Woodridge

About 30 miles southwest of Chicago is the suburb of Woodridge, where an active park district means that those living in the West 83rd Street neighborhood are always close to an outdoor recreation opportunity. “There are also multiple schools in the neighborhood,” says Melissa Nowak, a real estate agent and managing broker at Ridge Realty and Associates with about 20 years of experience. “The schools are all part of the Woodridge district - they’re all smaller, and a house in this neighborhood is close to one of them.” And, as one of the things that attracts people to this area, they’re all highly rated. The elementary and junior high schools are part of the Woodridge School District 68, and John Sipley Elementary School is in the neighborhood. With prekindergarten through sixth grade, the student-teacher ratio is 12-to-1, and there are over 300 students who attend. The school is rated a B-plus on Niche. Thomas Jefferson Junior High gets an A-minus grade. High school students can attend Downers Grove South High School in Community High School District 99, commonly called South High School, and it has a 93% average graduation rate - the school is rated an A on Niche, and students can join organizations like the K-Pop or Chess Clubs. Even St. Scholastica, a private Catholic school, is within walking distance of some in the area. The school is rated an A-minus and has students through eighth grade. The housing in this neighborhood was developed north to south, starting near 75th Street, and mainly ranch-style or Minimal Traditional, with just over 1,000 square feet of space. The prices are between $280,000 and $350,000. Further south, the square footage got larger, with prices between $375,000 and $450,000, and styles include raised ranch and split-levels from the 1960s and ‘70s. The homes south of 83rd Street are part of the Mending Wall subdivision. “The oldest homes are from the late 1970s, but they were built ahead of their time as the developer made them energy efficient with windows allowing natural light to stream in,” Nowak says. The houses are closer to $500,000, with almost 2,500 square feet of living space. “Overall, you get more bang for your buck in this neighborhood compared to surrounding areas,” she adds. The village of Woodridge has an active park district, and that’s evident in the number of opportunities to play outdoors. Janes Avenue Park is laid out linearly with basketball courts, a skatepark, a roller hockey space, a playground and a baseball diamond with bleachers. Down the street on Janes Avenue is the Cypress Cove Family Aquatic Park, open Memorial Day through Labor Day. It’s more than just a large swimming area - a lazy river and three water slides can also be enjoyed. Echo Point Park encompasses over 6 acres and has a sand volleyball court, biking and walking trails, playground and picnic shelters. Many trees shade the amenities in this particular park. That’s a familiar sight here because the National Arbor Day Foundation has awarded the village of Woodridge a Tree City U.S.A. designation for the number of trees planted. The Woodridge Park District has over 21 miles of off-road bike paths, including a path alongside Woodridge Drive. Papa’s Pizza Place has been part of the Woodridge area since 1974. There’s a large dining area where the thin-crust pizza cut into squares can be enjoyed with family and friends. For those who want something other than a pizza, there’s fried chicken, shrimp and sandwiches. A Chicago-style hot dog with relish, onions, tomatoes and pickles, a Polish sausage, burgers, gyros and wraps can be ordered at Doggie Diner. Jewel-Osco is across the street for a grocery run. Just off Interstate 355 and Janes Avenue is a large IKEA furniture store with nearly 300,000 square feet of shopping space. The Pace Suburban Bus system covers the Chicago suburbs, including this area of DuPage County. Bus stops are numerous on Janes Avenue. A few miles to the north, the Metra commuter rail stations in Lisle or Belmont can be reached.

