Cook County has completed major upgrades to the Park Forest Fire Training Site, a regional facility critical to firefighter training, as part of ongoing investment in the south suburban community. On Tuesday, Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Commissioner Donna Miller, and Park Forest Mayor Joseph A. Woods marked this milestone at the site.

The event celebrated the completion of two Build Up Cook projects at the regional training facility, which is one of the busiest in the area and serves more than 500 firefighters from over 50 departments each year. Upgrades included a full roof replacement, installation of a new pry door, updated burn containers for live-fire exercises, and major water system improvements. Cook County designated $327,577 for water system upgrades and $407,476 for training-related improvements.

“These improvements strengthen one of the region’s most critical training sites,” Preckwinkle said. “Every community in Cook County deserves well-trained, well-equipped first responders. Through Build Up Cook, we are strengthening the infrastructure that keeps our residents safe.”

The Park Forest Fire Training Site, located at 55 N. Orchard Drive, has served the region since the early 1960s and was dedicated in 1965 to Park Forest’s only line-of-duty fatality, Captain Adolph “Shorty” Pfeifer. The site features a mock two-story residential structure with burn containers that simulate smoke-filled environments, allowing departments to conduct live-fire drills, search-and-rescue operations, and other essential training. The Park Forest facility is used year-round by the Park Forest, Matteson, and Richton Park Fire Departments; the Prairie State College Fire Academy; South Suburban Combined Agency Training; and the Illinois Fire Service Institute.

Woods highlighted that the county’s investment extends beyond the training facility. Nearly $500,000 has been dedicated to reconstructing Forest Boulevard, a vital roadway in Park Forest’s DownTown. This road project and the fire training facility upgrades are both funded by the Build Up Cook program, which is supported by a $30.5 million allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act.

“This is a great project for the whole region,” Woods said. “Cook County’s investment in Park Forest shows that the Southland is being seen and supported. For far too long, communities like ours have been overlooked. These projects change that.”

Woods said the upgrades prepare Park Forest not only for immediate needs but also for long-term regional resilience. 

“When federal, county, and local leaders work together, we can deliver real, lasting benefits. These improvements will strengthen our emergency response capabilities and our infrastructure for generations to come," Woods said.

Commissioner Miller echoed the importance of equity in capital investments across Cook County. She said Build Up Cook ensures that infrastructure dollars reach communities that need them most. She also mentioned these upgrades in Park Forest demonstrate what happens when we commit to fairness and collaboration.

More information about the Build Up Cook program is available through the Cook County Bureau of Asset Management.