Village of La Grange Park Sustainability Commission

07/07/2025

Step Into Nature: The Annual Native Plant Tour Awaits!

Hey, sustainability enthusiasts! Are you ready to immerse yourselves in the breathtaking beauty of Illinois's native flora? It's time for our highly anticipated Annual Native Plant Tour, an exclusive opportunity to explore over a dozen stunning gardens overflowing with species essential to our local ecosystem.

Imagine strolling through vibrant landscapes, each a haven for pollinators and a testament to the power of native plants. Discover the intricate beauty of wildflowers, the resilience of native grasses, and the buzzing life they attract. This isn't just a tour; it's a chance to witness firsthand how these incredible species support our environment and contribute to a healthier planet.

A comprehensive listing of participating homes and a digital map to effortlessly plan your route will be shared soon. In the spirit of sustainability, we encourage you to walk or bike to the tour stops whenever possible. Let's make this year's tour our most eco-friendly yet!

Go Green La Grange

06/01/2025

Calling all schools, educational organizations, and nonprofits!

Get FREE School Supplies & Help Our Community Go Green!
Imagine equipping your students and clients with essential school supplies, all while making a tangible difference for our planet. Sounds good, right?

Here's how it works: at the end of each school year, local schools gather unwanted supplies. Then, we meticulously sort them and make them available to organizations like yours — completely FREE of charge!

It's a win-win: you get the materials you need for your programs, and together, we promote sustainability by giving these supplies a second life.

Mark Your Calendars!
Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to stock up. Supplies are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

When: Friday, June 6, 9 AM - 1 PM.

Interested in volunteering on June 5th or donating supplies? Message us!

05/26/2025

Our yearly School Supply Drive is here!

We need volunteers at the Public Works Facility on Friday, June 5th, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.. You'll be helping us sort gently used school supplies that will go to schools and organizations serving under-resourced students.

We're asking for a 2-hour commitment that fits your schedule. Feel free to bring supervised children along!

Snacks will be provided!

Ready to help out? Sign up at https://forms.gle/Wh2wajuzTRsUnEs86

Sign up to help us sort the collected school supplies on Thursday, June 6, 2025, at the La Grange Park Public Works Building, 937 Barnsdale Rd., La Grange Park, or reach out to us with a question. Thanks for your interest!

05/19/2025

It's time for our annual School Supply Drive!

Volunteers are needed Friday, June 5, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Public Works Facility to help sort gently used school supplies for distribution to under-resourced schools and education-related organizations.

We'd like to ask for a 2-hour commitment, whenever it's convenient for you. Supervised children are welcome!

Please sign up at https://forms.gle/Wh2wajuzTRsUnEs86 or the QR code in the image below.

Snacks will be provided!

05/15/2025

Hey there! We've gotten a lot of questions about our clothing swaps, and while the Sustainability Commission won't be organizing clothing swaps for now, don't worry. There are still fantastic ways for your gently used clothes to make a real difference in our community!

For those higher-end, current styles in great shape, consider giving them a new life at The Hope Chest! This lovely upscale resale boutique for women not only offers fabulous finds but also supports the vital work of the Pillars Constance Morris House, providing free and essential services to domestic violence survivors. You can learn more about their incredible mission at https://www.thehopechest.net.

If you have children's, teens', or maternity items to pass along, The Children's Community Closet is an excellent local organization that provides free clothing, shoes, and accessories to families in need. Located at 500 E. 31st St, La Grange Park, they even have a convenient donation bin on the south side of their building. It's a win-win for sustainability and supporting our community!

And of course, the Goodwill Store and Donation Center at 3054 Wolf Road in Westchester is always an excellent option for donating men's, women's, and children's clothing, shoes, and household items.

So, while the swap might be on pause, plenty of excellent avenues exist to give your clothes a second chapter and support some truly worthy causes!

05/10/2025

UPDATE - We can continue until 1 pm as planned, apologies for the scare.

05/07/2025

📢 Mark your calendars! 🌎♻️

Get ready to declutter and do good for the planet! The **La Grange Park Sustainability Commission** is hosting a **Neighborhood Electronic Recycling Drive** 🎉 with our friends at Go Green La Grange !

