Will County to Host Fairmont Community Event

Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant and the Will County Community Development Division will be hosting a community event from 10 AM to 3 PM on June 22 at the Fairmont Community Center, 525 Barry Avenue. The event will feature family-friendly activities, a resource fair, a food giveaway, and a community planning activity focused on the future of the Fairmont neighborhood.

"I encourage all Fairmont residents to attend this event and to share your thoughts on future neighborhood initiatives,” said County Executive Bertino-Tarrant. “I appreciate our partners who helped organized this event in order to provide an opportunity for community feedback.“

A variety of family-friendly activities will be featured at the event, including a community resource fair, kids’ games, garden education session, and a traveling art exhibit, “Reclaiming the Narrative: Restoring Black Voices to the Story of Joliet.” Two youth-focused classroom sessions, “Young Urban Planners (K-12)” and “Alternative Energy for Kids” will be hosted throughout the day.

The Northern Illinois Food Bank, in partnership with Endeavor Health, will also be offering a free food box giveaway starting at 10 AM, while supplies last.

The event will kick-off Will County’s “Envision Fairmont” initiative, which is updating the Fairmont Neighborhood Plan. The existing plan, which was adopted in 2012, has supported infrastructure improvements, residential development, and community projects in the neighborhood. Attendees will have an opportunity to complete a community survey focused on future revitalization efforts for Fairmont. Any residents who were unable to attend the event can take the survey at: https://forms.office.com/g/KUVezDsA4d.

“This is an amazing opportunity for Fairmont residents to share their thoughts on community needs and a future vision,” said Will County Community Development Division Director Martha Sojka. “The Fairmont Neighborhood Plan has provided a strong framework for neighborhood revitalization. Strong neighborhood participation will help us better understand what the current priorities are which will help shape the Plan update and direction of future initiatives.”

Will County will host a second “Envision Fairmont” Community Event on August 17, 2024. Fairmont residents unable to attend the event can find the community survey on www.WillCounty.gov or by emailing lugrants@willcountylanduse.com.