The Village of River Forest’s application for the All-America City Award (“River Forest wins All-America Nomination for engagement efforts,” April 28) is more of a campaign appeal than an accurate account of how our local government operates.
The Village stated a commitment to transparency, yet its own examples demonstrate the opposite.
The much-publicized “Neighborhood Dialogues” were not open community conversations. They were invitation-only gatherings attended by merely 63 residents, after a screening process that generated significant public controversy. The Village spent $20,000 of taxpayer’s money on these carefully curated meetings, only for the consultant’s report to reveal overwhelming opposition to proposed density on Madison Street.
The application claims residents were “surprised” by how far development proposals had advanced because they were “unfamiliar with the review process.” The more accurate explanation is that the review itself occurred largely behind closed doors. The EDC requested a review of all developer proposals, yet was denied full access while a preferred proposal moved forward.
The application also describes three “open house forums” that supposedly connected residents with developers and financiers. These gatherings consisted of poster displays and had low attendance. There was no formal public forum, no structured presentation, no opportunity to ask questions on the record, and no requirement that developers respond publicly to residents’ concerns.
The application further portrays the Village President’s “Casual Conversations” as a model of civic engagement. These meetings began during an election cycle, are typically attended by a handful of residents alongside Village staff and allow discussion of Village business outside of formal public meetings. When enough trustees attended to create a quorum, they were reportedly instructed not to participate in the discussion because it would create an official meeting and belie notice requirements.
Finally, highlighting a senior Bingo event as evidence of “innovative” civic engagement should not be confused with meaningful public participation in government.
River Forest deserves genuine transparency and resident engagement. Unfortunately, this award application described an idealized version of Village government that many residents do not recognize. It is not surprising that River Forest did not make the final cut for the award theme of “Strengthening Civic Health and Building Trust.”
Deborah Borman
River Forest
Cite: https://www.nationalcivicleague.org/2026-all-america-city-finalist-river-forest-il/