The closest suburb to Chicago, at just eight miles from the Loop, Oak Park offers residents a charming village of beautiful historic homes and expansive parks, a truly vibrant downtown and a lively community that embraces diversity.
One of the first established suburbs of Chicago, Oak Park flourished after the Chicago Fire, attracting the wealthy former city dwellers, many captains of industry with internationally known last names such as Sears (Sears, Roebuck) and Mars (M&M/Mars). Oak Park is known all over the world and is a famous destination for those who admire pioneers in architecture and literature, as well. Frank Lloyd Wright, the most well-known of the many architects in this area which include Charles White and E.E. Roberts, established his famed Frank Lloyd Wright Studio here, and Oak Park has the largest concentration of Wright-designed homes in the world. Thousands attend the annual "Wright Plus" tour of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes led by the Wright Foundation.
Oak Park residents are known for being house-proud and fierce conservationists of their historic neighborhoods.
A rich literary legacy abounds in Oak Park thanks to favorite son, Ernest Hemingway. Several generations of the Hemingway family lived in Oak Park, including Ernest who was born and raised here before leaving at adulthood. Several Hemingway homes are regulars on the tourist trail. Edgar Rice Burroughs also penned "Tarzan" while living in Oak Park and the suburb includes several well known contemporary authors, including Jane Smiley, Alex Kotlowitz, Elizabeth Berg and most recently Peter Sagel, NPR radio personality and author have all called Oak Park home.
In addition to its lush neighborhoods, Oak Park is a popular suburb because of its many transportation venues, METRA, CTA and the several bus lines are all forms of mass transit that Oak Parkers employ daily to and from the city as well as throughout Chicago land. Oak Park is also accessed by several highways including the Eisenhower (I-295.)
Oak Park hosts many well attended events ranging from garden tours in summer to house tours fall, winter and spring that draw visitors from all over the Chicago land area. Oak Park is frequently celebrated for its passion for diversity and was the first to establish a free housing association to help those new to the area find an apartment that is still in service today.
With street after street of strikingly, beautiful large homes with architectural styles ranging from Victorian, Prairie, Colonial, American Four Square, Bungalow and even a few modern, it is a popular place for strolling and bicycling. The park district is extensive and each neighborhood has its own center offering community classes and a public park with play areas. There are two recreation centers with outdoor pools and even a skate park as well as a dog park.
Oak Park has a vital downtown with well-known businesses such as Starbucks, Border's, The Gap, Pier One, as well as many individually owned upscale boutiques, restaurants and stores.
Oak Park's public school system is consistently ranked among the best and the Oak Park-River Forest High School is among the top in the nation, citing illustrious graduates including Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald's, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, award winning actress and even Dan Castellanata, voice of Homer Simpson. Oak Park has also been used many times for television and movie filming, and can be seen in movies including "Oceans Eleven" and in many Sears commercials as well as upscale catalogs such as Crate & Barrel. Oak Park residences are profiled in many architecture and home magazines for their grandeur and innovation in sensitively integrating modern amenities with historic homes.
