Forest Park School Travel Plan - Active Transportation Policy

1.1 Community Overview and Vision
Forest Park is a community that works together to maintain the
health, safety, and well-being for all residents.
Despite being located just 10 miles west of the City of Chicago,
the Village of Forest Park has a traditional, small-town feel.
Tree-lined streets connect neighborhoods to parks, schools, and
businesses, a historic main street is centered in the heart of the
community, and residents are always willing to lend a hand.
Consistent with the historic nature of the community, Forest
Park schools are centered in the neighborhoods they serve. No
student lives further than a mile from their school, and most live
much closer.
The Village of Forest Park has many assets when it comes
to walkability. All of its schools are neighborhood schools,
supported by a near-complete network of sidewalks, and
recent traffic calming strategies have helped to slow traffic at
intersections along school routes. Yet, more can be done to
improve safety and conditions for students travelling to school
in Forest Park. For example, narrow sidewalks and high vehicle
speeds along the Circle Avenue Bridge make it hazardous for
students going school. Unsafe driver behavior during school
arrival and dismissal time makes parents question whether it is
truly safe for their kids to walk or bike to school. Lack of adult
presence on school routes is another cause for concern.
The connection between home, community, and school is a
critical component of Forest Park School District 91’s mission.
With that in mind, this plan was developed by a steering
committee made up of diverse representatives from community
agencies and organizations.
The steering committee was tasked with developing a common
vision and identifying shared goals to increase the number of
walking and biking trips, improving walking and bicycling
conditions, and reducing the number of vehicle trips. The Forest
Park School Travel Plan aims to strategically address barriers to
walking and bicycling to school to ensure that students can enjoy
safe, healthy, and physically active transportation as a means of
travel to school.
The shared vision of the steering committee is as follows:
Form community and school partnerships that aim to foster good life
habits, improve student health, and create a safe environment for all
students in Forest Park.
Members of the Forest Park School Travel Plan steering committee and others participate in a community bike ride.
Introduction
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