Albano's Pizzeria
About Berwyn
Berwyn's Two Beginnings
The south end of Berwyn today was originally made up of three communities: LaVergne, Upsala or "Swedetown," and Berwyn. This entire area was bounded by 31st Street, and Ogden, Lombard, and Harlem Avenues.
La Vergne
Berwyn's development began in 1856 when Thomas Baldwin purchased 347 acres of land that he subdivided into large, 10-acre lots, hoping to market the idea that he named LaVergne as an all exclusive community for affluent residents. Baldwin invested heavily in this community; he built many roads and imported thousands of maple, ash, cedar, poplar, and pine trees, which were planted throughout the area that was bounded on the east by Ridgeland Avenue, on the west by Harlem Avenue, on the north by 31st Street, and by Old Plank Road (now Ogden Avenue and formally U.S. Route 66), on the south.At that time, the only mode of transportation between the LaVergne community and the City of Chicago was by the horse and buggy along Old Plank Road. In 1862 Baldwin sold an 80-foot wide strip of land to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, encouraging them to build a railroad extension to the new community. In the 1870s, residents built their own LaVergne Station along the new tracks at Ridgeland and Windsor Avenues. After Baldwin's death, his daughter Emma sold a portion of LaVergne to a land syndicate headed by Marshall Field. In 1888, as the community grew, Cicero Township, which had jurisdiction over all of the area that is present-day Berwyn, Cicero, and Oak Park, built LaVergne School on a triangle of land bounded by Ogden, 34th Street, and Gunderson Avenue.
Swedetown
That same year, the Illinois Central laid tracks just north of LaVergne, bringing a group of Swedish immigrants who settled along 31st Street from East Avenue to Oak Park Avenue. The area, which became known as Upsala or "Swedetown," soon became well known for its excellent craftsmen and bakeries.
Berwyn
The city now known as Berwyn had its real beginnings when two attorneys and real estate partners, Charles E. Piper and Wilbur J. Andews, purchased 106 acres from the Field syndicate for the development near the CB&Q tracks. In those early days, rail lines had a major impact on the development of suburbs in the Chicago area. Piper and Andrews asked the CB&Q to build a station at Oak Park Avenue, but the railroad refused, saying there were already stations at LaVergne and at Harlem Avenue. Undaunted, the two developers built a station themselves and the railroad agreed to stop there.
With a growing subdivision and railroad station to serve it on the way, Piper and Andrews needed a name. They sought out the CB&Q's passenger agent, P.S. Eustis, who gave them a set of railroad timetables. After pouring through them they came across Berwyn, a small town about 18 miles west of Philadelphia. Berwyn, Pennsylvania, was a beautiful and affluent village noted for its fine gardens and scenic setting. Since this was exactly the sort of community that the two developers hoped to replicate in Illinois, Piper and Andrews decided that Berwyn was the perfect name. On May 17, 1890, the Cicero Town Board gave its approval and Berwyn, Illinois was born.
Soon, a general store and office building costing about $6,000 was constructed, followed by a small post office. Homes quickly followed and gradually, eight miles of streets were macadamized and sidewalks were laid. In those early years, Piper and Andrews were actively promoting their growing community, advertising extensively in Chicago newspapers. Typical ads boasted of Berwyn's convenient location -- just 9-1/2 miles or 28 minutes by CB&Q train to Chicago's Union Depot -- while others pointed out Berwyn's many churches, splendid schools, water, sewers, electric service, and lack of saloons. Many choice lots and modern residences, the ads stated, were still available at prices ranging from $3,000 to $10,000.
South Oak Park
At roughly the same time, still another community wasdeveloping on the north side of present day Berwyn, aided by "Honest John" Kelly.
Located more than 1-1/2 miles north of the growing communities to its south, this area extended from Roosevelt Road to 16th Street and from Ridgeland to Harlem and was first known as South Oak Park. In 1887, the Union Mutual Life Insurance Company first built homes for its employees in South Oak Park. Sold on the community's potential, Kelly opened an office on Roosevelt Road, west of Oak Park Avenue. Realtor, builder, insurance man, and community servant, Kelly was a typical turn-of-the-century entrepreneur full of energy and drive.
Only two dirt roads, Oak Park and Ridgeland Avenues, connected this community with its neighbors to the south, extending across the many farms and fields that dotted the area. The street names from one side of town to the other didn't match and 1-1/2 miles of fields separated the two sections. Each community had its own churches, stores, clubs, and public transportation.
Berwyn Incorporated as a City
Berwyn's growth was such that soon some form of local government was soon necessary and, in 1902, it was incorporated as a village. Six years later, on June 6, 1908, Berwyn became a city, receiving its official charter from the State of Illinois. The 1910 census recorded Berwyn's population as 5,841.
