Oak Park(ing)

Oak Park is the suburb of choice for many that don't want to leave Chicago, but must. There are many things that are Chicago-like... the goofy Cook County Board governs all, taxes and more taxes, dense blocks of single family homes or multi-units, bungalow architecture, people walking rather than driving...and good restaurants.

But when it comes to parking your car...LOOK OUT! Oak Park does not allow parking overnight on most residential streets (which I think is kind of nutty). And I quote:

"Parking is generally prohibited on all streets from 2:30 - 6 a.m., seven days per week, year around, except when allowed by permit or pass. The overnight parking restriction dates back to the late 1920s. Overnight on-street parking of cars bearing permits is only allowed in multifamily housing areas, except in front of churches, schools and parks and on blocks where housing is more than 50 percent single family.In areas of Oak Park not zoned for multi-unit buildings or designated as permit areas, the overnight parking ban remains fully in effect."

It's a little strange going down a dense Oak Park block of homes at night that looks like a Chicago street but with no cars parked anywhere. Few cars are parked on the streets during the day as well. When guests need to park overnight, you must call the car in to the Village.

However, some parking restrictions are worth a look. As the sign above suggests, after two inches of snow cars must move on even or odd calendar days so plows may clear the streets. Sounds like a good idea. I'm talking to you Chicago.

Does anyone think moving cars (like we do on regular street cleaning days) is a good idea during snow storms? I don't know where we'd put the cars, but to me... it's worth the one day of Hell to quash dibs!

Read more Oak Park posts here!