Communities We Serve

Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park are three extremely unique villages, each with its own specific history, population, strengths and challenges. Taken as a whole, they represent over 76,000 individuals of with a vast diversity.

Oak Park

Oak Park is the largest of the three communities with a population of over 52,000. The neighborhoods of Oak Park are filled with the community’s most valuable asset - people. Families, children, singles, partners, seniors. People who are different yet united in spirit. Who take time to shop at the Farmers’ Market. Watch fireworks on the Fourth of July. Shovel each other out in a snowstorm. People who aren’t afraid to get their feet wet - together - at Ridgeland Commons and Rehm Park swimming pools. Who play games in the streets and barbeque together at over 300 block parties each summer. People who, together, form the very essence of the Village. Living side by side in neighborhoods where the homes are as varied as the people living within them. Painted ladies and Prairie Style architecture next to neat stucco, frame and brick homes. Vintage apartment buildings amidst bungalows. New construction and ongoing restoration, both inside and out. Like the people who live here, these homes contribute a unique sense of character to their surroundings. Perhaps the most telling statement about living in Oak Park is the Village’s policy on maintaining diversity, first authored in 1973 by Village Trustees, then reaffirmed and broadened regularly in the years since. Whether you call it diversity or simply community, it’s what Oak Park is all about.

River Forest

River Forest is located in western Cook County, bounded by Harlem Avenue, North Avenue, Madison Avenue to Lathrop Avenue, to Central Avenue and back to Harlem. These borders enclose the Village of River Forest. River Forest is home to two college campuses, Concordia University and
Dominican University, which take up much of the village’s geographic area, making it the smallest population in the tri-village system of just over 12,000. Beautiful estates and a new community center make this community a wonderful place to raise children.

Forest Park This community has seen drastic change over the last ten years as its Madison Street business district has evolved into a vibrant area. Young families have also been moving to Forest Park with its lower housing costs, though market values are on the rise. From 1990 to 2000, the population had a nearly 5% increase to a total of 15,600 individuals. Located approximately 10 miles west from Chicago’s downtown loop area, Forest Park, Illinois combines the unlimited resources of an urban setting with a small town sense of community, making it an exceptional place in which to live, work and do business. Residents enjoy award-winning stage plays at Circle Theatre, first class dining at any number of fine eateries and pubs, and play host to a variety of regionally attended events every year. Quality education, affordable homes and a close-knit, active community also make Forest Park the perfect place to raise a family.