The Village of Oak Park launched Bike to the Biz on Wednesday, July 1, a four-month promotion offering $250 monthly prize drawings to cyclists and walkers who shop the Hemingway District during the Oak Park Avenue road closure.
The campaign targets the stretch of Oak Park Avenue between Pleasant and Lake streets, where vehicle traffic has been shut out since January 2026 for the Renew the Avenue infrastructure overhaul. It runs through Saturday, October 31.
How it works
Shoppers collect receipts from participating Hemingway District stores and restaurants, then enter a monthly drawing for $250 in "Bike Bucks" redeemable at district businesses and three Oak Park bike shops: Wheel & Sprocket, Bike Fix, and Barnard's Schwinn Cycling. A FAQ document with full rules is posted on the Village website at oak-park.us.
"Our doors are open every day to welcome customers and residents," said Moses Valdez, president of the Hemingway Business District and co-owner of Selleria Veneta. "Bike to the Biz asks our neighbors to support us during this challenging time."
New bike parking and outreach
Two new bike corrals have been installed north and south of the main construction zone, supplementing more than 150 existing bike parking spots in the district. Colorful signage marks the new parking areas. Organizers plan to distribute campaign information at the Oak Park Farmers' Market and at Thursday Night Out events through the summer.
The Village is targeting cyclists and walkers from Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, and Chicago's Austin neighborhood, according to its June 28 press release.
Construction timeline
The Renew the Avenue project started six weeks ahead of schedule in January 2026 and is on track for completion by Thanksgiving 2026, according to the Village. The work replaces century-old water mains and sewers, repaves roadways, and adds new brick pavers, lighting, landscaping, and EV charging stations.
Two block-long sections of Oak Park Avenue, from Randolph to Pleasant and from Lake to Ontario streets, reopened to traffic on Thursday, June 12. Lake Street has remained open throughout the project, and the Oak Park Avenue CTA Green Line station is unaffected.
As of the week ending Friday, June 26, crews were installing electrical and traffic signal conduit between Pleasant Street and South Boulevard and preparing to excavate for a concrete roadway base course, according to the Village Manager's weekly report.
Business support
The Village says it has provided matching grants and outreach to district businesses since before construction began. The Village and Triton College are also launching a free workforce-development series for local businesses, the Oak Park Workforce Academy, running Tuesday, July 14, through Tuesday, August 4, at 1010 Lake St., Suite 100.
The Hemingway District's next major event, "The Fun Also Rises," celebrating Ernest Hemingway's birthday with books, music, and local business promotions, is scheduled for July 17–19.
