A Legacy of Parks and Open Land

Because of the initial vision of Paul Butler, Oak Brook has an abundance of parks and natural settings of land to enjoy, unlike any other community in the United States.

Think about it. Within our nearly 8.3 square miles, we have well-planned separate developments for homes, separate spaces for business offices/upscale apartments, and then we have several natural land settings like Fullersburg Woods, York Woods, and Mayslake Forest Preserve, just as nature intended.

In addition, we have Oakbrook Center, a world-class shopping center, that is literally a beautiful park-like setting in its own right.

And, then there is the Oak Brook Park District, our cover story, and its celebration of being 60 years young this year. It is made up of one hundred seventy-three acres where people can work out to their heart’s content and benefit, offering virtually every manner of exercise possible, complete with a very knowledgeable, award-winning staff.

In addition, we have 269 acres of the Oak Brook Sports Core, where you can enjoy amenities like the Bath & Tennis Club, a public golf course, and other activities, like Oak Brook Polo.

In this issue, we will tell you the story of a successful collaboration between the village and a private company to manage land in the Sports Core and transform it into a well-planned venture to make Oak Brook a soccer mecca for the Midwest, as well as a generator of revenue for the village.

Speaking of special land, we share the story of the nearby Downers Grove Golf Club. This year, the club celebrates 130 years as the oldest 18-hole course in the U.S.

More celebration: this is the 50th anniversary of the Oak Brook Chapter of the Auxiliary of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago. Their annual Fashion Show has become a welcome, successful tradition, and this year there is an added twist.

We put the spotlight on two other traditions. One is Pat Foley, the well-known announcer for the Chicago Blackhawks, who is retiring after calling the shots since 1980.

A new tradition is the Young Hearts 4 Life program dedicated to using electrocardiograms for early detection of sudden heart problems in young people. It was started by Dr. Joseph Marek and offers screenings through high schools in the western suburbs and beyond.

More on young people: we tell the story of two recent Hinsdale Central grads who joined several dozen fellow college fraternity brothers on 60 day/4,000-mile bike ride to raise over $370,000 for people in need, all across the country.

Just in case you are looking for more to do, we offer local To Do’s nearby, like the Theater of Western Springs, as well as a profile of Door County, Wisconsin.

Lastly, if you are packing for a plane trip, you will thoroughly enjoy the story of Hinsdalean Maggie Gerth. She went from an “a-ha” moment in trying to cope with common travel headaches of balancing luggage, computers, kids, and waiting, to finally deciding to make luggage much more than a carry-on. She has just invented a suitcase that also serves as a totally convenient, portable desktop. No surprise, it’s called Props Luggage, and it is a simple, big idea.

Enjoy the out doors and this issue of Oak Brook Magazine!

Scott Jonlich Founder & Publisher

sjonlich@hinsdalemag.com

• High School Showcase November 7 at 7pm

• Elementary School November 14 at 7pm

• Middle School November 28 at 7pm

• Preschool Information Night 29 at 7pm

• Kindergarten Information Night December 5 at 7pm timothychristian.com/open-house 630.782.4043