Western Springs, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Western Springs is a suburb of Chicago
located in Cook County, Illinois
. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 12,493. It is twinned with Rugeley
, United Kingdom
.
In November, 2007, BusinessWeek.com
listed Western Springs second in a list of the 50 best places to raise children. The rankings were based on five factors, including school test scores, cost of living, recreational and cultural activities, number of schools and risk of crime. Western Springs ranked behind Groesbeck, Ohio
.
Around the turn of the 18th century, nomadic Potawatomi Native Americans settled in the Western Springs area. It is unclear whether they built a village, but evidence of temporary campsites has been found near Flagg Creek in Forest Hills. The natives were gone by the end of 1835, but Potawatomi artifacts may still be found buried in the Springdale neighborhood.
The first known settler in the area near Western Springs was Elijah Wentworth. By 1834, after the Black Hawk War, farmer Joseph Vial had moved from New York and built a cabin along what is now Plainfield Road, an ex-Native American trail in the south of Western Springs. This cabin served as a stagecoach station, hotel, general store, and post office for the entire area.
The CB&Q Railroad built a line through Western Springs in 1863, filling in much of the west-side swamp in the process. In 1870 the Western Springs Land Association, consisting of promoter Thomas Clarkson Hill, William Page, and two sons of Phillip F. W. Peck, bought the three tracts that make up the area for $105,000.
A large number of early residents were Quakers, and deeds often prohibited the sale of alcohol. In 1872 Hill moved to the area from Chicago, and the community began organizing to attract more commuters. Residents built a wooden schoolhouse (1872) and a post office (1873). Over time, with increased commuter settlement, Western Springs came to look less and less Quaker.
In 1885 the Grand Avenue School replaced the wooden schoolhouse, and the office of village marshal was created as a combination policeman, dogcatcher, and groundskeeper. In 1886 the Friend's Church (razed in 1958) was built on the corner of Walnut and Woodland. That same year Western Springs incorporated as a village on February 30, 1886 by a public vote of 34 to 25. The voting townspeople elected a prominent Quaker developer, T. C. Hill, as the town's first president.
After the spring dried up in 1890, the village hired engineers Edgar and Benezette Williams to build the village waterworks system, including the famous water tower. Constructed using Naperville stone, the tower stood 112 feet (34.1 m) high. Replaced in 1962, it became a museum in 1970 and entered the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
Western Springs added many improvements over the years, including a fire department (1894), electric plant (1898), telephones (1899), a park district (1923), and a library (1926). The village expanded south of 47th Street, annexing the subdivisions of Forest Hills (1927), Springdale (1955), and Ridgewood (1973). Spring Rock Park was created in 1931, and four more parks followed in 1945.
Like many western suburbs, a number of Western Springs' older homes have been renovated or replaced with more expensive housing, upsetting a multitude of residents.
Until recently, the Village has not permitted the sale of alcoholic beverages. Currently, a number of establishments sell alcohol, including Paul Virant's Vie, and Hillgrove Cellars on the corner of Wolf Road and Hillgrove Avenue.
Western Springs is located 15 miles (24.1 km) west of the Loop
, and encompasses roughly the area between Willow Springs Road, Ogden Avenue, Interstate 294
and Plainfield Road.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, in 2000 the village had a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²). 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
On March 21, 2005, the Village of Western Springs annexed the former Timber Trails golf course which is now being developed into a new community of single-family homes and townhomes. The property added 105.9 acre (0.428562474 km²) to the village.
of 2000, there were 12,493 people, 4,318 households, and 3,614 families residing in the village. The population density
was 4,756.7 people per square mile (1,834.1/km²). There were 4,444 housing units at an average density of 1,692.0 per square mile (652.4/km²). The racial makeup
of the village was 98.32% White, 0.18% African American
, 0.04% Native American
, 0.72% Asian
, 0.21% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
The top five ancestries reported in Western Springs as of the 2000 census were Irish
(29.9%), German
(27.8%), Polish
(13.8%), Italian
(13.5%) and English (9.0%).
There were 4,318 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.1% were married couples
living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the village the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $98,876, and the median income for a family was $108,870. In 2009, this went up to $139,758. Males had a median income of $82,580 versus $41,214 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $43,699. 0.9% of the population and 0.7% of families were below the poverty line. 1.0% of those under the age of 18 and 1.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
; the district's congressman, Dan Lipinski
, is a resident of the village.
