Quiet living with sophisticated amenities in northwest Chicagoland
Deer Park was once a quiet rural community populated largely by farmers. But since the 1970s, this community on the northwest end of the Chicago community has bloomed into a desirable village with a suburban lifestyle and convenient proximity to shopping, dining and entertainment options., “Deer Park is a bedroom-type community,” says Cherie Smith Zurek, a real estate specialist with RE/MAX Suburban. Zurek has sold homes in Chicagoland since 1986.
Spacious lots with nostalgic home designs and refined townhomes
Buyers searching for properties with plenty of breathing room won’t be disappointed by Deer Park’s housing options. Many of the area’s most impressive homes take notes from Tudor and Colonial Revival architecture with large floorplans and nostalgic features like brick exteriors and dormer windows. These dwellings also sit on large lots, often arranged neatly along cul-de-sacs and pastoral residential streets. Buyers can find these homes on the market between $550,000 and $1 million, with some homes on the higher end sitting on waterfront lots. Aside from the area’s single-family homes, locals can also find premium townhomes nearby, with shared traditional stylings. “Those are highly sought after because you can walk to the mall from the townhomes,” Zurek says. Prices range from about $490,000 to $550,000.
Acclaimed education from Barrington and Lake Zurich district schools
Public school students in Deer Park attend schools within Barrington Community School District 220 and Lake Zurich Community School District 95. Young students attend schools such as Arnett C. Lines Elementary School, which has a student-teacher ratio of 14:1 and earns an A grade on Niche. The A-ranked Barrington Middle School Prairie Campus offers varied athletics programs for students, from traditional options such as basketball and cross country to eclectic choices such as golf and bowling. Students at the A-plus-ranked Barrington High School can choose from more than 80 extracurricular activities.
Close proximity to shopping squares
Residents can handle everyday shopping and find specialty goods at the plazas along Rand Road. Trader Joe’s, Target, Jewel-Osco, Costco and Whole Foods locations are close by for the essentials. Popular stops such as Evereve, Barnes & Noble, Apple and Sephora are available at Deer Park Town Center, while The Shops at Kildeer across the street features Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy, Five Below and Michaels, among other options. Refined dining options are plentiful nearby. French selections await at D&J Bistro, while Beelow’s Steakhouse & Bar serves elevated barbecue fare and Gianni’s Café is a go-to spot for Italian dishes. Modern art and décor accompany the teppanyaki-style cooking and sushi at Tsukasa of Tokyo. Locals can also find premium chains such as Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant and Stoney River, along with casual picks like Chick-fil-A and California Pizza Kitchen.
Unique forest preserves and familiar neighborhood parks
Deer Park is just north of Deer Grove Forest Preserve, a protected area with more than 2,000 acres of recreational space. Locals can find winding walking trails, spacious dog parks and prime fishing spots nearby. Other unique amenities include a dedicated area for flying drones and model airplanes and staffed sledding hills in the winter. To the neighborhood’s west, Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve provides 3 miles of trails and additional space for furry friends to explore on and off the leash (with a permit). “It’s a great, big, beautiful park full of wetlands, woods and walking trails,” Zurek says. Charles E. Brown Park, Micheal D’Angelo Park and Chapel Hill Park each act as reliable neighborhood parks nearby.
A 40 mile drive to the Windy City
North Rand Road/US-12 acts as Deer Park’s primary connecting highway to neighboring areas in the northwest end of Chicagoland. For those traveling into the city proper for work or play, the village is about 40 miles northwest of the Chicago Loop. For those who prefer commuting by train, the nearest Metra station in Barrington is about 3 miles west. The nearest emergency medical center is Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, 7 miles northwest of the neighborhood. Flights into the Chicago area land at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, 22 miles southeast of Deer Park.
Gym days, movie matinees and bowling nights
Exercise-minded residents can schedule sessions at Orangetheory Fitness, Burn Boot Camp or Planet Fitness locations nearby. Consume lets residents enjoy gastropub selections and take home bottles of their favorite fine wines and beers. Family-friendly fun nearby includes Bowlero Deer Park, where the young and old can aim for strikes on 40 bowling lanes. New films arrive weekly at Cinemark Century Deer Park 16 and Regal Lake Zurich, the area’s local cinemas. Residents can also enjoy events organized by the village itself. “We host Meet Your Neighbor events, and because we do not collect property taxes, these events are for residents only. Our most popular event is National Night Out, which is a national police and citizen event that happens throughout the U.S.,” says Karen Kasregis, assistant to the administrator at the Village of Deer Park’s local government office. Other events hosted at the village include seasonal gatherings like meet and greets with Santa, Easter egg hunts and fall pumpkin festivals.