🗓️ **When:** Saturday, May 10th, 2025
⏰ **Time:** 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
📍 **Where:** 937 Barnsdale Rd., La Grange Park Public Works

Bring your unwanted electronics and give them a new life through recycling! ♻️ We'll be accepting:

💻 Computers and Accessories
📺 Home Entertainment
💾 Servers and Data Centers
📱 Mobile Devices
📠 Office Items
🛠️ Power Tools
☕ Small Appliances

Let's work together to keep our community green and reduce electronic waste! 🌱

Got questions? Email us [email protected].



See you there! 👋

04/27/2025

The Village of La Grange Park is taking its commitment to our beautiful planet to the next level by diving headfirst into the No Mow May initiative!

That's right—from May 1st to May 15th, we're giving our lawnmowers a break and letting nature do its thing!

By joining No Mow May, we're not just saving time on lawn care – we're creating a haven for our precious pollinators and local wildlife! So let's embrace the wild side of our yards and let those flowers bloom!

Discover other ways to help pollinators and No Mow May details on the Village website:

http://www.lagrangepark.org/570/No-Mow-Til-Mid-May-Program

04/22/2025

It's Earth Day eve, and we've compiled 5 ways any household can celebrate Earth Day tomorrow.

Ready?

1. Plant a Tree or Start a Garden
Planting a tree or growing a small garden at home helps absorb carbon dioxide, supports pollinators, and beautifies your surroundings. Even a few pots of herbs or flowers on a balcony make a difference.

2. Pick Up Litter in Your Neighborhood
Spend time as a family cleaning up trash in your yard, local park, or neighborhood streets. This simple act helps wildlife, improves your community, and raises awareness about waste.

3. Start Composting Food Scraps
Begin composting kitchen scraps like fruit peels and coffee grounds. Composting reduces landfill waste and creates nutrient-rich soil for your plants.

4. Reduce Single-Use Plastics
Switch to reusable grocery bags, water bottles, and containers. Cutting out single-use plastics helps reduce pollution and conserves resources.

5. Enjoy Nature Together
Take a walk, bike ride, or enjoy the natural world outdoors. Observing birds, identifying plants, or just relaxing outside can foster a deeper connection to the environment.

These activities are simple, family-friendly, and can be adapted to any household, making Earth Day meaningful and enjoyable.

Do you have any tips to share? Please do!

Spring has sprung, and Earth Day is right around the corner! If you're anything like us, you're probably itching to do all the nature-related things and perhaps wondering: are there any fun things to do near me? Well we're happy to assure you that from climbing trees (or planting them!) to geocachin...

04/05/2025

Hey, Sustainability fans, we've found another great event for you to reduce, reuse, and recycle: the River Forest Community Bike Exchange!

Weednesday, April 9, 2022, 10 am

Roosevelt Middle School Playground
7560 Oak Avenue
River Forest, IL 60305

You can find out all the details via the link below.

https://www.vrf.us/events/event/2379

As winter comes to a close, come explore sustainable ways to enjoy the outdoors with the 2nd Annual River Forest Bike Exchange. Through the collaboration of the River Forest Sustainability Commission and D90 Green4Good, there is a new opportunity to practice sustainability in River Forest and surrou...

03/29/2025

Updated: Earth Day is coming, and to celebrate, our friends at Go Green La Grange are sponsoring a Seed Exchange at the La Grange Public Library on April 12th from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Whether you are an experienced gardener or this is your first season, stop by and exchange your seeds! All are welcome. Please have all seeds in labeled envelopes.

We hope to see you there!

02/25/2025

🌱🌍 Today - March 3rd Starts Soil Health Week! 🌍🌱

Did you know that healthy soil is the foundation of life on Earth? From growing our food to protecting our water and fighting climate change, soil plays a HUGE role in keeping our planet thriving. During the week of March 9th, we’re celebrating the incredible importance of soil.

Here’s why soil health matters:
🌾 Sustainable Farming – Healthy soils mean better crops and stronger farms.
💧 Clean Water – Soil filters and stores the water we drink.
🌳 Climate Resilience – Soil stores carbon and helps fight climate change.
🍎 Healthy Communities – Good soil = nutritious food for everyone!

Join us in learning how to care for our soils by adopting sustainable practices like cover cropping, composting, and reducing chemical inputs. Together, we can keep our soils healthy for generations to come!

💡 Fun Fact: Just one teaspoon of healthy soil contains more microorganisms than people on Earth! 🤯

Let’s dig deep (pun intended) into soil health the week of March 9th and beyond. Watch this space for more insights and events, and share your favorite soil-friendly tips or practices in the comments below! 👇