Officials celebrate the grand opening of the downtown plaza on Friday, July 18. It's booked for the weekend, with the two-day Block Party.
TINLEY PARK, IL — Tinley Park officials' vision for a multi-use plaza in the downtown is on full display, with the opening of Harmony Square Friday.
The $38 million project at 6700 North Street was unveiled to the community Friday, with people exploring the fully enhanced, redesigned and open air venue on 1.6 acres at the corner of Oak Park Avenue and North Street.
The plans—which included a tear-down and rebuild of historic Teehan's Tavern, a stage and easily convertible open space—were years in the making, with construction beginning in 2024.
“Harmony Square has been a key component of our vision for a first-class downtown for many years now, and it’s exciting to be here as it transitions from a dream to reality,” Mayor Michael Glotz said previously. “This is something that’s not just huge for Tinley Park—it’s a big win for the entire region. Harmony Square will be a draw, with economic benefits that will extend well beyond our borders.”
Harmony Square highlights include a synthetic turf lawn, a water feature, a 30-by-50-foot concert stage, fire pits, a synthetic ice rink in the winter with curling lanes, a gateway pergola and much more.
"Harmony Square was designed by the Lakota Group as a 'third place' beyond work and home for residents and visitors to come to and relax," according to the Village's website.
Aerial shots shown on the Village website and spanning April 2024 to July 2025 have captured the project's progress, from empty lot to finished product.
At ground level, visitors are greeted by open space nestled within a bustling downtown. At one main entrance, visitors step under a pergola bearing the plaza's name. They're met with a clear view of the stage, with turf ready for chairs and blankets. A water feature at one end spouts fountains as a splash pad.
Harmony Square features three key buildings: one at the northeast corner of Oak Park Avenue and 173rd, a smaller building called Studio 67 at the northeast corner of the plaza, and the reconstructed Teehan's. The first building houses the stage and other key components that make it amenable for visiting bands. It features a ramp with access to the road, for visiting bands to easily move equipment as needed. Inside, a green room offers a climate-controlled space for bands to prep, or relax between sets. The stage looks out at the airy plaza, with string lights stretching overhead.
Studio 67 is a separate building designed as private rental space that can can accommodate 89 people. It's flanked by open space that can easily be cordoned off for events and VIP purposes—and it comes with its own bathrooms, small kitchen area, and views.
A concessions window accessible from outside the main building offers access to Durbin's food and drink offerings. The newly built Durbin's opened in the spring, with a rooftop bar and seating designed to overlook the plaza.
In March, the Village also reopened beloved local watering hole Teehan’s Tavern. They had purchased the rights to the name for $200,000 in 2023 and tore down the 171-year-old building, erecting a near-replica in its place. In a nod to the building's deep roots, a visual history is on display with framed photos of the cherished pub through the years.
Harmony Square will feature yearlong events (some returning, some brand new), and was envisioned to easily transition for use season-to-season, and for a wide variety of events, said Village of Tinley Park Public Information Office Jason Freeman. Events including the farmers market, Music in the Plaza, Boo Bash and Holiday Happenings will move to the plaza. It'll also host events like a season light show, movie showings, streaming sports, and community yoga classes. See a schedule of events planned for the space.
"We wanted something that was big enough to accommodate all those things but also still be cozy," Freeman said.
With its grand opening Friday night, rock band BoDeans plays a free concert. Saturday and Sunday, it hosts the Village's two-day Block Party, with bands lined up for two stages and food and drink vendors on site. That party runs from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 19 and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 20 in and around Harmony Square, 6700 North St.
The project—which included overhauls to infrastructure, sidewalk and road improvements, and other miscellaneous projects—cost an estimated $38 million, Freeman said.
The Village has been earmarked all video game revenues and a portion of amusement tax revenues for the project since 2017, Freeman said, and the Village has been setting aside funds for it for 15 years. Bond proceeds were also used, he said.
"We are thrilled that Harmony Square’s grand opening is finally here," Mayor Michael Glotz told Patch. "This development has been a long time in the making. We are so excited to see the benefits that this development will bring to Tinley Park and the entire region."