Willowbrook’s small size and active government build a sense of community
Once an unincorporated area of Hinsdale along Route 66, Willowbrook became a village in 1960. That humble beginning leaves Willowbrook hemmed in compared to many of its sprawling peer communities in Chicago’s southwest suburbs. But its smaller size – the village has just over 9,000 residents – comes with the benefit of a sense of community and an active local government. “It offers a lot of the same amenities as other villages,” says Alex Arteaga, assistant to the village administrator. “But because we’re smaller, we have that close neighbor feeling.” The village government is active in cultivating a sense of community. “In my brief time in local government, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a mayor as hands-on as ours,” Arteaga says. “They really see the value in our village and the work we do."
There are many available homes for many different budgets in Willowbrook.
Willowbrook Village Hall organizes many community events in Willowbrook.
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Lack of property tax levy a factor in housing affordability
Owning to a higher percentage of condos and townhouses than in other DuPage County suburbs, Willowbrook’s median price for those properties is around $308,000, significantly less than its neighbors – particularly Hinsdale, where the median price soars over $1 million. The median price for single-family homes in Willowbrook is around $450,000, which is comparable to neighboring Darien and above the state and national median prices. Willowbrook’s property tax also makes it more affordable than most DuPage County communities. “We’re one of two villages without a property tax levy in DuPage County,” Arteaga says.
There are many options for townhouses in Willowbrook.
There are options for split-level ranches with beautiful brick exteriors in Willowbrook.
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Students attend highly rated schools
There are only two schools in Willowbrook – Gower West Elementary and Gower Middle School. Both receive an A rating on Niche. High schoolers attend A-rated Hinsdale South, which is in Darien . The school also has a Deaf and Hard of Hearing program, established in 1966, serving students from throughout the area.
Gower West Elementary School has a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1.
Gower Middle School serves grades 5-8 with an overall A grade according to Niche.
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Interstate 55 creates an easy commute to Chicago
Traces of historic Route 66 are still visible here, but these days, Interstate 55 is the highway connecting Willowdale to Chicago and beyond. Due to I-55, the majority of the village’s south side is either commercial or industrial. Argonne National Laboratory, the largest Department of Energy facility in the Midwest, is less than 5 miles from Willowbrook. Several hotels capitalize on Willowbrook’s location 20 miles southwest of The Loop. Chicago Midway International Airport is less than 15 miles away, and Chicago O’Hare is about 20 miles away. Metra’s West Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills stations are the nearest commuter rail stops.
Local restaurant known for decades-old chicken recipe
Much of Willowbrook’s shopping and dining is along Kingery Highway (Illinois Route 83), including the Willowbrook Town Center mall. And though chain restaurants and stores are the norm, Willowbrook’s most distinctive eatery has been here since long before the village itself. Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket, initially opened in 1946 on Route 66, is on the National Register of Historic Places and was featured on a Route 66-themed episode of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”
Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket serves fried-chicken dinners and housemade pizza.
Portillo's features Italian beef, burgers, and hot dogs in a retro atmosphere.
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Park improvements in progress
The Willowbrook Parks Department manages 10 parks, many of which are getting updated to improve amenities. “We’re doing more work now than we have in decades,” Arteaga says. These plans include updating Creekside Park, which will have a new playground, gaga ball pit, ADA-compliant trails and a 6-hole disc golf course when work is complete in 2025. Midtown Athletic Club and Willowbrook Ice Arena provide indoor recreation, which comes in handy during Willowbook’s chilly winter months. Ruth Lake Country Club, just across the border in Hinsdale, is a private 18-hole course with a lakeside clubhouse.
Creekside Park has plans to update its playground and add a 6-hole disc golf course.
Ruth Lake Country Club is a private 18-hole course with a lakeside clubhouse.
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Neighborhood Nights allow families to enjoy a night out
The village government hosts several events for the community, including the traveling Neighborhood Nights, where small-scale events are brought to several parks throughout the summer. Community-wide events include the Mug Run, where attendees run or walk 1 mile with a mug of beer provided by the Black Horizon Brewing Company before ending the night with drinks and music.
Action addresses higher-than-average cancer rates
In the late 2010s, the Illinois Department of Public Health investigated an alarming trend – residents of Willowbrook had an incidence of cancer that was more than seven times higher than neighboring communities. The investigation attributed the heightened cancer rate to the release of ethylene oxide from Sterigenics International, Inc. The company shut down its Willowbrook facility in 2019 and reached a $400 million settlement with more than 800 residents.
According to FBI data, property and violent crime rates in Willowbrook are below the national averages.
Written By
Alex Hickey
Video By
Dan Mack
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GreatSchools:
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