Distance to Downtown Chicago:
9 miles

Oak Park's convenient location as well as transportation and a wide array of housing attract many homebuyers. The village is rich in history and has produced a number of famous people, among them author Edgar Rice Burroughs, world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, McDonald's founder Ray Kroc, chemist Percy Julian, whose research led to the development of the drug Cortisone, and Ernest Hemingway, whose boyhood home was recently opened as a museum.

Oak Park is known for its architecture. The town has two national historic districts which contain over 300 noteworthy buildings. Guided and self-guided cassette tours of the area are available and in June and August there are architectural bicycle tours. In addition to the Prairie School designs, Oak Park has an extensive collection of Victorian houses as well as other classic styles.

Village attractions include a farmers' market, held every Saturday from the beginning of June until the end of October, which features seasonal fruits and vegetables from a four-state area. "A Day in Our Village" is another popular summer festival, highlighting a myriad of community organizations and featuring food and entertainment. The village has received a "Tree City, U.S.A." award every year since 1984.

Schools
Children attend District 97 elementary schools. Teenagers attend Oak Park-River Forest High School in District 200.

Transportation
Convenient transportation is part of what draws residents to the village. The Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) has entrances and exits at Austin and Harlem avenues. Drivers may expect an easy 30-minute trip to the Loop and 35 minutes to reach either Midway or O'Hare airports. Rail commuters may choose the Lake Street or Congress El train or the Metra and expect a 20-minute trip to the Loop. Bus service is also available.