The first two decades of the twentieth century saw Berwyn develop in much the same way as other Chicago suburbs. It was a place in which, as "The WPA Guide to Illinois" states, "harried commuters relaxed in the evening, weeded gardens, set hens, and mowed their lawns." In 1921, the central portion of the city began its rapid development. Large numbers of Czechs moved from the Pilsen area on Chicago's near West Side to Berwyn and its neighbor on the east, Cicero. Literally thousands of new homes were built each year. The population growth and the infill of vacant land finally brought the two parts of Berwyn together.
Many newcomers found jobs at Western Electric's huge Hawthorne Works in Cicero, commuting via trolley. On July 24, 1915, Berwyn was plunged into mourning when the steamer Eastland, chartered for a Western Electric company excursion, rolled onto its side in the Chicago River, claiming 812 lives. Many in Berwyn lost relatives, friends, or neighbors in the disaster.
Early Residents Build Quality Homes, Neighborhoods
Ben'sconstruction boom continued into the Roaring Twenties, as farms and fields gave way overnight to new homes. Entire blocks were built at once, with contractors digging all basements simultaneously, then bringing in crews to lay foundations, followed by carpenters, bricklayers and plasterers. Block after block of bungalows rose as Berwyn's population swelled; from 14,150 in 1920 to 47,027 in 1930 - an increase of 222% in just ten years.
Today, Berwyn has the most significant collection of Chicago-style bungalows in the nation. Traditionally, Berwyn Bungalows are one-story buildings with basement and attic, two to three bedrooms, and a living and dining room. Decorative details included oak woodwork and stained glass windows. The finances of the owner at the time they were built determined the specific design of the windows, roofs, and interiors. These bungalows, built between the 1920's through the 1940's, range in style from smaller one or one-and-a-half story units to the larger, "super" bungalows, with two full stories, glazed brick exteriors and tile roofs -- some in flashy colors like blue, blue-green or multicolor.
During those years, Berwyn boasted of being the fastest growing city in the United States. Even as recently as 1991, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that "Berwyn has the highest concentration of financial institutions in the world - a tribute to the frugality of its forebears." Cermak Road, Berwyn's primary business corridor, was once known as "The Bohemian Wall Street."
Families with Czech and Bohemian roots, together with many Italian-Americans, Greeks, Lithuanians, Poles, Yugoslavians and Ukrainians, have been joined in recent years by Hispanics, African and Asian Americans who now call Berwyn home. As Berwyn moves into the 21st century, its traditionally hard-working, middle-class, mostly blue collar families, who were admitted conservative in their outlook, are joined by young, professional families and a growing population of gay and lesbian residents.
Now, just as in those early times, Berwynites are justly proud of "Beautiful Berwyn." With its tree-lined streets, sturdy brick bungalows, and Victorian "painted ladies," Berwyn continues to be a stable, safe, and diverse community. With the continuing efforts of its homeowners, business community, civic organizations, and city government, Berwyn looks forward to its "second century" as it celebrates its rich and varied past.
Thielen, L. (2011). History of Berwyn. Retrieved from Berwyn Development Corporation website.
Physical boundaries: North: Roosevelt Road South: Pershing Road East: Lombard Avenue West: Harlem Avenue
Key Facts:
Population: 56,657
Median Age: 32.0 Years
Median Household Income: $53,819
Per Capita Income: $20,562
Average Home Value: $244,100
* These facts are a summary of the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau.
People also ask
Berwyn, Illinois
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"The city of homes"
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Location of Berwyn in Cook County, Illinois.
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 Berwyn
Location of Berwyn in Greater Chicago Area
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| Coordinates: 41°50′33″N 87°47′24″WCoordinates: 41°50′33″N 87°47′24″W | |
| Country |
 United States
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| State |
 Illinois
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| County | Cook |
| Township | Berwyn |
| Incorporated | 1908 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| • Mayor | Robert Lovero |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.90 sq mi (10.11 km2) |
| • Land | 3.90 sq mi (10.11 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0% |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 56,657 |
| • Estimate
(2019)[2]
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54,391 |
| • Density | 13,932.12/sq mi (5,378.59/km2) |
| Up 4.9% from 2000 | |
| Standard of living (2009-11) | |
| • Per capita income | $20,143 |
| • Median home value | $210,200 |
| ZIP code(s) |
60402
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| Area code(s) | 708/464 |
| Geocode | 17-05573 |
| FIPS code | 17-05573 |
| Website | www |
Berwyn /ˈbɜːrwɪn/ is a suburban city in Cook County, Illinois, coterminous with Berwyn Township, which was formed in 1908 after breaking off from Cicero Township. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,657.[3]
History[edit]
Before being settled, the land that is now Berwyn was traversed by Native American trails. The most important trails converged near the Chicago portage, and two notable routes crossed what is today Berwyn. A branch of the Trail to Green Bay crossed Berwyn at what is now Riverside Drive, and the Ottawa Trail spanned the southern end of the city.[4]
In 1846, the first land in "Berwyn" was deeded to Theodore Doty, who built the 8-foot-wide (2.4 m) Plank Road from Chicago to Ottawa along the Ottawa Trail. The trail had been used as a French and Indian trade route and more recently as a stagecoach route to Lisle.[5] This thoroughfare became what is now Ogden Avenue in South Berwyn. In 1856, Thomas F. Baldwin purchased 347 acres (1.40 km2) of land, bordered by what is now Ogden Avenue, Ridgeland Avenue, 31st Street, and Harlem Avenue, in hopes of developing a rich and aristocratic community called "LaVergne".[6] However, few people were interested in grassy marshland. Mud Lake extended nearly to the southern border of today's Berwyn, and the land regularly flooded during heavy rains. The only mode of transportation to LaVergne was horse and buggy on the Plank Road.
