The City of Forest Park receives the Sustainability Impact Award for demonstrating how a community can deliver measurable environmental progress while advancing economic accessibility and long-term community resilience.

Through its Environmental Awareness Program, Forest Park has built one of the region’s most comprehensive municipal sustainability models — combining recycling access, energy conservation, urban forestry, environmental restoration, education, and financial incentives into a coordinated community-wide strategy. Nearly every occupied household in the city now has access to recycling services, and the city continues to expand programs ranging from appliance recycling and hazardous waste collection to home energy improvements and tree planting initiatives.

In 2025 alone, Forest Park generated more than $357,000 in direct community savings for its 20,000 residents through sustainability and energy programs, while its energy aggregation efforts have saved residents more than $3 million since 2020. Importantly, these initiatives are intentionally designed to reduce barriers for residents through subsidies, partnerships, and equity-centered outreach. These efforts will be amplified, as the City recently collaborated on a community-driven resilience planning process, newly activating dozens of residents into local climate action.

Forest Park’s work shows that sustainability is not just about environmental stewardship — it is about improving quality of life, lowering household costs, strengthening neighborhoods, and ensuring all residents can participate in building a healthier future. Their long-term commitment offers a replicable model for municipalities across the Midwest.