LEADING WITH PURPOSE

We sit down with Hinsdale Village President Greg Hart to learn more about what sparked his interest in public service and life at home in the community he loves.

There is an old adage that some people are natural born leaders. Yet sit down with any leader of substance and it’s clear that it’s much more than that. It’s a calling but it’s also a choice—to raise your hand, step up, and put others before yourself.

For Hinsdale Village President Greg Hart, who made history last year when he became the youngest person elected to the role in the village’s 153-year history, the desire to serve his community came early. He was just an eighth grader at St. Isaac Jogues School when he was elected to his first public office—president of the student council.

“Even at a young age, I enjoyed bringing people together, organizing around ideas, and helping improve the communities I was part of. That interest stayed with me over time,” says Hart, a Burr Ridge native and third-generation DuPage County resident who spent much of his childhood in Hinsdale. “I have always believed leadership is less about titles and more about responsibility, listening, and being willing to step forward when something needs to get done.”

And that’s exactly what he did in the first weeks after he took office as Village President, immediately making changes he knew the community wanted and needed.

“Hinsdale is already one of the best places to live in Illinois and in the country, and my goal is to keep it that way,” Hart says. “For me, that means continuing to be a community that provides the same kind of opportunity it provided to me. A place where people can build a life, raise a family, and pursue their full potential.”

Part of that initiative is economic vitality. Under Hart’s leadership, the village has made notable progress in attracting high quality, sales tax generating businesses that strengthen its downtown and reduce pressure on property taxes. Hart worked closely to bring Ballyhoo Hospitality and its DeNucci’s concept to Hinsdale, and also helped recruit Hometown Coffee and Juice, making Hinsdale its first suburban location outside of the North Shore.

“We want to continue building on that momentum by attracting businesses that complement what we already have, enhance the experience of our downtown, and support the long-term financial health of the village so we are not relying on asking more from residents,” says Hart, who lives in Hinsdale with wife, Alexandra, and their three children—8-year-old Madeleine, 4-year-old George, and 3-year-old Catherine. “At the same time, I have been focused on making government work better for the people it serves.”

Even before he took office, he sent out the village’s first-ever survey of residents so he could be ready with a civic “to do” list and hit the ground running. He was particularly interested in eliminating what he calls “nuisance fees” that take time and money from residents without providing meaningful value.

That survey was well-received, and so are the results.

“Earlier this year, we eliminated the pet registration fee, and my hope is that it is the first of several steps to reduce unnecessary burdens on residents,” explains Hart, adding that he also expanded the ability for Hinsdaleans to walk their dogs in parks. “I am also focused on continuing that work by taking a close look at other legacy fees, including the alarm registration fee, with a broader goal of reducing or ultimately eliminating things like the vehicle sticker.”

Hart is also simultaneously tackling public safety issues—spearheading innovative new initiatives and responding to citizen concerns in real time.

“While Hinsdale is already one of the safest communities in Illinois, if not the whole United States, I believe in continuous improvement. That is why I created a new Public Safety and Transportation Commission to give residents a direct voice in how we approach pedestrian safety and other public safety related issues,” he says. “That work is already producing results, with resident ideas around crosswalks, signage, and traffic safety being implemented. It is making the community safer while also making village government more responsive.”

One recent example in southeast Hinsdale is a newly installed crosswalk and flashing light to keep students safe while walking across County Line Road to Oak Elementary School. Hart’s commission received the request from a group of concerned parents and quickly acted on it, allowing the new crosswalk and device to be installed within months.

Another important public safety matter Hart was quick to champion harkens back to his time as a member of the DuPage County Board, serving from 2017 to 2023. As co-chair of the Heroin Opioid Prevention and Education HOPE Taskforce, he saw firsthand that mental health and addiction issues affect families across America, including here in Hinsdale.

“That work meant a great deal to me because it focused on families facing very real pain and loss. Addiction does not discriminate by community, income level, or background,” he says, explaining that one of first initiatives as Village President was to hire a full-time social worker who could assist the Hinsdale police department with domestic situations involving mental health, substance use, and other sensitive matters. “I was able to secure grant funding through relationships I built at DuPage County to fully fund the position, working with neighboring communities—including Willowbrook, Burr Ridge, Darien, and Clarendon Hills—to create a shared service model. That partnership allows multiple departments to benefit from the program while spreading the cost and improving efficiency.”

Hart says it’s a good example of how local government can work smarter, be more responsive, and deliver meaningful results for residents. It was also telling that on the social worker’s first day on the job, she had a full call sheet.

“The more we treat substance use disorder as a public health issue through education, prevention, treatment, and compassion, the more lives we can save,” he continues. “Everyone in this day and age is only one degree of separation from someone who has struggled with addiction and mental health challenges. We can’t treat this like something that needs to be hidden away. This new role ensures that residents get the right kind of help while our officers remain focused on keeping the community safe.”

At home in Hinsdale, Hart has a different type of “to do” list and that centers around giving his children the same kind of experiences he had growing up here.

He met wife, Alexandra, nearly 20 years ago while both were students at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. And while the young couple spent some time living in the city after graduating and getting married, he said it was always understood that Hinsdale would be the place they’d ultimately start a family.

“I was fortunate to grow up in an environment where families were engaged, neighbors cared about one another, and there was a real sense of pride in the community,” he says. “Some of my favorite memories are the simple ones—school events, youth sports, time downtown, and traditions that brought people together.”

But what stands out most to him is that communities like Hinsdale create society’s most powerful currency—opportunity.

“They give young people a strong foundation, great schools, positive role models, and a belief that they can go far while staying grounded,” Hart continues. “That made a lasting impression on me, and it is one reason I care so deeply about helping Hinsdale continue to thrive for the next generation.”

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BIRTH OF A NATION

Hinsdale joins the celebration of America’s 250th birthday next month and throughout the year with special events, including the unveiling of a new pavilion in Burlington Park.

The United States has a big birthday coming up next month and Hinsdale residents are invited to join the celebration. In addition to his efforts to help spearhead the building of new pavilion in Burlington Park to honor the nation’s 250th anniversary, Village President Greg Hart formed an advisory committee to ensure the community marked the milestone in a thoughtful way. “It is a meaningful moment to reflect on the ideals that have shaped our country and continue to guide communities like Hinsdale,” he says. “The United States has long stood as a beacon of freedom and democracy, and this milestone gives us an opportunity to celebrate those values while bringing people together around a shared sense of pride.”

Along with students from District 86 and District 181, representatives from the American Legion, the Hinsdale Historical Society, the Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce, and other local institutions came together to form the advisory committee. Together, Hart says they will help guide how Hinsdale celebrates this milestone as a community. “We’re still working on final details but we know it won’t be limited to just July 4,” he adds. “We’re planning a year-long celebration of our nation’s birthday.”

Among the July 4 weekend events will be the official dedication of the new pavilion at Burlington Park, which was fully funded through private donations. There will also be a village-wide porch decorating contest, a project with the Hinsdale Historical Society that highlights Fourth of July celebrations from the village’s past, and of course, the big parade through downtown—this year featuring 250 Uncle Sams. “Hinsdale already has one of the best Fourth of July parades in the state and this year will be extra special,” says Hart. “We look forward to bringing people together in the lead-up to July 4 and beyond to recognize this important moment in our nation’s history in a way that honors our past and strengthens our community for the future.”