To encourage people to move to LaVergne, Baldwin sold an 80-foot-wide (24 m) strip of property to the Burlington and Quincy Railroad in 1862. The rail line opened in 1864, but the train did not stop regularly in the area. The railroad refused to build a station, so the residents of the area constructed LaVergne Station on Ridgeland Avenue in 1874.[6]
However, the financial panic of 1873 and Baldwin's death in 1876 stunted the growth of LaVergne. Baldwin's daughter, Emma, inherited her father's estate, and in 1879 she sold most of the land to a group of realtors controlled by Marshall Field. The new development enacted building codes and stipulated the minimum building cost of each home. By the end of 1880, 12 new homes were built. By 1888, the settlement had grown so much that the Baldwin family donated the triangular piece of land bounded by Ogden Avenue, 34th Street, and Gunderson Avenue so that a school could be built. LaVergne School became the first public building in Berwyn.
In 1890, Charles E. Piper and Wilbur J. Andrews, two Chicago attorneys, purchased a 106-acre (0.43 km2) plot of land from the Field syndicate to develop. The land was bounded by Wesley, Kenilworth, 31st Street, and Ogden Avenues. By the following year, the two received approval from Cicero Township to double their land holdings.
Piper and Andrews wanted the railroad to build a station in their development, but the railroad already had stations at La Vergne and at Harlem Avenue. Piper and Andrews decided to build a station with the understanding that trains would stop regularly. They did not know what to name their station so they consulted a Pennsylvania train timetable to find a name. The name they chose was Berwyn, a Main Line suburb of Philadelphia noted for its beauty. After 1901, all settlements in the area were known as Berwyn.[6]
While Piper and Andrews were developing the southern portion of present-day Berwyn, John Kelly was helping to develop the north part from 12th Street to 16th Street. This area was really a part of an Oak Park subdivision, and it even appeared on some maps as "South Oak Park". In fact, children who lived in this area went to school in Oak Park. John Kelly was known as "Mr. Everything" because he was a realtor, builder, insurance seller, and community servant.[7]
In between the two settlements, there was little except for a few farms. The area between 16th and 31st streets was not settled. There were only two paths by which to travel between the two settlements, and today these paths are known as Oak Park Avenue and Ridgeland Avenue. Although Berwyn was chartered as a city in 1908, it was not until the 1920s that this middle portion of land was developed.[6]
During this time, Berwyn was the area's fastest growing suburb. The city's stringent building codes resulted in block upon block of well-built brick two-story bungalows. Many also contained elaborate design elements typically not seen, such as stained glass windows, clay tile roofs, terra cotta, and intricate brick patterns. Today, Berwyn is noted as having the most significant collection of Chicago-style bungalows in the nation.[8]
Demographics[edit]
| Demographics (2010)[9] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| White | Black | Asian | |
| 60.5% | 6.4% | 2.5% | |
| Islander | Native | Other | Hispanic (any race) |
| 0.03% | 0.6% | 30.0% | 59.4% |
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 5,841 | — | |
| 1920 | 14,150 | 142.3% | |
| 1930 | 47,027 | 232.3% | |
| 1940 | 48,451 | 3.0% | |
| 1950 | 51,280 | 5.8% | |
| 1960 | 54,224 | 5.7% | |
| 1970 | 52,502 | −3.2% | |
| 1980 | 46,849 | −10.8% | |
| 1990 | 45,426 | −3.0% | |
| 2000 | 54,016 | 18.9% | |
| 2010 | 56,657 | 4.9% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 54,391 | [2] | −4.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] | |||
As of the census of 2010, there were 56,657 people and 18,910 households in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 60.48% White, 6.40% African American, 0.59% Native American, 2.52% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 26.61% some other race, and 3.37% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race made up 59.44% of the population. The population density was 14,527.4 inhabitants per square mile (5,609.6/km2).[11] Berwyn also has the highest population density (2010) of any township in Illinois. It and Cicero are the only townships in Illinois that have a higher population density than the city of Chicago.
