; Our Planet Automotive; Pat Koko; Redfin Real Estate; Reeg Plumbing; Riveredge Hospital; Scratch Kitchen; Shanahan’s Creole Restaurant & Bar; Suite Spotte Coworking – La Grange & Forest Park; The Bromet Family; The Cadence Group; The Centered Life Therapy; The Gillian Baker Team; The Oak Park Handyhuman; The Tax Defender; Tom Flanagan – Tefco Construction; and Twisted Cookie.
We’re honored to serve our amazing business community. “We’re in this together” isn’t just some slogan we throw around. It personifies what Forest Park is all about.
