The Oak Park and River Forest High School girls track and field team closed out a successful regular season by garnering a second-place finish at the West Suburban Conference Silver Division meet last week.

Entering the state playoffs this week, the Fenwick and Oak Park and River Forest High School boys and girls water polo teams own a collective 93-18-1 record, including three conference championships, all won over the weekend.

The Park District of Oak Park is waiting for word on whether it will receive state grant funds for upgrades at Rehm Park Pool. Meanwhile, plans are moving forward on the future of both Rehm and the newly redone Ridgeland Common Pool, said park district officials at a public meeting on April 23 at Cheney Mansion.

OPRF girls water polo, Fenwick baseball, Fenwick boys water polo and both school's softball teams racked up several victories last week.

The Fenwick and Oak Park and River Forest boys lacrosse teams added another compelling chapter to their rivalry on May 1 at Oak Park Stadium. Fueled by seven unanswered goals early, the Friars held off an inspired late comeback by OPRF to earn an 8-7 nonconference win and bragging rights.

Like a basketball player at the free throw line or a baseball player in the batter's box, high jumpers tend to have their rituals to foster consistency and hopefully peak results. OPRF junior Chris Wright-Madison, who finished eighth in the high jump by clearing 6 feet, 5 inches at the state finals last spring, has trimmed in half his previously lengthy minute-plus routine before attempting a jump over the bar.

The Park District of Oak Park is waiting for word on whether it will receive state grant funds for upgrades at Rehm Park Pool. Meanwhile, plans are moving forward on the future of both Rehm and the newly redone Ridgeland Common Pool, said park district officials at a public meeting on April 23 at Cheney Mansion.

It's perhaps appropriate that each Oak Park and River Forest High School softball player has "theme music" as she walks up to the plate. After all, the Huskies have been putting on a show all season offensively with a potent and deep lineup producing 10 runs per game.

Sluggish starts, porous defense or missed scoring opportunities, the Fenwick High School softball team didn't play its best during a four-game gauntlet against East Suburban Catholic Conference powerhouses Marist and Benet.

Without Elsie Jacobsen, there would be no Oak Park Conservatory. In recognition of her "Save the Garfield Conservatory" drive in 1970 after the facility had fallen into disrepair during the 1960s, the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory and the Park District of Oak Park announced the creation of the Elsie Jacobsen Discovery Garden, honoring the memory of one of Oak Park's all-time champions of civic pride.