A village with world-famous architecture, outstanding schools, a variety of recreational activities, excellent transportation, and a culturally diverse and involved group of citizens, the village of Oak Park is located nine miles west of Chicago's Loop in Cook County. The Eisenhower Expressway is nearby. To reach downtown Chicago,...
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A village with world-famous architecture, outstanding schools, a variety of recreational activities, excellent transportation, and a culturally diverse and involved group of citizens, the village of Oak Park is located nine miles west of Chicago's Loop in Cook County. The Eisenhower Expressway is nearby. To reach downtown Chicago, commuters can board a CTA Lake Street or Congress train or a Metra train for a 20-minute ride. Pace buses and Oak Park's convenient in-town shuttle service also provide reliable transportation. The population of Oak Park is 52,524 (2000). Oak Park is the birthplace of famed writer Ernest Hemingway, Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs and McDonald's founder Ray Kroc. In addition, the village boasts more architectural masterpieces by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright than anywhere else in the world; these include the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio located at Forest and Chicago Avenues, Unity Temple on Lake Street, and a large number of private homes. An annual tour each spring of the interiors of residences and public buildings designed by Wright and his contemporaries attracts visitors from around the world. Oak Park's housing stock is diverse in terms of styles and prices. Housing styles include stucco, frame, Victorian, and brick single-family residences, as well as a large number of apartments and condominiums that are scattered throughout the village. Oak Park has two national historic districts that contain hundreds of architecturally significant structures. Most recently, a large number of condominiums have been constructed, primarily in the downtown area and in major shopping districts in Oak Park. Though starter single-family homes are available, particularly in the southern section of the village, the cost of single-family homes tends to be pricey. Education is a high priority in Oak Park. There are various private and parochial schools in town; students can also attend a number of grade and middle schools. The top-notch Oak Park-River Forest High School on Scoville Avenue boasts a high graduation rate and a large number of extracurricular activities in which students can become involved. In their leisure time, Oak Parkers have a wide variety of activities from which to choose. A summertime farmer's market is a popular event, and villagers can see a movie at the Art Deco-style Lake Theatre on Lake Street. They can also go swimming or ice skating at Ridgeland Common, browse at the village's various art galleries and bookstores, do some shopping in the central shopping district at Lake Street and Harlem Avenues, attend the annual village-wide "A Day in Our Village" event, and sign up for one of many classes offered by the Oak Park Park District. Oak Park also boasts a variety of cuisines- everything from ice cream parlors, coffee shops and casual dining spots to upscale restaurants.
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