Chicago Community & Neighborhood Information

Distance to Downtown Chicago:
14 miles

Average Drive Times:
35 minutes to Chicago Loop
5 minutes to O’Hare Airport
30 minutes to Midway Airport

Express Train Commute to Loop:
20 minutes


First settled in 1832, Park Ridge is a mature bedroom community just fourteen miles from downtown. Access to the city by train or car is short and direct, yet the feel of the community is “small town” and serene. Over the years, Park Ridge has developed into one of the most highly regarded communities in the region, with an excellent school system, park district, shopping centers and municipal facilities.

Transportation
Commuter train service is fast and easy to and from the city. PACE Bus service is available within the city and surrounding suburbs. Senior citizen and handicapped residents are offered taxicab service to any destination with a reasonable fare. The Kennedy Expressway (I-90) and the Tri- State Tollway (I-294) have interchanges in the community, a Union Pacific rail line runs through town, and a CTA stop is located on the south end of town. Drive times to the Loop and Midway Airport are 30 minutes. It takes five minutes to get to O'Hare Airport. CTA trains stop at Cumberland Avenue and reach the Loop in 40 minutes. Commuters can reach the Loop in 20 to 25 minutes from the two Metra stations. Bus service is available

Schools
District 64 operates six elementary schools and one junior high. Main South and Main East High Schools, attended by residents, have a reputation of academic success. Park Ridge also offers the community a choice of four parochial grade schools and two parochial high schools. Neighboring Des Plaines is home to Oakton Community College, an accredited public institution serving residents of Main, New Trier, Niles, and Northfield townships.

Shopping
Downtown Park Ridge offers an assortment of shopping centers including a midsize department store, several clothing shops for men, women, and children, specialty shops, and service establishments. A major grocery chain and several financial institutions are found in the central business district. Shopping areas include the South Park Shopping Area, the Village Green Shopping Center, and the DeWest Shopping Center.

Recreation
A 50,000 square-foot community center was built in 1992 and features two pools, an elevated running track, fitness equipment, multipurpose rooms and locker rooms with whirlpool and sauna. The Park District also maintains over 127 acres of parks. The Pickwick Theater is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Hospitals
Lutheran General Hospital has a staff of over 550 physicians specializing in nearly all aspects of medicine. Lutheran General is a licensed teaching, research, and referral hospital. Holy Family Hospital in Des Plaines and Resurrection Hospital on the borders of Park Ridge also serve the community.

Places of Worship
Park Ridge houses fifteen local churches representing many different denominations.