Easygoing suburban environs are a key part of life in Downers Grove Park, a community set between Woodridge to the west and Downers Grove to the east. But one major draw for residents is the public school districts, with many locals choosing the area over other Chicago suburbs specifically for the local options. Woodridge School District 68 serves primary-level students here, while Community HS District 99 serves high schoolers; both districts respectively earn A-minus and A grades on Niche. Families also aren’t too far away from convenient shopping options, local favorites for dining, recreation options and the nostalgic charms of downtown. “Downers Grove has a small-town feel but it’s still convenient to everything. It’s the best of both worlds,” says Mary Braatz, a Realtor with Re/Max Enterprises. Braatz has lived in the Downers Grove area for more than 40 years, and sold homes in the greater Chicago area for more than 35 years. “The schools are excellent. You can also get to downtown Chicago in 30 minutes from the train station.” Clear-cut lawns, tall oaks and a mix of cul-de-sacs and straight residential lanes sit in the Downers Grove Park area. Single-family homes built between the 1960s and 1980s are common here, with ranch and split-level homes among the most common styles. Many homes have updates chosen to fit with contemporary tastes, including refinished hardwood flooring, new appliances and custom cabinetry. Home values generally range from $280,000 to $625,000. Townhouses in the Woodview subdivision on the south end of the neighborhood were generally built near the tail end of the 2010s and have two-story layouts with drive-under garages. Most of these are valued between $440,000 and $462,000. Willow Creek Elementary School earns a B-plus grade on Niche and serves kids from kindergarten through sixth grade. The A-minus Thomas Jefferson Junior High School offers intramural and competitive sports for seventh and eighth grade students. Kids at Downers Grove South High School can participate in a varied range of interest clubs, from K-pop and tabletop gaming to Ultimate Frisbee and environmental conservation. The school earns an A grade on Niche. Many of Downers Grove Park’s shopping options are familiar chains to the south along 63rd Street, including Target for everyday goods and groceries. Walgreens, Dollar Tree and AutoZone are also available nearby. Unique finds for the home await at Ultimate Treasures, a thrift shop with a focus on furniture and décor. Visitors can find discounted desks, chairs and cabinets, many of which are sourced from estate sales or the store’s local clean-up services. Indian groceries, ready-made meals and made-to-order dishes are available at Curry Leaves. The store’s specials change regularly, but mainstays on the menu include chicken 65, biryani with mutton, pothi or chicken, and vegetable stews and fried rice. Chandeliers with flower-like designs and counters of fresh desserts sit among the booths and tables at Steven’s Restaurant, a staple for diner fare in the morning and Italian and Mediterranean selections for dinner. For folks craving an old-fashioned hamburger, gyro or Chicago dog, there’s Maxwell’s Beef, a counter-serve diner with checkerboard tile on the walls, button-style stools and Italian ice for dessert. Downers Grove Park’s residential focus makes the common backyard the most convenient green space for citizens, but those willing to venture a few miles away can discover some of the options Downers Grove provides for outdoor and indoor recreation. 2 miles south of the neighborhood, Sunnydale Park has walking trails, green spaces and a playground for family outings. The park also has a gazebo for picnics in the springtime, while the trees fade into warm orange and red tones in the autumn. To the neighborhood’s north, a multi-use field awaits at Gelwicks Park. Visitors can also explore the Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve on the grounds, where a path threads its way through the grasslands that foxes, white-tailed deer, opossums and meadow voles call home. Not far from Gelwicks Park, the Belmont Golf Club sits on the grounds where the U.S.’s first 18-hole golf course was established. The course traces its history back to the Chicago Golf Club, which first opened its back nine holes for play in 1893. The Morton Arboretum is a sweeping retreat with art installations and flower gardens, winding trails for walking and biking and special events during each season of the year. Options for recreation during the colder months include skating days at the Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge and workouts at Endeavor Health Fitness & Wellness Center – Seven Bridges, both about 2 miles southwest. Interstate 355 and 63rd Street respectively run along the western and southern ends of the neighborhood, acting as the main connections to the greater Chicago area. Downers Grove Park is about 3 miles southwest of downtown Downers Grove and 27 miles southwest of the Loop in downtown Chicago. For commuters looking to save on gas, Downers Grove’s Metra station is downtown on Main Street, with a 30-minute ride to Union Station in the morning. For medical emergencies, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital is 5 miles northeast of Downers Grove Park. Locals traveling beyond the Chicago metro can catch flights from Chicago O’Hare International Airport, 23 miles northeast. Northeast of the neighborhood, Downtown Downers Grove is a local hub for entertainment and shopping, offering boutiques, small businesses and mainstream brands with a cozy small-town style. “It’s very vibrant. It’s got a farmer’s market in the warmer months. There’s also an historic movie theater, the Tivoli Theatre, that’s been completely restored,” Braatz says.

