2026 All-America City Finalist – River Forest, IL

Incorporated in 1880 and located just 10 miles west of downtown Chicago, River Forest blends small-town cohesion with metropolitan access. Home to nearly 12,000 residents and roughly 200 small businesses, the village is largely built out and geographically constrained, making each development and redevelopment decision carry heightened fiscal and community significance. Residents are deeply engaged and come to public meetings prepared with data, detailed questions, and high expectations for transparency. 

River Forest has responded by expanding how and where civic participation happens. Recognizing that meaningful engagement occurs both inside and outside formal meetings, the village has deliberately broadened its outreach through layered communication channels, informal dialogue formats, and programs that meet residents where they are. The goal is consistent: ensure residents are informed, involved, and heard. 

The programs below reflect that commitment, spanning development transparency, senior inclusion, and accessible leadership. 

Development Conversations – Neighborhood Dialogues and Open Houses   

As the Village of River Forest prepared to review a significant development proposal, a familiar challenge surfaced: many residents were unfamiliar with how the development review process works and were surprised to learn how far proposals had already advanced. At the same time, village staff wanted candid feedback about economic development priorities gathered in settings where residents felt comfortable speaking openly. 

To address this, the village partnered with Jasculca Terman Strategic Communications to host seven small, informal conversations held in residents’ own kitchens, living rooms, and dining rooms. An independent facilitator posed open-ended questions while village staff stepped back to let residents speak freely. Roughly 70 residents participated, including several who had never previously engaged with the village on development matters. Following the sessions, Jasculca Terman prepared an independent summary report identifying common themes around building height, density, neighborhood character, traffic, and safety. The report has since been shared with potential developers and posted publicly on the village website. 

Residents also told the village they wanted earlier involvement in specific proposals. In response, the village held three open house forums for a current apartment proposal, drawing nearly 100 participants and providing direct access to developers, architects, and project financiers. 

The initiative built credibility through independent moderation, transparent responses from staff, and written documentation that residents confirmed accurately reflected their input. Elected officials, residents, and developers have all referenced the resulting report as the village continues to define what responsible growth should look like. 

Causal Conversations with the Village President 

Residents in River Forest had expressed frustration feeling “out of the loop,” with some perceiving village decisions as hidden or overly procedural. In response, Village President Cathy Adduci launched Casual Conversation with the Village President, quarterly meetups designed to bring leadership directly into neighborhoods and rebuild trust through sustained, accessible dialogue. 

Rather than hosting events in a single location, sessions rotate among community spaces including schools, the public library, and the civic center. Seven gatherings have been held to date, typically drawing 10 to 20 residents each. While attendance is intentionally intimate, the smaller setting encourages candid conversation and more in-depth exchange than traditional public meetings allow. Events are promoted through the village newsletter, social media, and direct mail postcards sent to every residence, lowering barriers to participation. Each session opens with brief staff updates before transitioning into open, resident-led discussion. Some sessions are structured around high-interest topics, with relevant staff present to answer questions directly. 

The results have been tangible. Recurring concerns about traffic safety and speeding surfaced repeatedly across neighborhoods, eventually elevating the issue to a village board priority. One resident’s comment about aggressive driving along a major corridor led to a neighborhood meeting with the village’s engineering team and ultimately the installation of traffic calming delineators along the full stretch, producing a seven mile-per-hour speed reduction. 

What began as a transparency initiative has become an ongoing practice, demonstrating how consistent, accessible dialogue can translate a single resident’s concern into community-wide action. 

Senior Bingo Event 

At one of the Casual Conversation events, Village President Cathy Adduci heard from residents that seniors in River Forest felt there were fewer social activities available locally compared to neighboring communities. Residents expressed a desire for more opportunities to gather and connect within their own community. 

In response, village leadership designed an event that would provide meaningful social engagement for older adults while also creating informal interaction between residents and local government. Staff transformed the Fire Department’s apparatus bay into a temporary bingo hall, pairing games with donated prizes from local businesses, a barbecue lunch prepared by Fire and Police Department members, and an ice cream social. Nearly 20 village staff participated, including department heads and police academy recruits, circulating throughout the room to speak directly with attendees. The village administrator and administrative team served as masters of ceremony while elected officials engaged with residents throughout the event. 

To ensure accessibility, transportation was arranged for seniors who needed it. Outreach included social media, a promotional video, and postcards mailed to every household. Staff were uncertain how many residents would attend but the response exceeded expectations, with more than 60 seniors filling nearly every table. Attendees expressed appreciation for both the social atmosphere and the opportunity to connect directly with village leadership. 

Encouraged by the turnout and feedback, River Forest plans to make the Senior Bingo Social an annual event, with future iterations potentially featuring additional games, local partnerships, and expanded outreach to residents who may not typically engage in community programs. 

Return to the complete list of the 2026 All-America City Award Finalists.