Palos Park confirms Autumn in the Park parade is a go

Yes, there is construction on 123^rd Street causing headaches.

Yes, there will be construction on 123^rd Street causing headaches Sept. 19-20, when Palos Park hosts its annual Autumn in the Park event.

And, despite social media rumors and concerns, “There certainly will be a parade,” Police Commissioner Dan Polk said at the Aug. 11 village council meeting.

McCarthy Road, which turns into 123^rd, is closed at LaGrange Road through 93^rd Avenue.

“People are saying ‘there is no way to get to the parade and I’m sure they are cancelling the parade,’’’ Polk told the Regional News after the meeting. “That’s not true. Social media. What can I say?”

There is, however, a time change for the parade. It used to be held at 11 a.m. but it will step off Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. this year. Polk said the roadwork has nothing to do with the change.

“It has everything to do with how we are using the [entertainment] stage,” he said. “The bands are going to start a little later, so we will start the parade later.

“This will seamlessly run into the opening at the Village Green events. Over the last couple of years, particularly with families, when the parade was over and there was an hour lapse, people would go home and have lunch. We want to give them another option.”

The parade will kick off from 82^nd Avenue to 90^th Avenue near the festival grounds. The festival will start at 2 p.m. and runs to 11 p.m.

On the day of the parade, McCarthy Road will be closed between 9400 W. 123^rd and 80^th Avenues from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

According to Police Chief Joe Miller, alternate routes for east/west traffic will be Route 83, 119^th Street and 131^st Street. 80^th Avenue will be open for north and south traffic but 81^st, 82^nd, 83^rd, 86^th, 87^th, 93^rd and Mohawk will be closed at 123^rd.

First phase almost done

Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters reported that the village’s portion of the 123^rd roadwork and infrastructure is almost complete and construction from the Illinois Department of Transportation for the second phase is already taking place.

“The construction company from IDOT has been pouring concrete and working daily,” she said. “Just so there is no confusion, it is a separate company than the work in Orland Park at 131^st and Southwest Highway.

“No one needs to worry that they will leave this job to go to that one.”

The 123^rd Street project is scheduled to be finished by mid-November.

Happy 101^st

Although he was not at the meeting, resident Walter Lebetski was honored for turning 101 on July 22. That date was designated Walter Lebetski Day in the village.

He has lived in the village since 1957.