Running along Interstate 355 to the east is the small suburban community of Sunnydale. Due to its size, coming in contact with neighbors is common and a big part of the community’s appeal. “It is a quiet, very tight-knit community,” Shares Nate Williams, a resident who works at Woodridge North KinderCare, located in the neighborhood. “Everyone knows everyone and helps one another out.” Adding to its suburban feel are the area's well-ranked schools and shopping centers to both the north and south and a popular namesake park at its center. “Things move here,” says Jill Petranek, a broker with Coldwell Banker Realty Naperville, who has over 10 years of selling experience in the area. “You don’t grid-locked like you do in Chicago.” Mature oak trees dot its residential streets, providing canopies of shade for residents in certain areas. This, paired with its wide streets, allows for carefree walks through the neighborhood. “People are usually out and about walking the neighborhood,” shares Williams. These strolls along the community’s sidewalks mid-to-late 20th-century homes from split-level and tri-level styles to Colonial Revival and ranch-style homes. These homes feature modest front yards with minimal landscaping, typically a tree or two, and manicured shrubbery lining parts of the exteriors. A pocket of condos sits on the south end of the residential pocket and ranges in price from $200,000 to $240,000. Depending on size and condition, those purchasing a free-standing home can expect a range from $350,000 to $500,000. Sitting nearby is B-plus-rated Willow Creek Elementary School, which welcomes grades prekindergarten through 6th. The school participates in the Woodridge 68 newsletter, along with other schools in the county, keeping parents and guardians updated on board meetings and more. Following this, students will head to Thomas Jefferson Junior High School, which maintains an A-minus on Niche, before heading to Downers Grove South High School, which the locals call “South.” The home of the Mustangs has an A rating on Niche and is home to WDGC, a student-led radio station and speech team that has won 18 state championships, the most of any school. Residents don’t have to leave the neighborhood to reach daily amenities thanks to its location. On the north end of the community is a commerce area home to a Target, Dollar Tree and other retailers, as well as Q Pub and Grill, a social spot with pool tables and dartboards for a competitive night with friends. From here, residents don’t have to go far for breakfast at Steven’s, a family-owned restaurant. Downer’s Park Plaza in the southeast corner is home to an Old Navy and T.J. Maxx, while groceries are found just on the other side of 75th Street at Jewel-Osco. Sunnydale Park sits in the backyards of many homes, allowing for quick trips to its walking loop and open greenspace, where children can fly kites on windy days or eat lunch in its picnic gazebo. Soccer players go to Concord Square Park to practice their kicks on its fields while hyper little ones climb atop its spacious playground. “The community does big events like a carnival in the summer,” says Williams about Woodridge Jubilee. “Locals love to show up to that.” The weekend-long is where residents can compete in the Fishing Derby or Beer & Donut Dash while enjoying live local music and catching thrills while jumping from one carnival ride to the next. Oktober Fest has been an annual event for 5 years and hosts the typical happenings of the German holiday, like beer and attendees dressed in Lederhosen, but it features a beer stein-holding contest and pretzel toss. Travelers leaving the area can catch their flights at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, a 23-mile drive via I-88 East and I-294 North. Those commuting into Chicago also use I-88 East before hopping onto I-290 East for a 27-mile commute into the city. Closer to home is the Benedictine University’s campus, which sits 3.7 miles away off Maple Avenue, and UChicago Medicine Advent Health Bolingbrook Hospital, 6.8 miles away, off I-355 South. There are also several bus stops lining 63rd Street for those using public transportation.

Anchored by the park that lends its name to the neighborhood, Hawthorne Hill is ideal for those who enjoy being outdoors. Several other recreational hubs are spread out throughout the community, each connected by a network of walking trails. The neighborhood also puts residents in direct proximity to everything they could need, allowing for convenience without sacrificing suburban comforts. “Although there isn’t a downtown area in Woodridge, you can easily get to downtown Naperville, Lisle and Downers Grove,” says Jill Petranek, a broker with Coldwell Banker Realty. With cul-de-sac streets lined by narrow sidewalks, it’s not uncommon to see a neighbor going for a walk or bike ride through the community to reach one of the nearby parks. The quiet suburb primarily features a medley of mid-20th-century homes, including ranch-style, colonials and split-levels. Some Craftsman-style new construction has also been developed within the last five years. Prices for these standalone homes range from $285,000 to $799,000. “Homes in Woodridge are much more affordable than Naperville to the west, and you can get a lot more house for your money,” Petranek says. Spacious lawns, typically around a quarter-acre, are well-maintained and surrounded by groves of old-growth trees. Condos and townhouses with attached two-car garages provide another option for buyers and come with added amenities like lawn maintenance and snow removal. These properties are typically listed between $136,000 and $265,000. Woodridge School District 68 serves students living in Hawthorne Hill. Many attend Meadowview Elementary, which is walkable from most homes in the neighborhood and earns an A-minus from Niche. Some students are also zoned for Edgeview Elementary or Willow Creek Elementary, each receiving B-plus ratings from Niche. Students later filter into A-minus-rated Thomas Jefferson Junior High School for seventh and eighth grades. At Downers Grove North High School, which gets an A rating from Niche, students can participate in one of the more than 50 clubs offered, including a ukulele club, e-sports or bass fishing. Walking and biking trails