W E D N E S D A Y
January 18, 2023 Vol. 43, No. 25
$2.00 @wednesdayjournalinc
@wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL @oakpark
of Oak Park and River Forest
BUILD-ing a better West Side Oak Parker Adam Alonso, heads up nonprofit focused on serving youth SEE STORY, PAGE 10
Betty White: Forever Golden Special section, Page 17
Geothermal installation costs at OPRF slow plans Gradual phase-in will likely begin in 2024 By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter
Oak Park and River Forest High School’s move to geothermal heat has hit a snag and will likely be delayed. After bids for installing a horizontal geothermal system underneath the fields just west of the high school came in 37 percent higher than projected the OPRF administration is recommending, and the school board seemed inclined to agree, that the school board reject the bids at their Jan 26 meeting and instead shift to a phased in switch to geothermal starting in 2024, rather than installing geothermal this summer as had been planned. By delaying the installation of any geothermal piping until after the new track is built, the new plan would result in the new shotput and discus area be dug up just after one year after it was installed to put in the geothermal piping. But the cost to dig up and then reinstall the shot put and discus area is not expected to be too onerous or expensive. COURTESY OF BUILDCHICAGO.ORG
See GEOTHERMAL on page 9
! H S S W A E L F N You can get local news delivered right to your email in-box. Sign up for FREE at OakPark.com