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ForestParkReview.com Vol. 108, No. XX
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NOVEMBER 5, 2025
INSIDE
Pocket parks honored for intergovernmental cooperation
Hoskins’ transit reform push pays off for Forest Park
Park District has renovated four leased village parks since 2020 By JESSICA MORDACQ
The bill will reimburse village for 911 calls to CTA stops
Staff Reporter
Forest Park’s four pocket parks have been recognized statewide for their transformation over the last five years. On Oct. 24, the Illinois Association of Park Districts awarded the village and Park District of Forest Park the Best of the Best award for Intergovernmental Cooperation for the improvement of the four pocket parks. In 2020, involved parties came to an official agreement for the village to lease the four pocket parks to the park district for $1 a year. Popelka Park, Rieger Park and, most recently last November, Remembrance Park have opened with new playground equipment. At the small, unnamed See POCKET PARKS on page 3
Special insert
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins has advocated for reform of mass transit in northeast Illinois for years. He has aimed to improve safety on the CTA trains serving Forest Park and to secure state reimbursement for the rising number of ambulance calls to the CTA station on Des Plaines Avenue. As part of a flurry of legislative actions as the fall veto session closed on Oct. 31, state lawmakers TODD BANNOR
Children try out the new playground at Rieger Park.
IN Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 THIS ISSUE Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
See HOSKINS on page 8
Tom Holmes: A feel-good immigration story PAGE 11