As per the Community Data Snapshot Berwyn 2013–2017, Municipality, June 2019 release [12] Berwyn had the following demographics:
Hispanic or Latino: 35,928, 63.7%
White non-Hispanic: 14,793, 26.2%
Black non-Hispanic: 3,235, 5.7%
Asian non-Hispanic: 1,823, 3.2%
All other categories: 588, 1.0%
The top five non-Hispanic ancestries reported in Berwyn as of the 2009-2011 American Community Survey were Italian (8.0%), German (7.8%), Irish (7.3%), and Polish (7.1%).[13]
In the 2010 census, there were 18,910 households, out of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18; 45.7% were headed by married couples; 16.5% had a female householder with no male present; and 30.3% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99, and the average family size was 3.62.[11]
The age distribution was 27.8% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.[3]
For the period 2009–11, the estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $50,388, and the median income for a family was $55,946. Male full-time workers had a median income of $42,099 versus $34,989 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,143. About 12.5% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.9% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.[14]
Geography[edit]
According to the 2010 census, Berwyn has a total area of 3.91 square miles (10.13 km2), all land.[15] Bordering suburbs include Oak Park to the north, Cicero to the east, Stickney to the south, and Lyons, Riverside, North Riverside, and Forest Park to the west. Geologically, Berwyn is predominately composed of Glacial Lake Bottom from the Wisconsin Glacial Episode, the most recent glacial period. A beach ridge of sand and gravel, made during one of the stages of Lake Chicago, is also present in the city. This is most easily identified as Riverside Drive. The elevation change due to the ridge is clearly seen on the 2800 block of Maple Ave.[16] Prior to the settlement of Berwyn, the land was grassy marshland. The body of water that connected the South Branch of the Chicago River to the Des Plaines River was a shallow waterway or a muddy slough (depending on the season) known as Mud Lake. Mud Lake extended nearly to the southern border of today's Berwyn,[17] and the southern end of Berwyn flooded regularly during heavy rains in its early years.
Government[edit]
City[edit]
The City of Berwyn operates under a Strong Mayor form of government. The people of Berwyn elect the mayor, clerk, treasurer, and one alderman from each of the city's eight wards. The terms of elected officials are four years. The mayor is given administrative authority, and he has the power to appoint and remove all officers of the municipality, except those covered by civil service. The City Council, composed of the eight aldermen and the mayor, is the legislative organ of the city.[18]
The seat of government is located at City Hall, 6700 26th Street.
Police and fire departments[edit]
Police[edit]
The Berwyn Police Department, has six main divisions: Administrative, Investigative, Patrol, K-9 Unit, Communications, Records, and Parking. The Berwyn Police Station is located at 6401 W. 31st Street.
Fire[edit]
The Berwyn Fire Department is composed of 80 sworn professional firefighters, 30 certified paramedics, and 11 emergency medical technicians. The Fire Department is anchored by three fire stations with the following equipment:[19]
| Station | Location | Engine Co. | Truck Co. | Ambulance | Command Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Station 1 (South) | 6434 Windsor Ave | Quint 901 Engine/Truck Combo
Reserve Fire Engine 911 |
Ambulance 906
Reserve Ambulance 910 |
||
| Fire Station 2 (North) | 6615 W. 16th St | Engine 902 | Ambulance 905 | Command Vehicle 909 | |
| Fire Station 3 (Center) | 6700 W. 26th St | Engine 903 | Ladder Truck 904 | Ambulance 907 | Command Vehicle 900
Command Vehicle 908 |
Federal[edit]
Since 2013, Berwyn has been split between three of Illinois' congressional districts: the 3rd Congressional District, 4th Congressional District, and 7th Congressional District.[20]
Post Office[edit]
The United States Postal Service operates the Berwyn Post Office (1940), at 6625 Cermak Road.[21] The post office contains a mural, The Picnic, painted in 1942 by Richard Haines. Murals were produced from 1934 to 1943 in the United States through the Section of Painting and Sculpture, later called the Section of Fine Arts, of the Treasury Department.[22]
Mayors[edit]
| Term | Mayor |
|---|---|
| 1908–1911 | George H. Murphy |
| 1911–1914 | H.S. Rich |
| 1914–1915 | Charles Rudderham |
| 1915–1917 | G.M. Smith |
| 1917–1923 | George H. Anderson |
| 1923–1925 | Fred H. Rudderham |
| 1925–1929 | Frank Janda |
| 1929–1931 | Byron C. Thorpe |
| 1931–1934 | Frank Novotny |
| 1934–1935 | Maurice Shay |
| 1935–1943 | Anton Janura |
| 1943–1945 | Fred J. Mraz |
| 1945–1946 | Thomas Barrett |
| 1946–1965 | William J. Kriz |
| 1965–1968 | George Dolezal |
| 1968–1969 | Ralph M. Faust |
| 1969–1977 | Emil Vacin |
| 1977–1981 | Thomas A. Hett |
| 1981–1993 | Joseph Lanzillotti |
| 1993–2005 | Thomas G. Shaughnessy |
| 2005–2009 | Michael A. O'Connor |
| 2009–present | Robert Lovero |
Education[edit]
Berwyn is served by two K-8 school districts:
- Berwyn North School District 98 comprises 4 schools: Havlicek Elementary, Prairie Oak Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, and Lincoln Middle School.
