City of West Chicago, Illinois

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2025 Rain Barrel Program Orders Accepted through June

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Rain Barrel Program

The City of West Chicago, in partnership with The Conservation Foundation, announces the 2025 Rain Barrel Program. This annual initiative provides residents with an opportunity to purchase rain barrels at a discounted price, helping conserve water while reducing storm runoff.

Mail-in orders for rain barrels will be accepted through Thursday, May 29, and online orders will be accepted through Monday, June 2. To purchase a rain barrel, visit the UpCycle Products webpage at the UpCycle Products Rain Barrel Program.

Rain barrels can be picked up on Saturday, June 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Metra Station Parking Lot. Home delivery is also available, though it may take up to 10 business days.

These rain barrels are repurposed industrial-sized food containers that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Each barrel holds 50-60 gallons and comes in multiple colors. The tops are safely screened, and the barrels feature a pre-installed spigot and overflow for ease of use.

Rain barrels offer several benefits, such as collecting clean, fresh water for outdoor uses like watering plants, washing cars, or topping off a pool. They also help reduce stormwater runoff, which can carry harmful contaminants like soil, fertilizers, and pesticides into nearby water bodies, leading to algae growth and disrupted fish habitats.

Keep Pets Secured on a Leash this Spring

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Dog on a leash

As the weather warms and residents spend more time outdoors, the City kindly reminds pet owners to ensure their animals are securely leashed at all times. This important measure, reinforced by City ordinance, helps protect the safety and well-being of everyone in our community—both people and pets alike.

City of West Chicago ordinance requires that all pets be properly secured, which means keeping them on a leash, within the boundaries of their own property or a consenting neighbor’s property, in a crate or cage, or safely contained inside a vehicle.

To support responsible pet ownership and safety, a tiered fine structure is in place for situations where pets engage in behaviors such as chasing, barking at, or biting people, vehicles, or other animals. These fines begin at $500 for a first offense, with increased penalties for repeated offenses, up to $50,000 in serious cases. These penalties are in addition to any costs related to damages or injuries as determined by the County.

The City appreciates the efforts of residents in keeping our community safe. By securing your pets, you're helping to create a welcoming environment for everyone to enjoy.

Love Is In the Air: Safety Tips for Coyote Mating Season 

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Coyotes are generally not a public health concern and rarely pose a physical threat to humans. However, they are wild animals and tend to test boundaries and become more aggressive during mating season in February to March, and pupping season starting mid-April. The following information can help you prevent problems and safely handle a coyote encounter.

Preventing Problems

  • Avoid Contact. Never try to feed, poison, move, or trap coyotes. Intentionally engaging with coyotes, including young pups, is dangerous for you and the animal and is often illegal.
  • Clear property of attractors such as food, water, and shelter. This includes securing garbage and blocking access to spaces under porches and sheds. Also, make sure to collect food drop-offs quickly to avoid losing your lunch and encouraging more coyote visits.
  • Keep pets on a leash and under supervision. The presence of humans can discourage coyotes, but it’s equally important to keep pets from instigating and within a well-lit area where you can see them.
  • Keep pet vaccinations current as coyotes can carry canine diseases.
  • Report aggressive behavior. You can report aggressive coyote behavior to DuPage County Animal Services at (630) 407-2800.

Coyote Encounter Tips

  • When followed, don’t panic. Coyotes will escort or “shadow” people through their territory to ensure they are not a threat to their young; this is not a sign of aggression.
  • Make yourself big, loud, and calmly back away. Doing this while maintaining sight of the coyote is the best way to exit the encounter. Consider carrying noise deterrents such as air horns or whistles, especially in spaces like hiking trails.
  • Keep yourself between them and children or pets. Acting as a large, loud barrier can make coyotes reassess the potential for prey or threats. If you have a small child or pet, picking them up can provide additional protection.
  • Change your routine after an encounter. Coyotes are creatures of habit. If you see a coyote while walking, consider changing the path or time of your walk in the future.

West Chicago Focuses on Growth, Revitalization & Community Investment in 2025 

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West Chicago continues to live up to its reputation as a premier place to live for families, having once again been recognized and included on Fortune Magazine’s list of Best Places to Live for Families. This accolade, combined with the many milestones achieved over the past year, demonstrates the City's ongoing commitment to ensuring a vibrant and prosperous future for West Chicagoans. 