Boy Scouts of America
Campfire Boys and Girls
4-H Tower Town
Girl Scouts of Prairie Winds
Home School Council
Interfaith Community Partners
Job's Daughters/>
Kiwanis Club of Western Springs
Lyons Township Office
Old Town Northwest Association
Parents Without Partners
Proviso Township Office
Ridgewood Civic Association
Rotary Club of Western Springs
Springdale Civic Association
Theatre of Western Springs - Website
Veterans of Foreign War
Village Club of Western Springs
West Suburban Chamber of Commerce
Western Springs Garden Club
Western Springs Business Association - Website
Western Springs Children's Museum
Western Springs Community Center Assoc.
Western Springs Fire and Rescue
Western Springs Junior Football Association
Western Springs Historical Society
Western Springs Historical Society Archives
Western Springs Lacrosse
Western Springs Masonic Temple
Western Springs Women's Club
Western Springs V.F.W.
) runs east-west along the northern border. U.S. 34 intersects with the Tri-State Tollway
(I-294), on the western border. The main north-south street in the village is Wolf Road, designated as a Blue Star Memorial Highway
The BNSF Railway
runs through Western Springs. Daily commuter service on that line, connecting Aurora
and Chicago
, is provided by Metra
. Freight rail traffic on the line is heavy, with BNSF operating freight trains on all three mainline routes through the village. During non-rush hours, a freight train may run along the line as frequently as once every ten minutes on average. Amtrak also runs this subdivision with passenger trains such as the Southwest Chief and the Illinois Zephyr
A new train station
was built in 2004-2005, and the north platform was remodeled in 2008. The new station is a virtual replica of a train station that was demolished in 1972. Some residents criticized the building new stations in 1972, 2004, and 2008 as wasteful, aesthetic improvements.
Passenger airline service is available at O'Hare and Midway airports, both located in Chicago.
Commuter bus service is provided by Pace, the suburban bus division of the Regional Transportation Authority.
Metra The BNSF & Amtrak have at least up to a 130 trains a day. 6 Amtrak trains both directions as well as 96 METRA trains from Morning Rush to Midnight CST and around 25 or more freight trains. Sometimes around 145 trains can come through. Your average BNSF train is from 100 to about 125, mainly consisting of coal, and intermodal trains. METRA runs anywhere from 5-11 cars per train, with the average being 6 cars.
Western Springs School District 101
serves the original neighborhoods of Western Springs and is comprised four school: Field Park, Forest Hills, and Laidlaw Elementary Schools serve K-5 students and McClure Junior High serves students in grades 6-8. La Grange Highlands School District 106 serves students from other, newer neighborhoods (e.g., Ridgewood) and operates two schools: La Grange Highlands Elementary, which serves K-5 students, and La Grange Highlands Middle School for students in grades 6-8.
All elementary and middle schools that serve Western Springs feed into Lyons Township High School District 204. Lyons Township High School has two campuses: Freshmen and Sophomores attend the South Campus in Western Springs and Juniors and Seniors attend the North Campus in LaGrange
Adventist Hinsdale Hospital (4 miles from downtown Western Springs)
Ridgewood Park
Laidlaw Park
Spring Rock Park
Springdale Park
Forest Hills Park
Clarke Park
Northwest Park
Northeast Park
Field Park
Timber Trails Park
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
located in Cook County, Illinois
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 12,493. It is twinned with Rugeley
Rugeley
Rugeley is a historic market town in the county of Staffordshire, England. It lies on the northern edge of Cannock Chase, and is situated roughly midway between the towns of Stafford, Cannock, Lichfield and Uttoxeter...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
In November, 2007, BusinessWeek.com
BusinessWeek
Bloomberg Businessweek, commonly and formerly known as BusinessWeek, is a weekly business magazine published by Bloomberg L.P. It is currently headquartered in New York City.- History :...
listed Western Springs second in a list of the 50 best places to raise children. The rankings were based on five factors, including school test scores, cost of living, recreational and cultural activities, number of schools and risk of crime. Western Springs ranked behind Groesbeck, Ohio
Groesbeck, Ohio
Groesbeck is a census-designated place in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 7,202 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Groesbeck is located at ....