- Berwyn South School District 100 comprises 8 schools: Emerson Elementary, Hiawatha Elementary, Irving Elementary, Komensky Elementary, Pershing Elementary, Piper Elementary, Freedom Middle School, and Heritage Middle School.
High school students, depending on residency, attend either J. Sterling Morton High School District 201's J. Sterling Morton High School West in Berwyn or J. Sterling Morton High School East in Cicero. Most areas are west of Ridgeland Avenue and therefore are zoned to Morton West, while those east of Ridgeland Avenue are zoned to Morton East.[23][24]
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago operates two PK-8 schools in Berwyn:
- St. Odilo School
- St. Leonard School
The third one, St. Mary of Celle, closed after the 2004–2005 school year. The building and premises are still used, however. During the great depression, the tuition at St. Odilo was only 75 cents (about $14.23 when accounting for inflation).[citation needed]
Parochial grade school students who wish to move onto parochial secondary education can attend nearby schools such as Fenwick High School in neighboring Oak Park, or Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park, both of which are co-educational. Trinity High School located in River Forest is a school for girls.
Berwyn North School District 98 used to host General Custer Elementary, which was built in 1908 and later torn down in 2000. In 2002, a new state-of-the-art school was built on the same site called Prairie Oak Elementary. Emerson Elementary and Heritage Middle School share a common wall, but are separate schools. When Lincoln Middle School was built in 1928, it never had a cafeteria or library, the library was across the street (now the Berwyn Cultural Center).
LaVergne School, built in 1888, was the first school built in Berwyn, the building had two classrooms with fireplaces. Despite community protest, the 50-year-old building was torn down in 1938. It was replaced with the Lavergne Education Centre which, once an elementary school, is now the headquarters of the Berwyn South School District 100.
Economy[edit]
While Berwyn is known as the "City of Homes," it also contains four primary business corridors: Ogden Ave, the Depot District, Cermak Road, and Roosevelt Road. Ogden Ave, a segment of historic Route 66, is an automobile-centered district, and at its peak the road included over a dozen car dealerships in Berwyn.[25] The Depot District, the area around the train station, includes an array of independent shops and restaurants. Loyola MacNeal Hospital, the city's largest employer, is at the center the district. Cermak Road earned the nickname "The Bohemian Wall Street" due to the many savings and loans located there. In 1991, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that "Berwyn has the highest concentration of financial institutions in the world - a tribute to the frugality of its forebears." The savings and loan crisis of the 1980s hit the area especially hard.[citation needed] The Cermak Plaza Shopping Center, which opened in 1956, is located at the corner of Harlem Avenue and Cermak Road.[26] Notable original tenants included J. C. Penney, Walgreens, F.W. Woolworth, Kinney Shoes, Jewel Foods and Fannie May Candies. Cermak Plaza served as the main shopping center for the area until 1975 when the North Riverside Park Mall opened a half mile west on Cermak Road. Current tenants include Tony’s Finer Foods, Marshalls, Party City, K&G, Office Depot and Dollar Tree.[27] Cermak Road now includes an array of retail shops and restaurants.[28] Roosevelt Road is home to several music venues, including FitzGerald's Nightclub, Wire, and the Harlem Avenue Lounge blues club, and Friendly Tap.[29]
According to Berwyn's 2013 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[30] the top employers in the city were:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loyola MacNeal Hospital | 2,200 |
| 2 | J. Sterling Morton High School District 201 | 1,000 |
| 3 | City of Berwyn | 550 |
| 4 | Berwyn South School District 100 | 456 |
| 5 | Berwyn North School District 98 | 370 |
| 6 | Campagna-Turano Baking Company | 300 |
| 7 | Rosin Eyecare | 85 |
| 8 | Transloading Specialist, Inc. | 50 |
| 9 | Citizens Community Bank | 35 |
| 10 | Physicians' Record Company | 35 |
Transportation[edit]
Train[edit]
Berwyn is served by the BNSF Railway Line, and Metra operates three stations within the city: the Harlem Avenue Station, the Berwyn Station at Oak Park Ave, and the La Vergne Station at Ridgeland Ave.
