Park District to Cut Ribbon on Alex Lopez Park

Park District Supt. Frank Perez has invited Heights residents to see the completed park after a summer-long construction project.

Just three months ago, Heights residents and public officials looked on as Supt. Frank Perez donned a hard hat and spoke about the Park District's newest addition, Alex Lopez Park. Over the summer, residents may have seen giant piles of dirt in the Park District Recreation Center and Chicago Heights Public Library's shared parking lot. Additional fencing was also put up, limiting the amount of parking available in the lot. Residents expressed concerns about the safety of putting a park with playground equipment near one of the busiest intersection in Chicago Heights, Lincoln Highway and Chicago Road. Perez's much-talked-about solution was a fence, meant to deter and inhibit children from getting to the street.  Now, the park will have its …

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Heights Park District to Begin Building Alex Lopez Park

An afternoon ground-breaking ceremony brought out the friends and family of the late Mayor of Chicago Heights.

Everyone from the Mayor of Chicago Heights to the superintendents of school districts 170 and 206 were present for an event that has been eight months in the making.  The Chicago Heights Park District held a special ground-breaking ceremony to begin the construction of Alex Lopez Park. Located on the field of grass between the Chicago Heights Public Library and the Park District's Recreational Center, the park was named after the late Mayor of Chicago Heights, who passed away late in the summer of 2010. Park District Supt. Frank Perez thanked St. James Franciscan Health and Prairie State College for contributing funds to the construction of the park, which will include a heavy-duty fence on the Chicago Road border of the area. "Without …

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Last Chance for a Pre-Mother's Day Brunch

The Chicago Heights Park District hopes to turn Mother's Day into Mother's Weekend.

Heights residents have an opportunity to treat their moms to an early Mother's Day gift.  The Chicago Heights Park District is holding a Pre-Mother's Day brunch at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, in the West Golf Course Banquet Room.  Anyone interested in taking their mom to the brunch will need to purchase tickets from the Chicago Heights Park District Recreation Center by Wednesday, May 9. Tickets cost $15 per person. Visit the Patch event listing for information on the Pre-Mother's Day Brunch.  'Like' Chicago Heights Patch on Facebook for updates throughout the day.

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Board Shoots Down Second Ward Dog Park Plan

There was no discussion. There was no vote. Only a silent room and a frustrated commissioner.

Three weeks ago, a Chicago Heights Park District commissioner spoke optimistically about turning a park in his ward into a dog park. Monday he got a rude awakening. The agenda for the April Board meeting included Ward Two Commissioner Fernando Desiderio's plan to have Guy Petrarca Park turned into a dog park. It was an idea he said he got from H-F Parks. During public participation, two young men told the board they collected 90 signatures on their petition supporting the new dog park.  When it came time to discuss the idea, Desiderio made the motion, but it was followed by silence. No other commissioner seconded the motion, so it died with no vote or discussion. "I knew they were going to do this," Desiderio said after the meeting. "These…

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Last Chance to See the Grand Opening of a New Restaurant in the Heights

One of the Chicago Heights government bodies is opening up an eatery today.

Country clubs often offer more than golf to entertain their members. Good food is sometimes seen as an important aspect being a member. The Chicago Heights Park District seems to be adding the same appeal to one of it's golf courses, by opening up a brand new restaurant. The East Golf Course Restaurant has its official grand opening from April 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to Park District Supt. Frank Perez, who posted the event listing on Patch. The District invites all Heights residents to see the new eatery, which will offer breakfast and lunch specials. The East Golf Course is located at 315 Glenwood Road in Chicago Heights. Check out the Patch event listing to learn more about the new restaurant. 

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Two Earth Day Clean-Ups Hit Chicago Heights Today

The Chicago Heights Park District and Ward Four Ald. Josh Deabel have a lot to do today.

