Wheatfield blends country living with regional connections
“Being just south of Porter County, Wheatfield allows for people who don’t enjoy the bigger city life to appreciate a slower, more rural environment. It is also just 8 miles east of and shares a school corporation with DeMotte, which is a great community as well," says the Managing Librarian at Wheatfield Public Library, Evie Parrish. Parrish is also the Secretary and Treasurer for the Wheatfield Chamber of Commerce as well as a Board of Education Member – Kankakee Valley School Corporation.
Family-owned shops and diners have longtime ties with the community
From Wheatfield, “It is quick and easy to drive up Highway 49 to Valparaiso to find an abundance of shops, doctors, and activities,” Parrish says. In town, there are Mom-and-Pop shops like local favorite Stowers and Sons Meat and Grocers. Since 1944, this market has been a family-owned and operated business focused on selling the best meats to their customers. Shoppers can stroll down memory lane while they pick up their items because, on every aisle, there are newspaper clippings that capture moments in Stowers and Sons history. Locals looking for a bite to eat can stop in at Marcella’s Pizzeria. “Marcella’s Pizzeria has been around for many years and is famous for its garlic knots, but anything you order is delicious,” Parrish says. She also shares, “Heather’s Diner recently moved to Wheatfield from DeMotte and has quickly made a name for itself for the prompt and friendly service, large portions, and variety of good food.”
Simple architecture, acres of land and committed neighbors
The houses are mostly Colonial Revivals and ranch-style, reflecting the town's easy-going, small-town feel with their simple, nonornamental designs. These houses sit on ranges of acreage, allowing homeowners to decorate their lawns with either backyard playsets or plowed fields. While some houses come with a paved driveway, others are guided by gravel and flattened grass lanes to show guests where to park. To get an idea of home values, a three-bedroom home built in 2010, cost $255,000, while a four-bedroom home built in 1920 cost $195,000.
Regardless of where locals live in Wheatfield, they are bound to run across a neighbor in the store or downtown. “You can meet so many people who are kind, caring, and passionate about small-town living,” Parrish says. She also shares that “Members of the community demonstrate love and pride for tradition; there are many eager to have a hand in moving the town forward regarding infrastructure and growth.” It is this focus on community dynamics that makes Wheatfield appealing to people seeking the slower pace of a more rural, small town.
Kankakee Valley schools provide extracurricular and career pathways
School-aged children begin their studies at Wheatfield Elementary School, which is a Niche A-minus graded school. From here, they go on to attend Kankakee Valley Middle School, which also holds a Grade of A-minus from Niche. These middle schoolers can choose from 25 after-school clubs and sports. After their three years, they can take the passion they discover over to Kankakee Valley High School. At this Niche B-graded school, students can enroll in Dual Credit and Advanced Placement courses. They may also elect to join the CTE program.
Local parks and preserves provide playsets and hiking trails
“When the weather is nice, you can find people hiking through the Stoutsburg Savanna Nature Preserve, pushing their kids on swings at Centennial Park in downtown Wheatfield, or gathering at the pavilions at the Kankakee Township Park, just east of town,” Parrish says. Kankakee Township Park also has walking trails for locals and their dogs to enjoy. Residents looking to escape further into nature can make an appointment to visit the Hamstra Gardens. The stones in the gardens guide guests through whimsical scenes constructed like something right out of a storybook. If locals are seeking additional ways to open their imaginations, the Wheatfield Library is available for them to browse through until something piques their interest.
Annual Sandhill Crane Festival brings food, games and cars
Once a year, residents gather for the Sandhill Crane Festival, which is organized by the Wheatfield Chamber of Commerce. “This event takes place the third Saturday of September throughout the downtown area,” Parrish says. Local vendors sponsor tents where they sell food and host activities like Bingo for anyone who wants to participate. There is also a car show where guests can show off their vintage rides.