Until 1952 Berwyn was served by the Douglas branch of the Chicago "L". The line was extended in 1924 to Oak Park Ave, just north of Cermak Rd.[31] In 1952 rail service west of 54th Ave was suspended and replaced by bus.[32] The fairways that once served as the right of way for the "L" still exist as parking lots for shopping along the Cermak avenue corridor.
Berwyn was also briefly served by a steam line that ran along 19th Street at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. A station was located at Ridgeland Ave. The line was built in 1890 by the Chicago and Northern Pacific Railroad under the name Chicago & Southwestern Railroad. It extended from the C&NP mainline at 45th Street south to 16th Street and then to 19th Street. It then turned north on Harlem, returning to the C&NP mainline. The different shaped lots between Austin Blvd and Ridgeland along 19th Street attest to the previous presence of the line.[33][34]
Bus[edit]
Bus service within Berwyn and to neighboring suburbs is provided by Pace Bus.
Walkability and carbon footprint[edit]
Berwyn residents may be able to lead a low carbon footprint lifestyle, according to The Five Ton Life. This is due to walkable neighborhoods of modestly sized bungalows, and easy access to grocery stores.[35]
Arts and culture[edit]
Berwyn now has a growing arts community with a professional equity theater, an Arts Council and music and entertainment venues. The 16th Street Theater producing live events opened in 2007.[36] It was named "Best Emerging Theater Company" by Chicago magazine in 2013.[37]
Annual events[edit]
From the 1920s to the 1970s, Berwyn had a large Czechoslovak population, and to celebrate their heritage the Houby Day Parade was organized in 1968. The parade continues to today, and it coincides with the fall mushroom harvest.[38]
Ogden Avenue is part of the "Historic Route 66" in Berwyn, and an annual Vintage Car Show has taken place in the city every year in early September since 1990. Ogden Avenue is closed to traffic from Ridgeland to Oak Park Avenue, and hundreds of car enthusiasts come out to celebrate the spirit of Route 66. In 2006,[39] Berwyn began to host its annual art car parade called Cartopia. Art car artists from all over the country meet to show off their latest creations and then parade through the neighborhood.
In the 1960s and 1970s, many Italian families moved into Berwyn. The Maria SS Lauretana Italian-Sicilian Religious Festival was held on the grounds of Morton West High School during Labor Day weekend until 2014.
Since the year 2000, Berwyn has held an Oktoberfest and Brew Fest around mid to late-September; the festivals are held at the tracks on Berwyn Station and Proska Park respectively.[40]
Public art[edit]
Berwyn was notable for the sculpture Spindle, created by artist Dustin Shuler and located in the Cermak Plaza shopping center along with other works of art. The Spindle was shown in the movie Wayne's World. It was demolished and scrapped on the night of May 2, 2008 to make way for a new Walgreens. Grassroots efforts to Save the Spindle failed to raise the $300,000+ that it would have taken to dismantle and relocate it. This was a major upset among supporters of the sculpture, considering that it did not encroach upon the new Walgreens' final location. The two topmost cars were placed in storage; as of 2012 the Berwyn Route 66 Museum on Ogden Avenue proposes to incorporate them into a reconstruction of the Spindle.
Film and television[edit]
Portions of the 2008 film Wanted with Angelina Jolie were filmed at Cermak Plaza. Segments of the films A League of Their Own, The Color of Money, and Adventures in Babysitting were filmed at FitzGerald's Nightclub in Berwyn.
Berwyn is also mentioned frequently on the television show Svengoolie. (The show has been shot in Chicago since 1970, while hosts Jerry G. Bishop and Rich Koz are natives of the Chicago metro.)[41]
Berwyn is also known for often being used in television productions, such as the shows Chicago P.D.[42] and Chicago Fire,[43] and most recently as of October 2019, The Chi, in which an episode was filmed at J Sterling Morton West High School.
Parks and recreation[edit]
Many parks and community centers are located within Berwyn. Two park districts and a recreation department maintain the city's recreational facilities and organize leagues and programming for youth, adults, and seniors. The city's largest park is Proksa Park, which comprises approximately 15 acres (61,000 m2) of land. It contains numerous flower beds, 64 species of trees, 85 species of shrubs, as well as a small pond and stream. Recreational facilities include three tennis courts, two softball fields, and a large playground.
Berwyn is also home to the Pav YMCA. In 1987, the YMCA opened at 2947 Oak Park Ave, on the former site of a lumber yard that had burned down a decade earlier. The building has an Olympic-sized indoor pool, racquet and handball courts, a gym, and exercise facilities. A rehabilitation center operated with MacNeal Memorial Hospital is present as well.
