Founded in 1832 by Pierce Downer, the first settler in the area, the village of Downers Grove is located approximately 20 miles west of downtown Chicago. Located in DuPage County, the suburb has a population of about 50,000. It boasts abundant recreational activities, an excellent educational system, an attractive mix of housing...
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Founded in 1832 by Pierce Downer, the first settler in the area, the village of Downers Grove is located approximately 20 miles west of downtown Chicago. Located in DuPage County, the suburb has a population of about 50,000. It boasts abundant recreational activities, an excellent educational system, an attractive mix of housing styles, and plentiful shopping opportunities. It is also the site of Good Samaritan Hospital- a Level 1 Trauma Center with approximately 650 physicians representing more than 55 specialties.
For recreation, residents have many activities from which to choose. They can exercise at the Downer Grove Park District's Recreation and Fitness Center; play some miniature golf, have a picnic or play some tennis at McCollum Park; relax at Hoopers Hollow Park; swim at the Indian Boundary YMCA; ice skate at the Downers Grove Ice Arena; bowl some games at Tivoli Bowl; participate in some volleyball, bowling or billiards at North Beach Downers Grove; or play a round of golf at the nine-hole Downers Grove Golf Course, established in 1892.
Education is a top priority in Downers Grove. Elementary and middle school students can choose from a large number of public and private schools; in addition the Avery Coonley School is a private, independent, non-denominational school for pre-schoolers, students in the lower grades and middle school students. High school students attend Downers Grove North and Downers Grove South high schools; both schools have had the honor of receiving the National Award for Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education.
There is housing in Downers Grove to fit all budgets. Higher priced properties include homes in subdivisions like Denburn Woods, Regency Grove, Bending Oaks and Orchard Brook; they feature large ranch homes and attractive two-story dwellings. There are also new townhouse developments including Mistwood and Villas of Bending Oaks that offer luxury housing. Downers Grove also features a variety of condos, townhomes and other single-family residences that list at lower prices. For shopping, residents have a large number of areas from which to choose.
In the heart of downtown Downers Grove, they can browse through home furnishing stores, book stores and upscale boutiques. Other shopping areas include the Butterfield/Finley Road shopping district near the intersection of I-355 and I-88; the 75th Street and Lemont Road shopping district on the south side of town; Green Knolls Shopping Center on the western part of town; Meadowbrook Shopping Center at 63rd Street and Woodward Avenue, also in west Downers Grove; Ogden Avenue shopping (Downers Plaza and the Main Street Mall at the northwest corner of Butterfield and Finley Roads.
For a bit of culture, residents can take advantage of the Downers Grove Oratorio Society, the DuPage County Symphony, the Downers Grove Artists Guild and the Downers Grove Art Festival, which is held on the second Saturday in September each year. The community's annual Heritage Festival is held on the last weekend in June, and features a street fair, arts and crafts show, antique auto exhibit, carnival rides and other attractions. Residents can also relax and listen to a free summertime concert provided by the Downers Grove Park District that is held at the Fishel Park band shell.
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