Under the summer sun, Oak Park and River Forest shine as bright as ever as people make the most of the season. Sydney Lovan, photojournalist and reporting intern for Wednesday Journal, set out to get to know the real people and places that drive these communities in just 36 hours.

Lamarion Wright, Quantay Wright, Tre McCray and Ramar Garmon play basketball at Longfellow Park on Wed., July 15, 2026. The Park District of Oak Park offers many different green spaces to access free athletic amenities and fun activities. Credit: Sydney Lovan
Jan Saeger holds up photos and information during the “West Side Stories” sidewalk tour hosted by the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Credit: Sydney Lovan
Taylor Hermes helps a customer at Bead In Hand, a local business that offers beading supplies and repair services. She worked at Bead In Hand as her first job in high school and has reconnected with the store. Credit: Sydney Lovan
Kids play on a bounce house during a block party in an Oak Park neighborhood. Each block can host two events per year, and they are a great way to build community. Credit: Sydney Lovan
An employee at Broken Tart packages a customer’s order. Chef Krissy Mack and her sister Katie Mack, who brings experience in marketing, started the bakery together in 2022. Credit: Sydney Lovan
Mariko Kaczkowski walks her two dogs Frida and Lotus down the street in Oak Park. Residents can frequently be seen with their pets enjoying the outdoors throughout the village. Credit: Sydney Lovan
People shop for produce at the Oak Park Farmers’ Market. The market is held every Saturday from May through November in the Pilgrim Church parking lot. Credit: Sydney Lovan
Joey Wagner, a Forest Preserves of Cook County employee, teaches a participant of the “Fishing Bass-ics” class how to cast a fishing rod at Thatcher Pond. Credit: Sydney Lovan
A firefighter prepares to respond to a call with an ambulance at Fire Station One on North Euclid Avenue. The Oak Park Fire Department also allows the community to request visits for block parties throughout the summer. Credit: Sydney Lovan
Lindsay Chyna, left, laughs with Sarah Swagler during a rehearsal for Peter Pan with Oak Park Community Theatre at the Maze branch of the Oak Park Public Library. Credit: Sydney Lovan
String lights sit above South Marion Street next to the Carleton Hotel of Oak Park and Poor Phil’s Bar and Grill. Credit: Sydney Lovan
Lake Theatre displays a personalized birthday message on the evening of July 18. It first opened in 1936 and remains a staple sight in downtown Oak Park. Credit: Sydney Lovan
The Oak Park Mug Exchange spreads community spirit in the neighborhood with a “take one, leave one” effort. Credit: Sydney Lovan
People play pickleball at the River Forest Park District courts. The park district offers a variety of athletic facilities and programs to get involved with. Credit: Sydney Lovan
Members of the knitting group at Grace Lutheran Church and School in River Forest laugh together as they work on their crafts. The group meets on the third Tuesday of the month and is open to anyone with any level of experience or looking to learn. Credit: Sydney Lovan
Ernest Heminway’s childhood home sits proudly in an Oak Park neighborhood as one of the many historically significant buildings in the village. Credit: Sydney Lovan
Alfredo Reinoso, an employee of Pete’s Automotive Service in River Forest, works on a car with a smile. Credit: Sydney Lovan
Taco “El Tio #4” is open 24 hours, seven days a week on Lake Street in Oak Park. The restaurant can get busy on weekends with people looking for late night food. Credit: Sydney Lovan

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