The following table includes a complete list of Berwyn's public parks and recreational centers:
| North Berwyn Park District | Berwyn Park District | Berwyn Recreation Department | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Center / Pyrce Park | 16th & Wesley | Freedom Park | 3701 Scoville | Rec Center / Pavek Pool | 6501 W. 31st |
| Berwyn Gardens | Maple & Cermak | Friendship Park | 25th & Kenilworth | Janura Park | 28th & East |
| Jefferson Field | 16th & Wenonah | Hessler Park | 34th & Kenilworth | Baseball Alley | East Ave. & 29th |
| Kriz Park | 15th & Maple | Karasek Park | Windsor & Kenilworth | Karban Park | East & Ogden Alleys |
| Hett Park | 19th & Cuyler | Liberty Cultural Center | 6445 W. 27th Pl | ||
| Mraz Park | Oak Park & Riverside Dr | ||||
| Proksa Park | 3001 S. Wisconsin | ||||
| Serenity Park | Wesley & 26th | ||||
| Smirz Park | 34th & Highland | ||||
| Sunshine Park | 29th & Oak Park | ||||
| Unity Park | 25th & Cuyler | ||||
Features[edit]
Berwyn is a very diverse community, with some larger homes on its south side and many smaller, bungalow-type homes on the north side around Roosevelt Road and Cermak Road. The town also has many duplexes and three unit buildings. Because of the predominance of small residences in Berwyn, the community has an unusually low carbon footprint. According to data published by the Center for Neighborhood Technology, Berwyn had the lowest per capita CO2 emissions from homes and private vehicles in the Chicago area.[44]
Berwyn has one of the world's largest laundromats, 13,500 square feet (1,250 m2) in size, with 161 washers and 140 dryers, a kids' play area, big screen TVs, a bird sanctuary, and free pizza on Wednesday nights.[45] It incurred extensive damage from an electrical fire in 2004 but was rebuilt in early 2006. This laundromat received considerable recognition for using a solar thermal system (the largest such installation in Illinois) to meet its hot water needs.[46]
The Berwyn Eagles Club is a small venue that plays host as a bingo hall as well as an arena for monthly professional wrestling events held by All American Wrestling, which is considered[according to whom?] to be one of the top independent pro wrestling companies in the Midwest.
Horror host Rich Koz, aka Svengoolie, regularly comments on "beautiful Berwyn" as a long-running gag on his Chicago TV show.[41]
Notable people[edit]
- Jeff Adams, football player; born in Berwyn
- Christopher Bielawski, Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher in synthesis and polymer chemistry
- Scarlett Bordeaux, professional wrestling valet in WWE and Ring of Honor; resides in Berwyn
- Dianne Chandler, model, Playboy Playmate
- Richard Christiansen, film and theatre critic, born in Berwyn
- Allan Cox, author and business leader; born in Berwyn
- George E. Dolezal, state representative and judge; served as mayor of Berwyn
- Joey Goodspeed, running back for the Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, and San Diego Chargers; born in Berwyn
- Ozzie Guillén, Major League Baseball player and manager, lived in Berwyn during playing days with Chicago White Sox
- Gary Hallberg, golfer with the PGA Tour; born in Berwyn
- Fred Malek, businessman
- Ricky Mandel, professional wrestler who competed for Lucha Underground
- John J. McNichols, Illinois state representative and lawyer
- Bob Miller, pitcher for Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Mets; born in Berwyn
- Arthur Nielsen, market analyst who founded ACNielsen company
- John Philip Novak, state legislator
- Bob Odenkirk, actor and comedian best known as Saul Goodman on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul
- Robert Pechous, educator and politician
- Jim Peterik, musician, founding member of The Ides of March and Survivor
- Sondra Radvanovsky, opera singer
- Joseph G. Sevcik, state representative and lawyer; lived in Berwyn and served as the city attorney of Berwyn
- Vlasta Vraz, Czech relief worker after WWII
- Jerry Wainwright, head coach for DePaul University Blue Demons basketball; born in Berwyn
- Dave Wehrmeister, pitcher for San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago White Sox; born in Berwyn
- Bob Will, outfielder for Chicago Cubs; born in Berwyn
References[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Berwyn, Illinois. |
- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to:a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to:a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Berwyn city, Illinois". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
- ^ "The Chicago Portage - Historical Synopsis | Chicago Portage". drupal.library.cmu.edu. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
- ^ "Ogden Avenue ... Street with a Real History | Western Springs Historical Society". www.westernspringshistory.org. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
- ^ Jump up to:a b c d "About Berwyn - City of Berwyn".
- ^ "South Oak Park".
