An independent suburban village beyond Chicago’s West Side, Oak Park is renowned as the home of trailblazing authors and architects who helped shape American culture and modern home design in the 20th century. It is the birthplace of novelist Ernest Hemingway, who was born in 1899 and whose childhood home is now a museum. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright settled here around 1890 in what is now the Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture District. He designed homes throughout the community – which claims to have the largest number of Wright-designed homes and buildings, including the Unity Temple -- that residents continue to live in today.
While the village’s population peaked at around 65,000 people nearly a century ago, it remains attractive to people who want to live outside the city while still being close to its history and culture. “One of the best things about Oak Park is that I can go to the Loop and have dinner with my wife and be back home in 15 minutes,” says Zak Knebel, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago who grew up in Oak Park. “It’s great because it has an urban and suburban feel.” Shaped like a rectangle within Chicago’s massive city grid, Oak Park today has about 55,000 residents. Commuters have little trouble reaching the city’s major employers, traveling by car on Interstate 290 or a CTA train to work at Fortune 500 companies such as Archer Daniels Midland, Kraft Heinz, Motorola and Sears.
Oak Park is located about 20 minutes from Chicago.
Oak Park is the birthplace of novelist Ernest Hemingway.
Take a tour through Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple in Oak Park.
The south end of Oak Park has easy access to the CTA Blue Line.
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Historic districts in Oak Park
There are three historic districts in Oak Park, including one named after Frank Lloyd Wright and most of his uniquely designed homes are located there. They are also scattered in the Ridgeland-Oak Park and the Gunderson Historic Districts. Some historically significant homes are priced in the millions, but outside the districts, the homes trend toward the older side. The median price for a single-family house is $590,000. "Right now, the inventory is low," Knebel says. "If something comes on the market, it'll be gone quickly." Condos range from $110,000 to $340,000, while the median townhouse price is about $450,000. There are a lot of new high-rise apartments in the downtown area that are about 20 to 30 stories, but they are all rentals," he says.
Oak Park is home to the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright homes in the world.
The median price for a single-family house is $590,000 in Oak Park.
In Oak Park, condos range from $110,000 to $340,000.
There are high-rise apartments in the Oak Park downtown area that are about 20 to 30 stories.
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Oak Park Arts District
Oak Park’s southeast corner has a dedicated district full of eclectic cafes, vintage shops and boutiques. The Oak Park Arts District is along a half-mile stretch of Harrison Street and has more than 25 galleries and studios. Other businesses in the corridor, like a dry cleaner and an animal hospital, take care of everyday needs.
While there are national chains downtown, more than 30 locally-owned eateries and cafés offer various options. Classic Cinemas Lake Theatre is a restored art-deco cinema showing new releases. It’s also the site for events throughout the year, including Thursday Night Out, which runs from June through August. Downtown restaurants offer outdoor dining and live music. Oaktoberfest is held in September with live music, food from restaurants, craft beer and a root beer garden for the kids and Home for the Holidays at Christmas. The one-day event features a film at Classic Cinemas Lake Theatre, a horse-drawn carriage ride and a visit with Santa.
Oaktoberfest has a number of musicians perform throughout the festival.
Catch a movie at the art deco Lake Street Theatre in Oak Park.
Thursday Night Out event in Oak Park runs from June through August.
The Arts District in Oak Park has public sculptures on display.
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Scoville Park is a community gathering place
Close to downtown, community activities occur at Scoville Park, such as the Sunday evening free concert series with local talent from early June through the end of August. The community festival, A Day in Our Village, is on the first Sunday in June and celebrates the diverse community. The Park District of Oak Park operates 18 parks, three historic properties, two outdoor pools and the Paul Hruby Ice Arena, an indoor facility open year-round inside the Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex.
The Wonder Works Children’s Museum allows kids to build, create and solve puzzles. Permanent exhibits include "Lights, Camera, Action," which helps the creative side flow with costumes and an opportunity to perform on stage. Oak Park Conservatory features more than 3,000 plants in its botanical garden.
Dance away at Concerts in the Park in Oak Park's Scoville Park.
Oak Park Conservatory is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex in Oak Park features outdoor pools and ice arena.
In Oak Park, the Wonder Works Children’s Museum allows kids to build, create and solve puzzles.
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Oak Park and River Forest High School rated an A-plus
Oak Park Elementary School District 97, rated a B-plus on Niche, provides public education. As with many school systems in Chicago suburbs, there is a separate district for the high school. Oak Park and River Forest High School combine students from Oak Park and neighboring River Forest. The school rates an A-plus and is ranked the 35th-best public high school in Illinois out of more than 700. The average graduation rate is 94%. Of the approximately 10 private school options, Fenwick High is a Catholic college preparatory high with an enrollment of just over 1,000. West Suburban Medical Center operates West Suburban College of Nursing in eastern Oak Park.
Welcome to William Beye Elementary School.
Percy Julian Middle School in Oak Park aims to create life-long learners.
Oak Park and River Forest High School is a comprehensive public high school.
Fenwick High School has an impressive A plus on Niche.
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Oak Park is a bike-friendly village
The League of American Bicyclists designated Oak Park a bicycle-friendly community, and east-west roads like Division, Chicago and Jackson have designated bike lanes. Augusta Street is part of the Grand Illinois Trail, a nearly 600-mile path that traverses much of northern Illinois. There are also various walking loops throughout the village's parks. Five CTA stations in Oak Park access the Green and Blue lines to take commuters into downtown Chicago. There’s also a station for the Metra line on the Union Pacific West Line. Bus passengers can travel in the suburbs via the Pace bus system or into Chicago on the CTA bus line.
Weather in Oak Park spans all four seasons, with an average summer high of 84 degrees and a winter low of 19 degrees. An average of 36 inches of snow falls each year. Air quality occasionally reaches a moderate level in Oak Park, which poses some risk for those highly sensitive to air pollution.
Five CTA stations in Oak Park access the Green and Blue lines to take commuters into Chicago.
Bus passengers can travel in the suburbs via the Pace bus system.
There’s also a station for the Metra line on the Union Pacific West Line in Oak Park.
In Oak Park, Augusta St is part of the Grand Illinois Trail, a nearly 600-mile path.
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Things to know
According to the CAP Index crime score, crime in the village is at a 4 and on par with the national average.
Weather in Oak Park spans all four seasons, with an average summer high of 84 degrees and a winter low of 19 degrees. An average of 36 inches of snow falls each year. Air quality occasionally reaches a moderate level in Oak Park, which poses some risk for those highly sensitive to air pollution.
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