Lake County Gazette

Philippe Melin, communications director of the Shields Township Republican Party, encouraged the residents of Lake Forest to complete the Lake Forest Community-Wide Survey, saying it's important all residents of Lake Forest participate in the direction of their city. In a post to the organization's website on July 29, 2023, Melin said past Lake Forest surveys were critical for city leaders' decision making.

"The Shields Township GOP encourages residents of Lake Forest to complete the Lake Forest Community-Wide Survey. Taking this survey is very important because we want our voices heard by the decision makers at the city of Lake Forest. Our feedback will be critical to help city leaders prioritize programs and services," Melin said on the group's website.

Lake Forest requested its residents complete its 2023 Community-Wide Survey. On its website, the city says the "survey covers a range of topics, including community services, safety measures, infrastructure, recreational facilities, development preferences and more."

Lake Forest conducts its Community-Wide Survey about every five years. The results of the 2016 Lake Forest Community Wide Survey can be found online. Just 30% of the 7,458 households responded to the 2016 Lake Forest Resident Survey. 

Some of the questions in the survey include a rating of city services like fire, police, maintenance and stormwater drainage. It also covers satisfaction with quality of life, value received from tax dollars, source of news of information and comparison to surrounding municipalities.

"Almost all respondents (98%) reported that they felt very safe or somewhat safe overall in Lake Forest, a level that was much higher than communities across the nation and similar to peer communities," the survey's results noted. "When asked what factors influenced residents’ decisions to live in Lake Forest, about seven in 10 indicated that the safety of the community played a role in their decision to live in the community."

Of the 18 possible budget priorities for the city in the 2016 survey, about eight in 10 indicated crime prevention and fire response were top priorities for the Lake Forest budget, while about four in 10 placed high importance on code enforcement, neighborhood revitalization and CROYA services and one-third thought that Dickinson Hall services were essential or very important.

According to citytowninfo.com, Lake Forest is a city in Lake County, Illinois, with a population of approximately 19,219. About 22.6 % of the residents are senior citizens. Situated along Lake Michigan, the affluent town is home to several corporate headquarters, higher education institutions and cultural amenities.

Covering 17.27 square miles, Lake Forest is located in Lake County and over parts of Moraine, Shields, Vernon and West Deerfield townships, according to Wikipedia.