Prioritize With PlanIt Green Forum

Continuing the work accomplished at a , the groups behind the PlanIt Green initiative are asking for more public feedback on their sustainability efforts.

Broadly defined, PlanIt Green is a joint effort between residents, government organizations, nonprofits and the business communities of Oak Park and River Forest that prioritizes, and will put into action, ways to make the area environmentally and economically sustainable. More here. 

Organizers say the movement focuses on three key areas: environmental sustainability, success for all youth and leadership development.

On Thursday, they're hosting another community forum in the Veteran's Room at the Oak Park Public Library Main Branch, 834 Lake St. The session is slated to begin at 6:45 p.m. and will run roughly two hours.

During the session, participants will be presented with a draft version of the Plan It Green sustainability plan, a document outlining strategies for ways to boost sustainability in the areas of education, energy, waste, water, community development, transportation, green economic development, open space and ecosystem preservation, and food. A PDF version of the plan accompanies this story. 

Residents will also be asked to offer their feedback to the plan via an online survey, also accessible here. Once organizers have a better handle on public input to the plan, then the boots-on-the ground work can begin.

"[Thursday's forum] is about feedback for implementation," said Oak Park sustainability manager K.C. Poulos, one of the movement's 19 "core" leaders.

The PlanIt Green initiative is funded through the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation's CommunityWorks program, which is funded with matching grants through the Grand Victoria Foundation.

Those looking to attend Thursday's forum are encouraged to RSVP by emailing liz@sevengenerationsahead.org