In an area primarily reserved for industrial sites like the Belt Railway Company of Chicago, the Village of Bedford Park is a small residential pocket with about 700 people. It lies at the edge of Chicago's southwestern city limits in Cook County and is about 15 miles from downtown. The area is within the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor, connected to the history of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. The railroads and the Illinois and Michigan Canal, which was completed in 1848, centered Chicago as the Midwest's main trading hub.
Train tracks to the east and Archer Road to the west separate suburban-style streets from the surrounding manufacturing and shipping facilities. It's a short commute to sites like CSX, the United States Postal Service, the Midway Hotel Complex and Midway International Airport.
Bedford Park is just minutes away from Midway Airport.
Bedford Park is a small community in an industrial area.
1/2
Home Rule and Enterprise Zone status
As one of the state's 200-plus Illinois Home Rule communities, the Village of Bedford Park's residents are engaged in their own system of government. The village president and trustees are elected and appointed officials include treasurers, clerks and attorneys. The community operates police, fire, water, public works and administrative departments.
The Illinois Enterprise Zone Program has enhanced economic development here. "It's been a wonderful incentive for Bedford Park," Mary Schmidt, zone assistant for the area, says. There are savings on the sales tax for building materials used in a project and the potential for a multiyear reduction in real estate taxes. "It runs the gamut, industrial and commercial. It could be anything within the specific geographic area, from a small, family owned restaurant to a hotel."
Bedford Park Municipal Complex is home to a number of public offices.
Bedford Park
1/2
Homeownership is the norm here
Houses were built starting in the 1950s, and bungalows, Cape Cods and ranch-style homes are most common. The smallest of these older homes are under 1,000 square feet. Contemporary builds from the 2010s to the present may have more than 3,000 square feet, often with finished basements. Over 90% of residences owner-inhabited. Values generally are around $240,000 to $320,000.
Single family homes have attached one car garages in Bedford Park.
Homes in Bedford Park come in multiple shapes and sizes.
1/2
Wintrust Sports Complex, SeatGeek soccer
"Probably the biggest project resulting from the Enterprise Zone Program is the Wintrust Sports Complex," Schmidt says. "It's an overall entertainment facility." Opening in 2021, it was created through a partnership between the village and Wintrust Financial Corporation. Now a premier Chicagoland destination, Wintrust Sports Complex hosts many trade shows, tournaments and corporate events. Some highlights of the 116,000-square-foot venue are the volleyball and basketball courts, an arcade and the Station Grille restaurant and bar.
Area soccer fans are sure to be regulars at the SeatGeek Stadium, home to Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League, the Chicago Fire Football Club and Major League Rugby's Chicago Hounds.
Bedford Park
Bedford Park is home of the newly built Wintrust Sports Complex.
Wintrust Sporsts Complex is a hotspot for Bedford Park athletes.
1/3
Walker Elementary and the library
Public schools include Walker Elementary, which has a B-minus from Niche, Heritage Middle, graded C-plus and Reavis High, B-plus. Another area high school, Argo Community, graded A-minus, has a dual credit program with Moraine Valley Community College.
Kids and folks of all ages can keep learning at the Bedford Public Library, host to nature walks, educational presentations and craft workshops. There's a children's play area inside of the Bedford Park Community Building, which houses an auditorium and communal spaces.
Walker Elementary serves the students of Bedford Park.
Find your next favorite book at the Bedford Park Public Library.
Discover all the activities the Bedford Park community center has to offer.
W.W. Walker Elementary School provides education in the neighborhood of
Bedford Park.
1/4
Southern Belle's BoNuts and more
Bedford Park residents choose from shopping locations close by. For department stores, an AMC movie theater and various eateries, there's Ford City Mall. Prime spots for necessities like groceries are Aldi, Walmart and Costco. Southern Belle's Pancake House on Archer Road is a spot for breakfast and lunch selections, from the "Un-porking Believable" biscuit to "BoNuts," or fried biscuit donuts.