.
History
Western Springs, located along the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (now the Burlington Northern Santa Fe) between Chicago and Aurora, encompasses roughly the area between Willow Springs Road, Ogden Avenue, Interstate 294, and 55th Street. Named for local mineral springs on the southwest side of town, Western Springs originally consisted of flat prairie land with a swamp on its western border.Around the turn of the 18th century, nomadic Potawatomi Native Americans settled in the Western Springs area. It is unclear whether they built a village, but evidence of temporary campsites has been found near Flagg Creek in Forest Hills. The natives were gone by the end of 1835, but Potawatomi artifacts may still be found buried in the Springdale neighborhood.
The first known settler in the area near Western Springs was Elijah Wentworth. By 1834, after the Black Hawk War, farmer Joseph Vial had moved from New York and built a cabin along what is now Plainfield Road, an ex-Native American trail in the south of Western Springs. This cabin served as a stagecoach station, hotel, general store, and post office for the entire area.
The CB&Q Railroad built a line through Western Springs in 1863, filling in much of the west-side swamp in the process. In 1870 the Western Springs Land Association, consisting of promoter Thomas Clarkson Hill, William Page, and two sons of Phillip F. W. Peck, bought the three tracts that make up the area for $105,000.
A large number of early residents were Quakers, and deeds often prohibited the sale of alcohol. In 1872 Hill moved to the area from Chicago, and the community began organizing to attract more commuters. Residents built a wooden schoolhouse (1872) and a post office (1873). Over time, with increased commuter settlement, Western Springs came to look less and less Quaker.
In 1885 the Grand Avenue School replaced the wooden schoolhouse, and the office of village marshal was created as a combination policeman, dogcatcher, and groundskeeper. In 1886 the Friend's Church (razed in 1958) was built on the corner of Walnut and Woodland. That same year Western Springs incorporated as a village on February 30, 1886 by a public vote of 34 to 25. The voting townspeople elected a prominent Quaker developer, T. C. Hill, as the town's first president.
After the spring dried up in 1890, the village hired engineers Edgar and Benezette Williams to build the village waterworks system, including the famous water tower. Constructed using Naperville stone, the tower stood 112 feet (34.1 m) high. Replaced in 1962, it became a museum in 1970 and entered the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
Western Springs added many improvements over the years, including a fire department (1894), electric plant (1898), telephones (1899), a park district (1923), and a library (1926). The village expanded south of 47th Street, annexing the subdivisions of Forest Hills (1927), Springdale (1955), and Ridgewood (1973). Spring Rock Park was created in 1931, and four more parks followed in 1945.
Like many western suburbs, a number of Western Springs' older homes have been renovated or replaced with more expensive housing, upsetting a multitude of residents.
Until recently, the Village has not permitted the sale of alcoholic beverages. Currently, a number of establishments sell alcohol, including Paul Virant's Vie, and Hillgrove Cellars on the corner of Wolf Road and Hillgrove Avenue.
Geography
Western Springs is located at 41°48'20" North, 87°54'4" West (41.805531, -87.901035).Western Springs is located 15 miles (24.1 km) west of the Loop
Chicago Loop
The Loop or Chicago Loop is one of 77 officially designated Chicago community areas located in the City of Chicago, Illinois. It is the historic commercial center of downtown Chicago...
, and encompasses roughly the area between Willow Springs Road, Ogden Avenue, Interstate 294
Interstate 294
Interstate 294 is a tolled Interstate Highway in northeastern Illinois, U.S.A.. It forms the southern portion of the Tri-State Tollway in Illinois. I-294 runs from South Holland at Interstates 80 and 94, and Illinois Route 394 to Northbrook at I-94. Interstate 294 is long; are shared with I-80....
and Plainfield Road.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, in 2000 the village had a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²). 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
On March 21, 2005, the Village of Western Springs annexed the former Timber Trails golf course which is now being developed into a new community of single-family homes and townhomes. The property added 105.9 acre (0.428562474 km²) to the village.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 12,493 people, 4,318 households, and 3,614 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,756.7 people per square mile (1,834.1/km²). There were 4,444 housing units at an average density of 1,692.0 per square mile (652.4/km²). The racial makeup
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of the village was 98.32% White, 0.18% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.04% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.72% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.21% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population were Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
The top five ancestries reported in Western Springs as of the 2000 census were Irish
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
(29.9%), German
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
(27.8%), Polish
Polish American
A Polish American , is a citizen of the United States of Polish descent. There are an estimated 10 million Polish Americans, representing about 3.2% of the population of the United States...
