This project is the second phase of the Catalina improvement plan that began last year with the watermain lining. This phase will see work done on both the local watermains and storm sewers as both systems are upgraded to better meet the needs of local residents. Unlike the lining work performed in 2023, the water and sewer mains will be fully replaced. As a result, there will be greater impacts to local traffic as work is conducted in the roads, but affected residents will not need to be placed on a temporary water service system. Crews will begin mobilizing in early April, with work to begin shortly thereafter. This year’s efforts will focus on the western portion of the Catalina neighborhood while the remaining eastern portion is scheduled to be finished in 2025.

Temporary asphalt patching will be put over the affected roadways at the end of this year’s project while more extensive road resurfacing will take place during 2025 as part of the Village’s Road Improvement Program.

UPDATE (11/5/24): Crews have finished all work related to the new watermain and have also finished the new detention basin near Veteran’s Park. After several weeks of delays due to unforeseen underground conditions, Airy’s will be back on site on November 11^th to resume work on the new 48” storm sewer.

In order to complete this job safely and efficiently, a portion of Wheeler Drive between Primrose Lane and Hemlock Drive will be temporarily closed to all through traffic while work is ongoing. This closure will begin on November 11^th and is expected to last for two weeks. Residents who live within the work zone as well as mail, school buses, trash pickup, emergency vehicles, etc., will all be accommodated to pass through as needed, but all other traffic will be directed to follow the posted detours. 

After the sewer has been installed, all outstanding asphalt, concrete, and landscape restoration work will be completed as well. We also want to assure residents that, even in the event of further unforeseen delays to work, we will ensure that all roadways are restored before accumulating snowfall arrives.

Resident Notification Letter

Wheeler Drive Closure Detour

The Humphrey Woods are an isolated woodland and remnant of the past located just west of the Village Center campus. The twenty-five (25) acre site is home to the historic Hostert Cabins, dating back to the 1800’s and the founding of the Village, along with hundreds of species of plants and trees in excess of two hundred (200) years old. The Village has long recognized Humphrey Woods as a valuable natural and historical resource.

Recent site assessments have identified a diverse plant palette and cover types, including woodlands, wetlands, savanna, and prairie. Areas of the site have drastically degraded in quality due to the effects of invasive insects, notably the emerald ash borer and invasive plants such as buckthorn, honeysuckle, common reed, and pear trees.

Since 2019, the Public Works Department has been working with Hey and Associates on a plan for the restoration and long-term management of this area. These efforts began with an ecological assessment, which was completed in 2020, and provided a snapshot of the current condition of the woods, followed by the “Humphrey Woods Ecological Restoration and Management Project - Master Plan”, which was completed in July 2021. The Village Board approved funding  for the initiation of this multi-year project in 2022. As a result of the planned work, Humphrey Woods will be an improved habitat for local wildlife, and it will increase the opportunity for people to experience native plants and animals.

The Humphrey Woods Restoration Project is currently underway. V3 Companies was selected via the Village's proposal process to be the restoration contractor for the project. Ultimately, the restoration plan is broken into two (2) phases; a three (3) year establishment period (2022 - 2024) followed by an initial two (2) years of stewardship (2025 - 2026). Ongoing management will then be required to ensure long-term project success.

In 2023, Public Works began a multi-year effort to restore and naturalize the Municipal Basin between Ravinia Avenue and West Avenue, also known as the Ravinia Creek Wetland. This project was broken into two phases – one phase to remove the existing invasive plant species and another to bring in native plant species to repopulate the wetland. Last year our contractor, Davey Resource Group, kicked off the first phase by mowing down a significant portion of the invasive phragmites reeds that dominated the wetland and then performed a controlled burn to destroy the remaining stalks. This burn event was successful in destroying the phragmites, but unfortunately created more smoke than was anticipated in the local area.

This year, Davey Resource Group has returned to finish the first phase of this project by performing another round of trimming and burning of the phragmites. They have already mowed the vast majority of the wetland and will be returning again within the next several weeks to conclude trimming before beginning the burn. The burn event is tentatively scheduled to take place in November, though an exact date is not yet available due to the necessity for ideal weather conditions on the day of the burn. This burn is expected to create less smoke than last year’s burn since there is significantly less plant material being burned, and the material is not burned in large piles that may smolder for prolonged periods of time as was done last year.

Resident Notification Letter

The Orland Hills West subdivision is receiving an investment of $2.2 million for the road and ditch improvements of the subdivision. This project will include the replacement of drainage pipes beneath all driveway and street intersections. The roadside ditches will be re-graded to accommodate the new culverts which will ultimately improve the drainage within the neighborhood. Finally, all distressed roads will be entirely reconstructed from the ground up.

The project is scheduled to start in March or April 2025. 

Orland Hills Road & Ditch Improvements

Resident Notification

The Village maintains fifty-six (56) playgrounds spread across sixty-six (66) park sites. According to the 2020 NRPA Agency Performance Review, which highlights characteristics of America’s local public park agencies, a community with a population range between 50,000 to 99,999 has on average one (1) playground for every 3,859 residents. With a population of roughly 60,000, the Village of Orland Park fairs substantially better, with one (1) playground for every 1,090 residents.

Since 2020, the Public Works Department has renovated 32 Village playgrounds. The order of playground renovations is based largely on data outlined in the 2019 Village Park Assessment. An updated Park and Pavilion Assessment was completed in 2023 and outlines the direction for future park improvements.

The playground renovations planned for Colonial, Frontier, Mallard Landings, and Treetop Parks in 2024 have been completed.  The upgrades include new playground equipment, accessibility improvements, and park benches.  Audits were performed by our Certified Playground Safety Inspector and all playgrounds are approved and open for play.