Bedford Park has a number of breakfast spots like Southern Belle's.
Bedford Park residents can catch a movie at AMC Theatres.
Bedford Park residents can shop at Five Below just a few minutes away.
Keep in shape at Planet Fitness just minutes away from Bedford Park.
Walmart is a one stop shop for all Bedford Park residents.
1/5
Orange Line Station for the L
The L, with service to the downtown loop, is accessible from the Midway Orange Line Station. Metra stations within a 10-mile drive include Hollywood and Riverside; the BNSF line goes from Union Station to Aurora. Major roadways are Interstate 55 and state routes 43 and 50. O'Hare International Airport is about 30 miles away.
Midway Airport is just down the street from Bedford Park.
The Orange Line Midway stop is a short trip away from Bedford Park.
Bedford Park residents can catch the Metra at the station nearby.
1/3
Noise remediation at Belt Railway
The village has cooperated with the business community to tackle issues like industrial noise pollution, with the board voting in favor of steps for remediation. According to the Illinois Answers Project, by 2022, local money, as well as funding from the "Rebuild Illinois" infrastructure improvement package, had gone toward the effort. The $98 million dollars allotted to deal with the railroad noise came with some political controversy. Steps have been taken to reduce the noise issues associated with the Belt Railway Company of Chicago, yet the issue has not been entirely resolved.
Industrial dividing walls in Bedford Park keep the streets peaceful.
The CSX plant in Bedford Park produces intermodal and rail-to-truck services.
Bedford Park is part of the Clearing Industrial Disctrict.
1/3
Written By
Jillian Pillow
Photography Contributed By
Evan Brightfield
Video By
Jacob Cardwell
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Elena Pichardo,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
On average, homes in Bedford Park, IL sell after 25 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Bedford Park, IL over the last 12 months is $391,000, up 15% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Move in ready. Hardwood floors in LR and bedrooms. Sound proof windows and doors. Kitchen, dinning and bath have newer porcelain tile 12x24. Newer SS appliances. Lots of storage in basement with cedar closet and also just updated 1/2 bath. Hot water heater 2019, heating unit 2020, a/c unit 2021.
AVAILABLE REHABBED FOUR UNIT WITH ALL 2 BEDROOMS. 3 UNITS RECENTLY REHABBED. NEWEST REHABBED UNIT READY FOR RENTAL AND VIEWING. PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB TENANTS. ADDITIONAL FEATURES INCLUDE AN ATTACHED VACANT LOT AND 2 CAR GARAGE.
Move in ready. Hardwood floors in LR and bedrooms. Sound proof windows and doors. Kitchen, dinning and bath have newer porcelain tile 12x24. Newer SS appliances. Lots of storage in basement with cedar closet and also just updated 1/2 bath. Hot water heater 2019, heating unit 2020, a/c unit 2021.
Experience the ultimate in luxury living with this beautiful and pristine new construction - a must see. Wide open floor plan with 5 bedrooms and 3 full baths. Spacious family room with fireplace and a striking white kitchen with quartz counter tops. Hardwood floors throughout main level, custom cabinets, doors and trims, stainless steel appliances, and the list goes on and on. 1 year builders
Enjoy a fully furnished studio suite in our hotel at an affordable rate with free wi-fi, free utilities and free premium cable. Each studio suite has a full kitchen with full-size refrigerator, stovetop and microwave, and has a flexible workspace and plenty of storage. All our hotels are pet-friendly and have on-site guest laundry available. Plus, there are no long-term commitments and you can
Nicely rehabbed cozy 2 bedroom unit with brand new stainless steel appliances and granite counter-tops and new cabinets with luxurious backsplash. Features new engineered laminated flooring throughout and drywall along with new doors and windows. Lavish bathroom with walk-in shower. New digital locks added for new era technology. Freshly painted and ready for occupancy. Easy to show. Short notice
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