(13.8%), Italian
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
(13.5%) and English (9.0%).
There were 4,318 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the village the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $98,876, and the median income for a family was $108,870. In 2009, this went up to $139,758. Males had a median income of $82,580 versus $41,214 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $43,699. 0.9% of the population and 0.7% of families were below the poverty line. 1.0% of those under the age of 18 and 1.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Government
Western Springs' village president is William Rodeghier. Western Springs is in Illinois' 3rd congressional districtIllinois' 3rd congressional district
The 3rd Congressional District of Illinois includes part of Cook County, and has been represented by Democrat Dan Lipinski since January 2005. The district was previously represented by his father Bill Lipinski beginning in 1993....
; the district's congressman, Dan Lipinski
Dan Lipinski
Daniel William Lipinski is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes much of the southwest side of Chicago, along with such suburbs as Oak Lawn and Brookfield....
, is a resident of the village.
Area organizations
American Association of University Women (no longer an active chapter)Boy Scouts of America
Campfire Boys and Girls
4-H Tower Town
Girl Scouts of Prairie Winds
Home School Council
Interfaith Community Partners
Job's Daughters/>
Kiwanis Club of Western Springs
Lyons Township Office
Old Town Northwest Association
Parents Without Partners
Proviso Township Office
Ridgewood Civic Association
Rotary Club of Western Springs
Springdale Civic Association
Theatre of Western Springs - Website
Veterans of Foreign War
Village Club of Western Springs
West Suburban Chamber of Commerce
Western Springs Garden Club
Western Springs Business Association - Website
Western Springs Children's Museum
Western Springs Community Center Assoc.
Western Springs Fire and Rescue
Western Springs Junior Football Association
Western Springs Historical Society
Western Springs Historical Society Archives
Western Springs Lacrosse
Western Springs Masonic Temple
Western Springs Women's Club
Western Springs V.F.W.
Transportation
One major highway traverses Western Springs; Ogden Avenue (U.S. Route 34U.S. Route 34
U.S. Route 34 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 1,122 miles from north-central Colorado to the western suburbs of Chicago. Through Rocky Mountain National Park it is known as the Trail Ridge Road where it reaches 12,183 ft , making it the highest paved through highway in...
) runs east-west along the northern border. U.S. 34 intersects with the Tri-State Tollway
Tri-State Tollway
The Tri-State Tollway is a U.S. toll road maintained by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority in northeastern Illinois which is considered one of the most heavily traveled highways in the country...
(I-294), on the western border. The main north-south street in the village is Wolf Road, designated as a Blue Star Memorial Highway
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Blue Star Memorial Highways are highways in the United States that are marked to pay tribute to the U.S. armed forces. The National Council of State Garden Clubs, now known as National Garden Clubs, Inc., started the program in 1945 after World War II. The blue star was used on service flags to...
The BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
runs through Western Springs. Daily commuter service on that line, connecting Aurora
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, is provided by Metra
Metra
Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by...
. Freight rail traffic on the line is heavy, with BNSF operating freight trains on all three mainline routes through the village. During non-rush hours, a freight train may run along the line as frequently as once every ten minutes on average. Amtrak also runs this subdivision with passenger trains such as the Southwest Chief and the Illinois Zephyr
A new train station
Western Springs (Metra)
Western Springs is a station on Metra's BNSF Railway Line in Western Springs, Illinois. The station is from Union Station, the east end of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Western Springs is in zone D. There is a staffed station building...
was built in 2004-2005, and the north platform was remodeled in 2008. The new station is a virtual replica of a train station that was demolished in 1972. Some residents criticized the building new stations in 1972, 2004, and 2008 as wasteful, aesthetic improvements.
Passenger airline service is available at O'Hare and Midway airports, both located in Chicago.
Commuter bus service is provided by Pace, the suburban bus division of the Regional Transportation Authority.
