Oak Park residents can weigh in on the village's public health priorities for the next five years when the Oak Park Public Health Department hosts a free, drop-in open house on Thursday, July 30, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Oak Park Public Library.

The event centers on the department's 2026 IPLAN — the Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs — a state-required plan that certified local health departments update every five years. The department is collecting community feedback on proposed priorities and goals before submitting the final plan to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The village announced the open house on Sunday, July 19, describing it as a chance to "learn how local health officials serve people who grow up, live, work and age in Oak Park." Attendees can meet health department staff and learn about the divisions that serve residents daily, according to the village's official event listing.

What the IPLAN covers

The 2026 plan identifies health equity as its overarching goal, with three sub-priorities: increasing access to healthy and safe environments, improving residents' experience with medical and mental health systems, and implementing focused health promotion strategies. The Village Manager's Weekly Report, published July 10, described the plan's focus as "upstream issues including housing, access to greenspace and navigating local health systems."

The planning process began in spring 2025 with a community health survey and data analysis, continued through summer and fall 2025 with resident and partner outreach, and wrapped in winter and spring 2026 when stakeholders refined priorities and developed strategies, according to the department's Engage Oak Park project page.

Why it matters locally

Oak Park's Public Health Department, established in 1902 and certified as a local health department since 1947, is one of only five municipal public health departments in Illinois. The department's most recent prior IPLAN was completed in 2022, making this cycle the next required update.

Sara Semelka, the department's health education manager, and Chelly Richards, community health advisor, are listed as IPLAN contacts on the Engage Oak Park page. They can be reached at [email protected] or 708-358-5480.

How to participate

The open house requires no registration. Residents who cannot attend on July 30 can provide feedback online at engageoakpark.com/IPLAN-2026. Once feedback is incorporated, the department will submit the plan to the state.