Forest Park’s new marketing campaign aims to welcome new faces to the community and support those who call the village home.
Named “Next Stop: Forest Park,” this endeavor from the Chamber of Commerce and Development highlights Forest Park’s sense of community and character for all to see.
As a nod to what visitors might see and hear when approaching Forest Park on public transportation, “Next Stop: Forest Park,” highlights all the area has to offer and encourages visitors and tourism.
Laurie Kokenes, the executive director of Forest Park’s Chamber of Commerce and Development, said this new marketing campaign is part of the Chamber’s comprehensive plan to promote the village.
“We just felt it was critically important to have a comprehensive campaign that just continually promotes all the great things about Forest Park,” Kokenes said.
The Chamber, which promotes local business and the community through social media and booklets for residents, hopes that the combined marketing efforts will continue to position Forest Park as a place for all people and all businesses to thrive.
“It’s really about promoting Forest Park’s unique character and strong sense of community, raising awareness of all there is to do in Forest Park, and showcasing our unique events,” Kokenes said.
Brainstorming for a new marketing plan started in 2016 when the Chamber of Commerce and Development presented a plan to the village and requested funding for improvements on Madison Street. With the council’s approval, $20,000 was used to create a shopping and dining guide, bring new light post banners, and promote holiday events on the street.
In addition to showcasing the events in Forest Park, like RibFest, Garage Galleries, and the Holiday Walk, the Chamber wanted to highlight just how great the downtown area is. Highlighting the shopping, dining, and overall character of the area was a high priority.
“We always hear about how walkable our downtown is, so we want to showcase our downtown business district and walkability there,” Kokenes said. “We just wanted to keep Forest Park’s name at the forefront and continue to drive traffic.”
In 2022, as the COVID-19 pandemic wound down, Chamber members noted the need for continued promotion of Forest Park. Asking for $40,000 per year for three years, the village approved the request to invest in funds for marketing and final approval took place in late 2023.
The most recent round of funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA. These funds from the federal government are designed to aid communities in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Following COVID, it really became more critical to beef up advertising and just remind people that we have a lot of great small businesses here, and how important it is to promote them,” Kokenes said.
For Kokenes, the community’s reception to the new plan reflects the worthwhile efforts put into creating this new campaign. She said that reactions to the new marketing plan have been overwhelmingly positive.
“We’ve gotten so many compliments on the direction of the design and how it sort of speaks and can be used in so many different ways,” Kokenes said. “The overall message is, with so much to see and do in Forest Park, one stop is never enough.”