This suburb located just over 20 miles southwest of the Windy City’s downtown got its name from the ridges of dirt that were left behind when trainloads of fill were removed from the area as part of the work on the Columbian Exposition of 1893 — also known as Chicago’s World Fair. Today, the Village of Chicago Ridge has appealed to those looking to distance themselves a little from city’s core, while also not wanting to be too out of reach from both the Windy City and several other parts of Chicagoland. “It can depend a little on where you are, but it’s really close to the Metra station,” says Bernadeta Szczech, a broker with Re/Max 10, who’s made 10 sales in Chicago Ridge. “Everything is around it. The Midway airport, downtown, Chicago O’Hare. You want to go anywhere, it’s really convenient to everywhere. It’s a really, really good location.”
The Metra rail that serves both Chicago and the surrounding suburbs sits near the heart of the village on Ridgeland Avenue. Additionally, Interstate 294 cuts through the western end of the village. Chicago Ridge has also been liked for its diversity, which is visibly evident in places like Ridge Central Elementary School. “In the community, there are Polish, Spanish, Arabic and American residents. Everybody’s here,” Szczech says.
Joanna Dlugopolski, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Elite, says that many buyers are drawn by the well-rated schools. “It’s a quiet and family-friendly community with lots to do. The park district has various programs for kids, as well.”
Chicago Ridge is a charming tree filled oasis with a charming community atmosphere.
Families love the playground at Memorial Park in Chicago Ridge.
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Ranch-styles, split-levels and condos
Many homes where built between the 1940s and 1970s, and there has been some additions over the past few decades. The neighborhoods here comprise of suburban blocks lined by many ranch-style homes — including raised ranch-styles — and split-level houses, with the occasional mature tree shading a portion of the sidewalks. There are also condominiums mixed in, with a number of them in buildings featuring the Mansard touches seen on other homes in the Chicago area. Price points for two-bedroom condos at around 1,000 square feet can start at just over $130,000, and the slightly larger ones can reach up to upper $100,000s. Then, price points from there can go from just over $260,000 for three-bedroom ranch-style houses to over $300,000 for three-bedroom split-levels.
Ranch style homes can be found throughout the Chicago Ridge neighborhood.
You can find both split level and raised ranch style homes in the Chicago Ridge neighborhood.
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Alan B. Shepard High’s award winning extracurricular teams
Schools that serve the area include Ridge Central Elementary School, Elden Finley Junior High School, Harold L. Richards High School and Alan B. Shepard High School, all of which received grades of C or higher from ratings site Niche. Eighteen different languages — with the majority being Arabic, Spanish, Polish and Lithuanian — are spoken at Ridge Central Elementary. After completing elementary and middle school, most students in the Chicago Ridge District 127.5 go on to Richards High School. Alan B. Shepard High, which received an A-minus from Niche, is among top 20 most diverse public high schools in the state. Alan B. Shepard High also has some successful extracurricular teams like the Shepard Mathletes and Speech Team.
The modern Ridge Central Elementary School is a great option for Chicago Ridge residents.
Welcome to A B Shepard High School in Westgate Valley.
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Dining near the Chicago Ridge Mall
A number of restaurants and stores are located around the village, and the Chicago Ridge Mall occupies a northern pocket of the community. In addition to tenants like Kohl’s and the AMC Chicago Ridge 6, several dining spots surround this shopping property. There’s the Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co., which has the distinction of staying open later than typical coffee shops. It stays open until midnight from Sunday to Thursday and until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Along with the beverages, patrons there enjoy dessert treats like the cheesecakes and date cakes. Just north of the cafe is KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot, where patrons can enjoy a variety of hot pots featuring thinly sliced meats, seafood and other ingredients cooked in simmering soup. Farther south on Ridgeland Avenue is Nick’s Pizza, a family-run establishment where guests can also enjoy a full bar, patio, televisions and arcade games. Located just outside of the village’s western bounds is a Walmart and a Pete’s Fresh Market for groceries.
Stylish interiors make the perfect place to study in Chicago Ridge at Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.
KPOT Korean BBQ and Hot Pot in Chicago Ridge is a great place to grab lunch with friends.
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Activities at Freedom Park and Frontier Park Field House
Freedom Park near the heart of the village is among the handful of outdoor recreational spaces here. It has a playground, basketball and baseball amenities, as well as a splash pad. Visitors to Frontier Park Field House on the northwest side can either take to the basketball, volleyball or pickleball courts or get some steps in on the walking track. The venue has also a fitness center. Players can also get some practice in at the Stony Creek Golf Course Complex. The venue features an 18-hole course, as well as a driving range and simulators.
There are great outdoor basketball courts at Freedom Park in Chicago Ridge.
Pickleball is a popular sport at Frontier Park field house in Chicago Ridge.
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Close to number of Chicagoland festivals
A major annual event in Chicago Ridge is RidgeFest, which takes place in late July in Freedom Park. The event, however, was cancelled in 2023 over safety concerns. Otherwise, festival goers have typically enjoyed food, live music, a carnival and a beer garden. Village residents can still access a number of other events in the region, like the spring time Tinley Park Brew & Vine in the Village of Tinley Park to the south or the Fourth of July Parade and Concert in neighboring Oak Lawn.
Metra rail service and I-294 connection to neighbors
A Metra rail station sits near the heart of the village on Ridgeland Avenue. I-294 provides a connection to the other suburbs both north and south of the village. The highway also connects to other interstates that go toward Chicago. The village is about 25 to 30 miles south of Chicago, depending on which route is taken. The village lies just south of the Chicago Midway International Airport, which is located about 7 miles north. Nearby health care facilities include the Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and the Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital in Palos Heights.
Residents of Chicago Ridge have easy access to major highways including Interstate 294.
Residents of Chicago Ridge have easy access to the Metra train.
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