Oak Park's Contributions

The foundation for an important part of my identity was laid 29 years ago today when my family moved to our home in Oak Park, IL.

Ever since I started college, I've been adamant about telling people I'm from Oak Park, and not Chicago.  While it's true that Oak Park is defined by its proximity to the city of Chicago, I firmly believe that Chicago is also defined by Oak Park's proximity to it.

Today is a great occasion to reflect on what Oak Park contributes to Chicago and Chicagoland.

It has a dense urban feel with the way the housing is arranged on the blocks.  Yet it has a distinctly suburban feel, which may speak to how Oak Park developed after the city of Chicago, being beyond the urban sprawl for years.  Many of the residential neighborhoods have a quiet feel, and even the business districts have a somewhat laidback feel to them.  There's a great neighborly atmosphere in Oak Park, and we have an appreciation for diversity, with many in the village striving in efforts to embrace that quality of diversity.  I've liked how there are so many small businesses with an idiosyncratic touch, like the former Aripo's serving Venezuelan food, and places that remain, like Grape Leaves with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes, and Khyber Pass with Indian food.

There are trees lining the streets everywhere, and it seems fitting that Oak Park got an arboretum designation a few years ago.  There are many historic homes, some with a special architectural touch, like Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes, especially those in the Prairie Style.  And the Oak Park Conservatory is also a historic structure, even as it's a wonderful place to step into some greenery.

I appreciate how walkable Oak Park is, which enhances that sense of neighborliness.  It's nice to walk to places like Church or the Maze Branch of the Oak Park Public Library.  I'm glad we have that branch library that gives me easy access to library resources close to where I live.  And it's nice to bike the streets of Oak Park, too, making for a great way to leisurely enjoy the warm weather.

Indeed, this small village has a lot to offer Chicago, and I am grateful that it's been my home for a great quantity of years, and a great quality of years.