Looking ahead, the initiatives outlined in the City’s 2025 Budget focus investments toward revitalizing downtown, improving service delivery, and ensuring the ongoing vitality that makes West Chicago a great community.  This year’s priorities support key goals outlined in the City’s Strategic Plan and Comprehensive Plan that were created through extensive public input and include: 

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Downtown Revitalization 

In 2025, downtown West Chicago will remain a focal point for revitalization, driving growth, improving residents’ quality of life, and shaping the City’s future for generations to come.  

Property Investment Incentives: City-funded grant programs, including the Downtown Investment Program and Retail & Restaurant Grant Program, will provide property and business owners with opportunities to complete renovations and improvements, incentivizing private investment and attracting new businesses.

Redevelopment Opportunities: Continued demolition of City-owned properties will create space for new development, fostering future growth and economic opportunity in the downtown area as outlined in the Central-Main Street Redevelopment Plan. 

New City Hall Campus Design: Design efforts continue for a potential new City Hall campus on Washington Street, which is part of a larger economic development effort including a new public gathering space. In preparation for future construction, additional remediation efforts* will commence on the City-owned property in and around 119 W. Washington Street. Partial demolition and repair work* will also begin at the historic Washington Street Depot to prepare for its future renovation and eventual re-use. 

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Service Delivery Improvements 

The City will continue its efforts towards improving operational efficiency, ensuring that services are safely and effectively delivered. 

Introduction of Online Building Permits: A new online platform will offer a streamlined permit process that can be managed digitally, allowing contractors and property owners to more efficiently manage and complete construction projects.

Lead Service Line Replacement: The City is proactively addressing the replacement of lead service lines as part of the West Chicago Lead Service Line Replacement Plan approved in 2024. As the primary determinant of the project timeline, including the construction start, the City is seeking long-term loans with an estimated 0% interest rate and potential for principal forgiveness from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). Upon securing funding, the City anticipates beginning construction as early as summer 2026 with work to be completed over three years, significantly sooner than required by law.

Strengthen Public Safety Engagement: The launch of a new resident engagement program, Tip411, will improve communication between the community and West Chicago Police Department personnel. This platform will enable residents to digitally submit anonymous tips and receive important public safety alerts directly to their mobile devices. 

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Enhanced Quality of Life 

The City remains dedicated to ensuring that West Chicago remains a vibrant, healthy place to live, work, and play.  

Enriching Outdoor Spaces: Site work will begin in 2025 for the portion of the new community park at the southwest corner of Ann and Factory Streets, located adjacent to West Chicago Community High School’s offsite parking lot.  Additionally, efforts to improve West Chicago’s tree canopy continue through a new Fall Tree Planting Program.* 

Preserving West Chicago’s History: A visual survey will be conducted to identify properties for potential landmark and district designation, allowing for the preservation of the City’s rich history for future generations. Additionally, ongoing improvements will be made to Glen Oak Cemetery and Oakwood Cemetery. 

Investing in Infrastructure: A $14.5 million capital improvement budget will fund key projects aimed at enhancing infrastructure. Notable projects include the reconstruction of Town Road*, Bishop/Brown Streets*, and Nuclear/Northwest Drives*, as well as the installation of a new traffic signal at IL-38 and Technology Boulevard *. 

While the highlights summarize key priorities, the full FY 2025 Budget, which was approved during the West Chicago City Council meeting on December 2, 2024, is available for review on the City’s website.  

* This project is partially or fully funded by grants. In total, the City secured $4,840,000 in grant funding for highlighted projects. 

City of West Chicago Statement on ICE Activities

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In response to growing concerns about the safety and well-being of West Chicago residents regarding recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities, the City has provided the following statement:

City of West Chicago personnel follow State law (Illinois TRUST Act), and they are not assisting ICE in any matter that is not accompanied by a federal or state warrant, or if there is a criminal investigation being undertaken, when we would be legally obligated to provide support. We are not and will not get involved in any cases related to administrative deportation orders.

Visit the State of Illinois website for more information about the Illinois TRUST Act.

En respuesta a las crecientes preocupaciones sobre la seguridad y el bienestar de los residentes de West Chicago con respecto a las recientes actividades del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE, por sus siglas en ingles), la Ciudad ha proporcionado la siguiente declaración:

El personal de la Ciudad de West Chicago sigue la ley Estatal (Ley TRUST de Illinois) y no ayuda a ICE en ningún asunto que no esté acompañado de una orden federal o estatal, o si se está llevando a cabo una investigación criminal, cuando estaríamos legalmente obligados a brindar apoyo. No estamos ni nos involucraremos en ningún caso relacionado con ordenes administrativas de deportación.

Visite el sitio web del Estado de Illinois para obtener más información sobre la Ley TRUST de Illinois.