Palos Heights native Kendall Coyne Schofield and her husband, Michael Schofield, are co-sponsoring a new park in town. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)
Planned park in Palos Heights will have Olympic theme
By Jeff Vorva
The Misty Meadows subdivision in Palos Heights is getting a new park and it will be partially funded by a pair of famous local athletes.
Plus, it will have an ice rink and an Olympic theme.
NFL player Michael Schofield and his Olympic hockey gold- and silver-medal-winning wife, Kendall Coyne Schofield, have a hand in developing the new park, according to Alderman Jack Clifford at Tuesday’s city council meeting. He said they are co-sponsoring the park.
After the meeting, Clifford said the park will have sports equipment and it might end up being a $500,000 endeavor. He added that the city could receive some grants to help build it.
“This is the neighborhood Kendall Coyne grew up in,” Clifford said. “There has never been a play lot or park of any sort there. We’re still finishing up the plans. We’re hoping the project starts in early to late spring. It will be nice thing.”
He pointed out at the meeting that Coyne Schofield is the captain of Team USA as the Olympics are beginning in China. Michael and Kendall are Sandburg graduates and Kendall is a Palos Heights native.
“We wish them all the best of luck,” Clifford said. “Especially because Kendall is a local resident, we wish them the best in bringing home the gold.”
Bringing home the masks
Mayor Bob Straz said that he was scheduled this week to head to Matteson and bring back 1,000 N95 masks courtesy of Cook County. He said he would work on a way to distribute them to residents.
These N95 masks are considered by some experts to be more effective than regular mask in protecting people from COVID-19.
Council members also said that up to three masks per person are available at Walgreen’s in town and at the Meijer store in Orland Park.
Business bits
Clifford said that Royalberry Waffle House is not closing despite some local chatter.
“They are open and there are a lot of rumors going on around there,” Clifford said. “It’s due to remodeling.”
Speaking of remodeling, Alderman Jeff Key said the Great American Bagel at 12774 S. Harlem Ave. is under new owners and has been rebuilt on the inside.
“Ceilings, floors, bathrooms, everything is brand new in there,” Key said.
Quality Plus Photo Service Inc. at 12244 S. Harlem Ave., expanded its business, Key said.
Key said Golf Haven’s indoor golf facility at 12317 S. Harlem Ave. is now open and Mexican restaurant Mysheko is close to opening at 7231 W. College Dr.
5 Comments
Local News
Fake Christians close eyes to Gaza carnage
Spread the love. By Ray Hanania . Many of you know I am Palestinian Christian. I’ve written about it a lot because I believe American Christians need to be reminded that their faith comes through my family origins in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. I’m Orthodox Christian and will celebrate Easter this Sunday, which always comes after…
Brother Rice names Al Perez next soccer coach
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent A few new coaches are dotting the area high school athletic scene. One of the more notable hires was Brother Rice bringing Al Perez aboard as the soccer coach. Perez led Chicago Public League power Washington to a Class 2A state championship in 2013, a fourth-place finish in 2015…
Police Council rallies to save ShotSpotter
Spread the love. By Alexis Bocanegra Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (773) 949-1509 • grcl.alex23@gmail.com . Chicago Lawn (8th) District Police Council members Mark Hamberlin, Al Cacciottolo and Jason Huff have created an online petition to save ShotSpotter. As you may have read in the Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound back in March, Mayor…
Chicago sports stadium drama heats up
Spread the love. By Rich Miller . More sports team stadium drama could be on the horizon as the Chicago White Sox are said, as of this writing, to be preparing to announce a significant private investment in a new South Loop ballpark. The ballclub has already demanded a share of the Illinois Sports Facilities…
Capacity crowd speaks out against Evergreen Park dispensary
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Additional chairs had to be brought out to seat an overflow crowd of Evergreen Park residents who attended a meeting April 15 regarding a proposed cannabis dispensary for the village. And many who were in attendance voiced their opposition to having a dispensary in Evergreen Park. Most of the people cited…
Countryside puts dog park on hold, will require leashes in two parks
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch The city of Countryside has put on hold building a dog park, but canines and their owners are still in store for a treat. The city council has unanimously approved a plan to permit dogs in City Park and Countryside Park this year. Previously, they were not allowed in the…
Bridgeview approves auto repair shop
Spread the loveMoves up time for May 1 village board meeting By Steve Metsch Bridgeview is getting a new automotive repair shop. The village board at its April 17 matinee meeting approved a special use permit that will allow a repair shop at 9010 S. Beloit Ave. There was no discussion among trustees. The board…
Summit Fire Department blood drive draws a crowd