weave through Hawthorne Hill Woods, a 71-acre green space that attracts residents and people from neighboring communities looking to get fresh air. There’s also an open play area for kids. On the other side of 71st Street is Castaldo Park, which connects to the trails in Hawthorne Hill Woods. Along with the walking pathways, the park features a 9-hole disc golf course, a playground and a sand volleyball court. Two small lakes are linked by a series of trails where many locals take their dogs for a walk. The reservoirs are also popular spots for fishing and ice skating in the winter. Residents can walk to the Woodridge Public Library toward the neighborhood’s southern end just off The Center Drive to browse the aisles for a new book to read or meet their neighbors at events like beach bingo, video game trivia or arts and crafts sessions. The neighborhood is nearly 6.5 miles east of downtown Naperville, which can be reached by taking Hobson Road. PACE bus stops along Hobson Road, Woodridge Drive, and The Center Drive give locals another option to navigate the surrounding cities, connecting them to both downtown Naperville and Downers Grove. The closest Metra stop is about 3.5 miles north of Hawthorne Hill. The Belmont stop connects to the BNSF Line, which runs west to Aurora and east to Chicago’s Union Station. Taking Interstates 290 and 88 for nearly 28.5 miles also links locals to the Windy City. Despite its suburban nature, Hawthorne Hill is highly connected to shopping and dining destinations because of its location near I-355 and Route 53. For groceries, there’s a Jewel-Osco and a Target nearby. A quick 2-mile drive along Route 53 will lead to the Cinemark Seven Bridges and several local restaurants. Clara’s is a family-owned Italian spot that’s been serving pizza and pasta to locals for nearly 40 years. Friends meet for craft brews and bar food on the patio at Ike & Oak Brewing Company, while Chef Soon Contemporary Sushi is a favorite for its unique maki rolls filled with ingredients like bacon salsa and strawberries.

Between Woodridge and Lisle In the northern part of the village of Woodridge, about 30 miles west of Chicago, is the neighborhood of Summerhill Park, named after one of the parks in the neighborhood. “The village is known for its parks, and the National Arbor Day Foundation has recognized it as a Tree City U.S.A. for the number of trees planted,” says Melissa Nowak, real estate agent and managing broker at Ridge Realty and Associates with about 20 years of experience. The northern part of this neighborhood may have a Lisle address as the neighborhood straddles the north side of Woodridge and the south side of Lisle. Multiple neighborhood schools The school system is a big draw to the neighborhood - some are close. “Especially elementary schools, a couple are right in the neighborhood,” Nowak says. “They also tend to have smaller enrollment.” Even for those living in the northern part of the neighborhood in the Lisle School District, a quality school is nearby. Willow Creek Elementary School has a little over 300 prekindergarten through sixth-grade students and a student-teacher ratio of 12-to-1. The school has a B-plus overall grade on Niche. Lisle Elementary is bigger, with about 750 students, and gets an A overall rating. Other schools in the Woodridge chain include Thomas Jefferson Junior High School, with an A-minus Niche grade and a 12-to-1 student-teacher ratio. The school has seventh and eighth graders who can start to explore sports like basketball, softball and swimming. Downers Grove North is commonly called North High School, and it receives an A and has a 96% graduation rate. Summerhill Park neighborhood named after one of the parks With the entrance at the end of a cul-de-sac, Summerhill Park is laid out linearly, with about 7 acres of space. Near the entrance is the playground and green space that’s nearby. A walking trail connects to other portions of the park, including a basketball court to the east. Further east, the trail leads to 63rd Street Park, with an additional 4 acres, another playground and a multi-purpose open play area. The trail connects to the longer Southern DuPage County Regional Trail that starts in the nearby suburb of Aurora and ends 10 miles to the south at the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Lemont. Hobson Corner Park is at the corner of Hobson Road and Woodridge Drive and has a centerpiece splash pad, open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day. There are also four tennis and pickleball courts. Meadows Swim Club is a private swimming area offering swim lessons, and a competitive swim team called the Meadows Dolphins. The pool can also be rented out for birthdays and special events. Established houses Most of what potential homebuyers will find in Summerhill Park are homes dating to the 1960s and ‘70s. Some have been renovated, and most fall in the $400,000 to $600,000 range. Some larger, newer houses have Lisle addresses priced between $700,000 and $800,000. “Summerhill Park offers a wide range of affordability,” says Jill Petranek, a broker with Coldwell Banker Realty Naperville with over ten years of experience. “It’s good for entry-level and move-up homes.” Split-level, ranch-style and raised ranch houses are the most popular styles. Most have between 1,500 and 3,000 square feet of space, three to five bedrooms and at least a two-car garage. Breakfast, brunch and lunch at a popular hangout Jam n’ Jelly Café opens daily at seven, serving breakfast in a cozy, contemporary setting. Open until 3 p.m. every day, they also have lunch menu items that can be ordered anytime during business hours. Outdoor seating was added during the pandemic, which is an option. Ed’s Kitchen specializes in kebabs and Mediterranean food in a fast, casual atmosphere. The Cinemark Seven Bridges has the latest Hollywood releases, with some shown in IMAX. Grocery shopping can occur at the neighborhood ALDI or Jewel-Osco, near Lincoln and Maple Avenues in Lisle. Metra connects to downtown Chicago It’s a short drive to the north to get to the Lisle Metra station, which can get passengers to Union Station in downtown Chicago in less than an hour. The Pace public bus service has stops on Hobson Road, northeast of the intersection of Woodridge Drive.

