An active equestrian and polo culture in Oak Brook
Just 20 miles from downtown Chicago, Oak Brook is a sprawling, affluent village with a strong connection to the outdoors. “We have 82 acres of greenery,” says Elaine Zannis from Coldwell Banker Realty, a broker who specializes in Oak Brook sales. Polo is a big part of Oak Brook’s culture, attracting international attention, with even members of the British royal family paying visits in the past. International polo teams use Oak Brook’s facilities, one of which named for the Prince of Wales, to practice, but so do Oak Brook residents, many of whom are horse owners. “You often see people riding horses down the streets,” says Zannis. French-inspired homes tower over large lots, often stretching an acre or more. High-end shopping and dining are close to home.
Brook Forest is a peaceful and family-friendly neighborhood with beautiful scenery.
Oakbrook Center is home to the District Food Hall near Brook Forest.
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French-inspired homes with an acre of land
The median home sale price in Oak Brook is around $860,000, more than double the national median. Prices rise to $1,050,000 in the neighborhood of Brook Forest , where most homes stretch over 3,000 square feet. Houses in Oak Brook have an eclectic style, with Greek Revivals tucked beside Queen Annes with towers. French-inspired homes are the most common style, sitting on lots just over an acre with circular driveways. Streets are wide, winding along landscaped lawns under the shade of mature trees. Horse trails run through some of the subdivisions. “With every acre after the first, you can have a horse,” says Zannis. “If you have 10 acres, you can have nine horses.” In the gated community of Hunter Trails, homeowners’ association fees average around $400 a month.
Major employers include Ronald McDonald House Charities, Dominick's Finer Foods and Zensar Technologies, and the commute to downtown Chicago is a direct drive along a pair of freeways.
A row of beautiful spacious homes on a residential street in the Brook Forest neighborhood.
Brook Forest is a charming neighborhood in the Village of Oak Brook.
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Oak Brook's polo clubs and golf courses
Established in 1922, Oak Brook Polo Club is one of the oldest of its kind in the country. Here, residents can attend polo matches or practice on the grounds, while those new to polo can enroll in their academy. Butler National Golf Course, an invitation-only private club, is in the neighborhood. Central Park's walking and biking trails, turf fields, fishing ponds and piers provide a quiet respite alongside its three playgrounds. Residents can also use the recreation, fitness, aquatic and tennis centers. To the south of the village is the Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve, stretching 220 acres.
Play all the tennis you can at Central Park.
Beautiful Salt Creek has a scenic observation station.
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Sunday polo matches and holidays in Central Park
Every Sunday, the Oak Brook Polo Club hosts polo matches, gathering crowds from Oak Brook and beyond. “People come from all over Chicago,” says Zannis. “They have tents and barbeques, and they get all dressed up. It’s a great way to spend the afternoon.” In late November, the town decks Central Park’s walking path archways with twinkling Christmas lights. The Halloween Trick or Treat Trail also takes place here, offering wagon rides, pumpkin patches and other fun fall activities for families.
A couple strolls the 1/2 mile trail of Oak Brooks' Winter Lights at Central Park event.
Oak Brook residents walk through a tunnel of lights in Central Park during Winter Lights.
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Filet mignon dinners and historic establishments in Oak Brook
Oakbrook Center is the second-largest shopping mall in the Chicago metro area, with 175 stores, shops and restaurants. Though a few casual and fast-food spots surround the mall, most of the restaurants are high-end, with Italian and American food being particularly popular. In the heart of the residential area, Oak Brook residents can find everything from burgers to fish at York Tavern, which was established in 1843 and highlights the history of the village.
Friends enjoy lunch together at The District Food Hall near Oak Brook.
With lots of shopping nearby, residents of Brook Forest head to the mall for the Apple store.
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High-ranking schools for Oak Brook students
Butler School District No. 53 serves the residents of Oak Brook, scoring an A on Niche. The district supports one elementary and one middle school: Brook Forest Elementary School and Butler Junior High School which ranks as the eighth-best public middle school in Illinois. Kids can continue their education at Hinsdale Central High School through the Hinsdale Township High School District No. 86.
Nearby, the College of DuPage Westmont Regional Center teaches over 20,000 students within five locations.
Brook Forest Elementary School belongs to Butler School District No. 53.
Hinsdale Central High School recently ranked #25 in top public high schools in the nation.
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Take the train from Elmhurst into the city
While residents can ride their horses around Oak Brook, most people rely on cars. Oak Brook doesn’t have a train line linking it to the city, but the nearest one is Union Pacific West in the neighboring community of Elmhurst, which borders the village to the north. Interstate 88 runs through Oak Brook, while Interstate 294 borders it to the east. O’Hare International Airport is 15 miles from Oak Brook. Elmhurst Hospital Main Campus is the nearest medical center, about 3 miles from Oak Brook and just over Brush Hill Road.
Climate and crime
Oak Brook's summers tend to be warm and humid. It winters are often snowy.
According to FBI data, the rates of reported violent crime and property crime in Oak Brook are lower than the Illinois average and national average.
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