If you're looking for a way to help out in the community on Earth Day weekend, you'll have no shortage of options in Chicago Heights. There are two events going on Saturday, April 21, that will require the assistance of as many helpful Heights residents as possible. Fourth Ward Ald. Josh Deabel, the Chicago Heights Beautification Committee, Bloom High School students and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County are sponsoring a clean-up at Wilson Woods. Anyone interested in helping out should report to the corner of Country Club Road and Edgewood Avenue at 9 a.m. today. The clean-up will end at 2 p.m. "Please bring yourself, a friend or neighbor," Deabel said in his Patch event listing for the clean-up. "Help support us in this national…

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Chicago Heights Park Will Be for the Dogs If Board Approves

The Park District Board of Commissioners will vote on whether to pay for new additions to Guy Petrarca Park at their April 23 meeting.

This article has been updated to reflect the rescheduled meeting date. A Chicago Heights park could get a makeover soon, if Second Ward Commissioner Fernando Desiderio gets his way. Inspired by a visit to Homewood-Flossmoor Park District's Rover's Run Dog Park, Desiderio wants to have Guy Petrarca Park changed into a dog park.  "It seems perfect for the change," Desiderio said. "People from the north side already bring their dogs here." Desiderio's idea involves adding fences, clean-up stations, benches and obstacles for the dogs, but needs board approval before he can request bids from contractors to have the new additions built at the park.  The board will discuss and vote on the matter at the next meeting and Desiderio is calling for …

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Sandra Corona

11:23 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012

Sitting behind a computer and saying you can do a much better job means nothing so if you can do such a better job then i dare you to go and make a difference in fact why don/t you start making this town a better place by looking for solutions instead of making an argument over the internet im sure that would benefit chicago heights much more ;) good luck to you   more ›

Remarkable Residents

Young Park Commissioner Works to Inspire Children in the Heights

Fernando Desiderio hopes his youth program will lower drop-out rates and raise ambitions among kids on the south side of Chicago Heights.

Chicago Heights’ newest park commissioner is attacking several major projects in his ward, and he's not even old enough to have a beer when he's done. Twenty-year-old Fernando Desiderio can call himself the youngest Heights resident holding an elected position. He was appointed as second ward commissioner in August of 2011 and soon after matched words with actions by starting a non-profit after-school program at Jirtle Park. Desiderio, a Marine who came off active duty last year, founded the Second Ward Alliance for Community Advancement in October 2011. Since then, he and a team of his peers have maintained a daily routine with the children registered for the program. “We help them with their homework,” Desiderio said. “Once they’re done …

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A Heights Community Art Project and a Haunted Trail: Weekend Best Bets

A roundup of cool events going on this weekend in and around Chicago Heights.

The Union Street Gallery wants the citizens of Chicago Heights to come out to the Chicago Heights Public Library and paint/draw/sketch what they love about their hometown. Union Street Gallery is hosting a Community Mural Event where you can come out and contribute to the mural, themed "What I Like About My Hometown.” They will be here Oct. 22 and 23, so stop by and add yourself to a little piece of history! The Chicago Heights Park District is having its 11th annual Haunted Trails event at the Park District's East Golf Course. Touted as the "only haunted golf course," visitors will be treated to scares and candy as part of the experience. There will also be a costume contest with a winner guaranteed each night. The event will be taking …

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Jamie Paicely

3:07 pm on Thursday, October 20, 2011

For the Community Mural you can bring in your own pictures to add to the mural. You won't get them back so make sure you have a copy to keep for yourself!   more ›

Chicago Heights Administrator Appointed Park District Superintendent

Francisco Perez said he no longer has any cleaning supply or janitorial contracts with the park district.

Mayor David Gonzalez, Ald. Joshua Deabel and Ald.Willie White were just a few in attendance Monday evening as Francisco Perez was appointed to fill a position last held by the late Mayor Alex Lopez. The decision came after the park district board of commissioners took a lengthy 40 minute executive session, but the group voted unanimously in favor of bringing Perez on board as Chicago Heights Park District superintendent. "I thank the board of commissioners," Perez said. "I thank Joe Stanfa (park board president) for giving me the opportunity to serve the residents of Chicago Heights in a different capacity, from the city to making the transition to the park district." Last year, it was reported Perez's company, South Suburban Chemical and …

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