Woodridge, a village that's home to about 33,000 residents, is mainly within DuPage County. Woodridge is somewhat new compared to other Chicago suburbs in that most homes were built after 1960. Natural scenery and outdoor activities are a big part of the community. It was named for its elevated, sylvan setting on a ridge above the DuPage River and the Des Plaines Valley. According to Jason Bacza, a broker with Realty Executives Elite, homebuyers choose Woodridge because of its proximity to major roads and popular shopping destinations. "It's 30 to 40 minutes outside the city of Chicago, and major interstates are within five to 10 minutes," he says. "People like the availability of shopping and dining nearby." Bacza and his wife, Christine Wilczek, also a broker, have over $1 billion in combined sales and are top agents in Lemont, about seven miles from Woodridge. The village was incorporated in 1959 after being started by a housing developer. As a result, much of the housing stock has a consistent feel, with styles including split-levels, Colonial Revivals and Tudor Revivals. Single-family homes sell from about $350,000 for a three-bedroom with about 1,000 square feet to $800,000 for a five-bedroom with four times the room. Townhouses and condominiums, many from the 1970s, provide maintenance-free living and are priced from about $120,000 for a one-bedroom unit of less than 800 square feet to $440,000 for two-level living and 2,000 square feet of space. Kids may attend public schools, including Prairie View Elementary and Lakeview Junior High, each graded A-minus by Niche. At the next level, Lemont Township High, graded A-plus, is one of the top 40 high schools in the state, according to Niche. The school offers over 50 activities, including a fishing club, a world languages club and a jazz band. Downers Grove South High, known as "South," has an A grade and is listed as one of the state's top 100 public high schools. Students have earned state championship wins in chess and dance competitions, and the marching band won the 2019 University of Illinois Marching Band Championship. There are quite a few community parks in Woodridge. Somerset Park has a playground and a walking path, as does Westminster Park, which also features tennis courts. Ide's Grove West Park is a local favorite for its versatile playground equipment. Residents make the most of the Village Greens of Woodridge golf course, the Midwest Badminton Club and the village's community gardens. The village is recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation; 2023 was its 32nd consecutive year. Nature preserves are a highlight of the area. Fox Hollow Forest Preserve is an undeveloped space with intact wild habitats. And there's plenty more wilderness at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve. Hikers, bikers and cross-country skiers take advantage of the 2,500-acre preserve's terrain, including almost 11 miles of trails. Multiple shopping areas in Woodridge, including Woodward Boughton Commercial Center, Woodgrove Festival and The Grove Shopping Center, give residents tons of variety. Restaurants feature a variety of cuisines, from Lithuanian to Italian to Vietnamese. If a meal with a movie is in order, Hollywood Blvd Cinema, an eatery and theater, is the place to catch a first-run or classic film. Bacza says that those living in the southern part of Woodridge often shop at the Promenade at Bolingbrook. "It's like an indoor-outdoor mall with a lot of dining and shopping, including grocery stores, all within a few blocks." The village has plenty of well-attended events. Seasonal and holiday celebrations include a Fourth of July picnic at Castaldo Park and the annual summer festival, Woodridge Jubilee, a free, multiday extravaganza with carnival rides, food and live entertainment. Fred C. Hohnke Community Center, the Woodridge Public Library and ARC, the Athletic Recreation Center, host many activities for community members. Three Pace buses run along a few different routes within the village, heading to Lisle Metra Station, Downers Grove and Joliet. Besides Lisle, other Metra stations near Woodridge include Belmont and Downers Grove. A 30-mile trip east ends in Chicago; the city of Aurora is the end of the line in the other direction. For travel by car, interstates 55 and 355 are very close to home.