Metra The BNSF & Amtrak have at least up to a 130 trains a day. 6 Amtrak trains both directions as well as 96 METRA trains from Morning Rush to Midnight CST and around 25 or more freight trains. Sometimes around 145 trains can come through. Your average BNSF train is from 100 to about 125, mainly consisting of coal, and intermodal trains. METRA runs anywhere from 5-11 cars per train, with the average being 6 cars.
Education
The Village of Western Springs is served by two public elementary school districts, and one public high school district.Western Springs School District 101
Western Springs School District 101
Western Springs School District 101 is an elementary school district located in the affluent central Cook County village of Western Springs, Illinois, which is a Chicago suburb. The district is composed of four schools: three are elementary schools and one is a junior high school, and all four are...
serves the original neighborhoods of Western Springs and is comprised four school: Field Park, Forest Hills, and Laidlaw Elementary Schools serve K-5 students and McClure Junior High serves students in grades 6-8. La Grange Highlands School District 106 serves students from other, newer neighborhoods (e.g., Ridgewood) and operates two schools: La Grange Highlands Elementary, which serves K-5 students, and La Grange Highlands Middle School for students in grades 6-8.
All elementary and middle schools that serve Western Springs feed into Lyons Township High School District 204. Lyons Township High School has two campuses: Freshmen and Sophomores attend the South Campus in Western Springs and Juniors and Seniors attend the North Campus in LaGrange
Health
Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital, operated by Adventist Health System, is a level-two trauma center. The hospital has 270 inpatient beds. A $79 million renovation and expansion of the facility was completed in early 2007. (3 miles from downtown Western Springs)Adventist Hinsdale Hospital (4 miles from downtown Western Springs)
Parks
Ridge Acres ParkRidgewood Park
Laidlaw Park
Spring Rock Park
Springdale Park
Forest Hills Park
Clarke Park
Northwest Park
Northeast Park
Field Park
Timber Trails Park
Famous residents
- Melinda CuleaMelinda CuleaMelinda Culea is an American film and television actress, who moved into acting after working as a model.-The A-Team:...
- actress - Steve DahlSteve DahlSteven Robert Dahl has been an American radio personality and humorist for more than thirty years. He is currently podcasting, and releases the podcasts for download daily from his own website as well as the iTunes store...
- former radio personality, podcaster - Jonathan FranzenJonathan FranzenJonathan Franzen is an American novelist and essayist. His third novel, The Corrections , a sprawling, satirical family drama, drew widespread critical acclaim, earned Franzen a National Book Award, and was a finalist for the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction...
- novelist - Billy GrahamBilly GrahamWilliam Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
- Christian evangelist - John HattendorfJohn HattendorfJohn Brewster Hattendorf is an American naval historian. He is the author, co-author, editor, or co-editor of more than forty books on British and American maritime history and naval warfare. In 2005, the U.S...
- maritime historian - John KassJohn KassJohn Kass is a Chicago Tribune columnist.The son of a Greek immigrant grocer, Kass was born June 25, 1956, on the South Side of Chicago and grew up there and in Oak Lawn, IL. He held many jobs - retailer, ditch digger, waiter - before becoming a student of film at Columbia College in Chicago...
- Columnist for the Chicago Tribune - Dan LipinskiDan LipinskiDaniel William Lipinski is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes much of the southwest side of Chicago, along with such suburbs as Oak Lawn and Brookfield....
- U.S. Congressman - Ellmore PattersonEllmore PattersonEllmore C. Patterson was founder of Warner-Patterson Company and an amateur sports promoter.-Business career:...
- co-founder of Warner-Patterson Co. and sports promoter - George Beverly SheaGeorge Beverly SheaGeorge Beverly "Bev" Shea is a Grammy Award-winning Canadian-born American gospel singer and hymn composer. Shea has often been described as "America's beloved Gospel singer" and is considered "the first international singing 'star' of the gospel world," as a consequence of his solos at Billy...
- gospel singer with Billy Graham. - James YoungJames Young (American musician)James "J.Y." Young is a guitarist, singer and songwriter, and member of the rock band, Styx. Young began playing keyboard and piano at the age of five. He attended Calumet High in Chicago and learned to play clarinet and guitar during those years.J.Y...
, (aka: James "J.Y." Young) - Guitarist for the band StyxStyx (band)Styx is an American rock band that became famous for its albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Chicago band is known for melding the style of prog-rock with the power of hard rock guitar, strong ballads, and elements of American musical theater....