For park locations, please visit Find a Park.

There are currently 47 pavilions located throughout the Village's Parks system. Park pavilions provide a place in the shade for residents to congregate, watch their children play or enjoy lunch. Park pavilions are typically located in close proximity to a playground.

The installation of four (4) park pavilions at Brown, Treetop, Capistrano, and Country Club Estates Parks has been completed. New picnic tables have also been added to each pavilion. The pavilion planned for Cameno Real Park has been delayed due to space restrictions. Alternative shade structures are being considered.

For park locations, please visit Find a Park.

To better understand the state of the Village’s parks, the “2023 Playground and Pavilion Assessment” was completed between November, 2023 and January, 2024 by Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI) from Studio GC. In contrast to the 2019 Assessment, the 2023 Assessment focuses solely the condition of playground and pavilions. The goal of the assessment was to provide a roadmap for the next five (5) years (2024 – 2028) for playground and pavilion renovations. A copy of report can be found here: 

2023 Playground and Pavilion Assessment

Based on the Village wide sidewalk assessment, sidewalk tripping hazards have been identified and are being addressed. Tripping hazards have been identified with a recommended rehabilitation method including but not limited to replacement, grinding/saw cutting, and slab raising depending on the existing condition. This work is scheduled to be completed over the next two years.

Update 6/10/24 - Year 2 of the Sidewalk Replacement Program will start soon in the area shown on the map below.  The northeast quadrant of the Village will be the focus this year.  The below flyer was dropped off at each residence after sidewalk was marked for replacement explaining the process and what to expect.  Multiple phases will follow throughout the year so please check back frequently for updates. 

Sidewalk Work Flyer

Work on the 2024 Parkway, Park and Facility Tree Assessment has been completed. Crews from Great Lakes Urban Forestry Management (GLUFM) assessed and inventoried all public trees located in parkways and park/facility grounds, a total of 36,134 trees!

Remember it is important to call to have utility lines marked before you dig. This is a free service. Call 8-1-1 or 1-800-892-0123. Visit https://www.illinois1call.com/ for more information regarding utility line markings.

Below is a list of what color each flag represents: 

• Red is electric
• Yellow is gas, oil, or petroleum
• Orange is communications
• Blue is potable water
• Purple is reclaimed water, irrigation
• Green is sewer
• White is proposed excavation
• Pink is temporary Survey

Mosquito season starts during the summer months and continues through fall.

The Village relies on the South Cook County Mosquito Abatement District (SCCMAD) for  administration of the Mosquito Abatement Program.  SCCMAD's mission is to safeguard the health and comfort of the citizens of South Cook County through a planned program to monitor and reduce mosquitoes and other biting insects that transmit diseases or parasites from one human or animal to another, known as vectors.

PREVENTION

The most effective way to prevent mosquito borne virus infections from ­­­mosquito bites is to prevent them in the first place. Mosquitoes bite during the day and the night, use an insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, treat clothing and gear, and take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors.

You are first in line to be bitten by mosquitoes that breed in your own yard and garden! Mosquitoes can breed even in the tiniest amounts of water. Remove stagnant water so mosquitoes can’t breed. 

Have questions regarding the program? Please contact the South Cook County Mosquito Abatement District  office at (708) 333-4120 or visit them online at the Cook County Mosquito Abatement website.

Letter to Resident 07/26/2021

Presentation 08/09/2021

Developer Agreement 1978

Amendment to Agreement 1978

Lake Lucille Agreement 03/31/1989

Lake Lucille Subdivision Plat

Commitee Meeting 10/24/1988

Developer Agreement 1978

Letter from Erick Peck, Attorney for Palos Township Highway Department 07/29/2021

Woodland Shores Agreement 01/19/1987

Lake Lucille-Woodland Shores Information Request Final JVE 9.17.21

Woodland Shores 1 and 2 Subdivision Plat

Question 24- Stormwater Master Plan Scope of Work

Question 31- Water Rate Study Orland Park W-S-SW Model 02-29-16 Final

Question 32- 1308 Ordinance

Question 32- 1402 Ordinance

Question 33- Stormwater flow diagram

Question 33- Utility Map

Question 35- Emails APWD asking Palos Township if they would do eminent domain

Question 36- Emails of data gathering

Question 13- MWRD Ordinance

Question 21- 4874 Ordinance

Question 21- 4955 Ordinance

Question 21- 5049 Ordinance

Question 21- 5071 Ordinance

Question 21- 5570 Ordinance

Question 21- Orland Park Rate Recommendations Memorandum 02-29-16

Question 21- Water & Sewer Rates 1991-0213

Question 21- Water & Sewer Rates 1998

Question 21- Water & Sewer Rates 2002-2006 - adjusted per Water Rate Study

Question 21- Water & Sewer Rates 2007-2012

Question 21- Water Rate Breakdown 2012-2021

Question 3- Old P 28-02 Pond Tickets

Question 3- Old P28-01 Pond Tickets

Question 3- Tyler_WoodlandShore_LakeLucille_Tickets

Question 4- Utilities Equipment List

Question 5- FY22-26 Capital Requests

Question 9- Service Area Outside VOP

North Pond Map

South Pond Map

Lake Lucille Site Photographs

Pond Forms Logged Master List

Orland Park Pond Evaluation Checklist

Orland Park Ponds Report

Lake Lucille Utility Easement Access Evaluation

Lake Lucille Letter 3-25-22

Call (708) 403-6350 or e-mail publicworks@orlandpark.org.

Call (800) 964-8988 or Click here for more information.