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan The Summit Fire Department, along with the Village of Summit, and the Argo Summit Lions Club held a blood drive this past Saturday, and it drew a crowd that even impressed the American Red Cross. It took place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. with non-stop donors walking through the…
Hodgkins toasts village businesses
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan Hodgkins Mayor Ernest Millsap and the Board of Trustees celebrated the village’s businesses at its annual Business Appreciation Breakfast on April 10. Over 100 people gathered at the Hodgkins Administration Center for a hearty breakfast hosted by the village. Representatives from many businesses that are located in or that work…
Pickleball courts coming to Palos Park
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva There will finally be outdoor pickleball in Palos Park. In a process that went longer than anticipated, the Palos Park Village Council was able give the green light to get a pickleball project started on the Village Green. The council voted April 8 to award the contract to U.S. Tennis…
Neighbors
Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?
by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again. The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…
Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A group of lawmakers and influential environmental advocates are calling for broad changes to the state’s energy industry and a massive increase in state oversight of Chicagoland’s transit system – which faces a projected $730 million budget shortfall. Advocates for the policy platform, which is broken up into…
Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength this week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track. April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income…
Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now. Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…
Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending
By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would put more controls on certain kinds of high-cost loans to small businesses cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 2234, known as the Small Business Financial Transparency Act, targets a relatively new kind of nontraditional lender in the credit…
Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Six fallen police officers were honored at an annual memorial service outside the State Capitol Thursday. The Illinois Police Officers Memorial occurs annually on the first Thursday of May to honor officers who died in the line of duty and to support their families. “No one…
Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions
By JERRY NOWICKI HANNAH MEISEL & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House moved quickly Wednesday to push through a change to state election laws that partially limits ballot access and adds three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot. It’s a move that caused minority party…
After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that sought to wipe away the last vestiges of racial discrimination and redlining in America’s home mortgage industry. The idea was simple. By requiring lenders – primarily banks – to make…
Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air
Capitol News Illinois announced today it will produce the long-running “Illinois Lawmakers” program this spring, in partnership with longtime host and producer Jak Tichenor. “This new partnership is absolutely critical to providing Illinois residents with reliable, independent, in-depth, up to date coverage from the Illinois Capitol after many newspapers and broadcasters shuttered their Statehouse bureaus over…
Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated
By ANDREW ADAMS & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A year and a half after Republican Darren Bailey lost his campaign to challenge Gov. JB Pritzker, state election officials are weighing whether he illegally colluded with conservative radio show host and political operative Dan Proft in the 2022 campaign. The State Board…
Why can’t palos heights clear the limited sidewalks of snow! Last year sidewalks on Harlem were improved with handicapped assessable walks! Yesterday walking down Harlem majority of sidewalks. Or cleared by businesses! What’s the point of having assessable sidewalks when they are covered with snow! The kids walk to schools in snow covered sidewalks! Other villages require businesses to clear the sidewalks or got fined! This is 2022! Can’t the mayor and council address this issue!
I’m sure the masks will be given out fairly! Lol
Is there a way to be part of the planning of the park? It would be wonderful to assist with creating an inclusive park as we don’t truly have one yet. Also, as the above commenter mentioned we need to do a better job clearing Sidewalks. We are not a very disabled friendly community.
Thanks Erin no we are not! Mayhave to get a petition going to to address this issue!
Valerie Duhig, As a Palos ccsd 118 school bus driver I’ve often had the same ideas. We lived in Hickory Hills prior to moving to Palos Heights 7 years ago.. Hickory Hills at least kept the walkways along 95th St and Kean Ave cleared all winter long. Seems like someone from the school district should have that responsibility for all main routes that student walkers must navigate- and for all the rest, perhaps a sidewalk snow clearing ordinance should be created and enforced?