This Chicago suburb has promoted integration for more than 50 years. New challenges have local officials reevaluating their approach

On a recent Thursday evening, the streets of Oak Park were crowded with people, camping out in lawn chairs as they listened to live music, popping in and out of storefronts and watching their kids run around.

The street was lined with food, drink and art vendors for “Thursday Night Out,” a weekly event during the summer months to bring people in the Chicago suburb together downtown.

Families navigated stroller traffic jams on the sidewalks as groups of teens decided what activity to do next. In the theme of June’s Pride Month, drag queens strolled up and down the street, stopping to take photos with attendees.

Dwayne Smith, 53, attended with his daughter Rachel. A former real estate professional, Smith said Oak Park is one of the most diverse communities in the Chicago area, especially his neighborhood on the village’s southern end. Rachel, 10, said she likes how random people on the street say hello to you.

But it’s not perfect, her father said.

“I believe there are still a lot of siloed groups as it comes to race,” Smith said. “Many of the neighborhoods are integrated, but certain people gravitate toward certain parts of the city.”

Over the last 50 years,