By Al Stasch

For the first time many of the biggest trucks and equipment stayed home for the Big Rigs and Kids event in Villa Park. Not because they were not available to the public for viewing rather the public came to the new home for Public Works equipment. The new Public Works garage on Home Avenue now houses much of the equipment used by the Village indoors rather than in an open parking area. Nearly one million dollars worth of equipment is now protected from the weather in a large garage with growth potential for the future.

Marlon Hummell, who does engineering work for Villa Park, laid out the design criteria for the public works garage with forethought and smart planning. “We designed the building roof with the right steel so it could double in size. “, Marlon explained. “And we wanted it completely open so we would not have any problems putting the vehicles inside.” That meant that there are no supporting pillars holding up the roof and the open space is currently 100 feet by 100 feet. Big enough to easily house more than a dozen vehicles and more.

The types of vehicles inside the new garage include everything from street sweepers to forklifts. The garage is home to essential equipment that helps maintain the village streets, manages the trees, removes snow and ice from the roads and keep the storm and sewage lines working properly.

Hummell also made certain that if two private businesses that are adjacent to the garage ever move to other facilities that the Village will have the option to expand the garage to double the size. “In the future we could extend another hundred feet and connect right up to the roof line and still have no support pillars for the roof.”

The new Public Works garage even with its ample room was not the only place Villa Park equipment was on display for the annual Big Rigs and Kids Event. Lawn cutters, baseball field maintenance equipment and Police and Fire vehicles all were available for residents and kids to climb on and explore. Two of the Fire Department Engines and a brand new Paramedic Unit were on display along with the Villa Park Police Mobile Command Center.

Although the fire trucks got a good share of attention from the kids, even the smallest lawn cutter was just as popular. It is an appropriate way to demonstrate that each piece of equipment is necessary to maintain the quality of life residents enjoy in Villa Park.