- ^ Chicago Tribune (27 June 2015). "Berwyn bungalows one step closer to national historic recognition - Chicago Tribune". chicagotribune.com.
- ^ "2010 United States Census Data". Archived from the original on 2012-12-11.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ Jump up to:a b "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Berwyn city, Illinois". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
- ^ https://www.cmap.illinois.gov/documents/10180/102881/Berwyn.pdf
- ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the United States: 2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates (DP02): Berwyn city, Illinois". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
- ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics: 2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates (DP03): Berwyn city, Illinois". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
- ^ "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
- ^ "Illinois State Geological Survey Surficial Geology of the Chicago Region: Berwyn Quadrangle | ISGS". www.isgs.illinois.edu. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ "Stickney, IL".
- ^ "Local Government | City of Berwyn". www.berwyn-il.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ "Fire Department | City of Berwyn". www.berwyn-il.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ "Congressional District Maps". www.cookcountyclerk.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-05. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ "Post Office Location - BERWYN." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on April 17, 2009.
- ^ "Post Office Mural, Berwyn, IL". livingnewdeal.org. Living New Deal. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
- ^ "1950s." J. Sterling Morton High School East. Retrieved on December 20, 2016.
- ^ "Polling Locations for March 2012." Stickney Township. Retrieved on December 20, 2016.
- ^ Berwyn?, Why. "Historic Route 66 - Ogden Avenue | Why Berwyn?". www.whyberwyn.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-14. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ Pleasant Family Shopping: The Art and History of Cermak Plaza. Pleasantfamilyshopping.blogspot.com (2010-02-02). Retrieved on 2013-07-21.
- ^ Renovation spurs revival at Cermak Plaza Archived 2012-04-30 at the Wayback Machine. Rejournals.com (2011-02-16). Retrieved on 2013-07-21.
- ^ Berwyn?, Why. "Cermak Road - Berwyn's Main Street | Why Berwyn?". www.whyberwyn.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-14. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ "Events". Why Berwyn.
- ^ "Comprehensive Annual Financial Report For the Year Ended December 31, 2013" (PDF). City of Berwyn, Illinois. December 31, 2013.
- ^ Know Chicago - Shealy's New Idea Street Guide for Quick Service (Map). J.P. Shealy Street Guide. 1925. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
- ^ Chicago Transit Map (Map). Chicago Transit Authority. 1954. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
- ^ "Welcome to the Shore Line Interurban Historical Society | 1902 Crossing Dispute". www.shore-line.org. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ^ LLC., Historic Map Works. "Cook County 1913 Cicero Township Illinois Historical Atlas". www.historicmapworks.com. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
- ^ Bridge, Nick (2019-09-17). "How to live a 5-ton life". Oak Park. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
- ^ "16th Street Theater: About Us". 16th Street Theater.
- ^ "Best Emerging Theater Company". Chicago magazine. July 16, 2013.
- ^ "Houby Day Festival & Parade". Everfest.com.
- ^ "Berwyn Arts Council Launches First Annual Cartopia Event". 2006 PR Newswire Association LLC. 2006 PR Newswire Association LLC. May 23, 2006.
- ^ BARROWSEmail, AIMEE. "Berwyn to celebrate Oktoberfest in Depot District". www.mysuburbanlife.com. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
-
^ Jump up to:a b Okuda, Ted; Yurkiw, Mark (2007). Chicago TV Horror Movie Shows: From Shock Theatre to Svengoolie. Lake Claremont Press. p. 118. ISBN 978-1893121133.
Perhaps the show's most famous catchphrase is...the pained cry of 'Berrrrr-wyn?' groaned by a chorus of off-camera voices and cued every time the Chicago-area suburb is mentioned.
- ^ Turner, Jim (April 11, 2019). "Chicago P.D. filming to take place in Berwyn" (PDF). City of Berwyn.
- ^ Hudson, Martin (January 5, 2018). "Chicago Fire filming to take place in Berwyn" (PDF). City of Berwyn.
- ^ Subak, Susan (2018). The Five-Ton Life. pp. 123–125.
- ^ Reader's Digest, May 2006, p. 94.
- ^ "World's Largest (Solar) Laundromat" Re-opens!". Illinois Government News Network. State of Illinois. January 21, 2006. Archived from the original on August 15, 2007. Retrieved July 8, 2007.
External links[edit]
- City of Berwyn official website
15 Best Things to Do in Berwyn (IL)
This culturally diverse suburban city lies about ten miles west of the Chicago Loop. Berwyn has a beautiful streetscape, for its abundance of elegant Chicago-style bungalows, mostly from the 1910s and 1920s.
Just north of Berwyn is the village of Oak Park, where the great Frank Lloyd Wright made an indelible impression, designing dozens of buildings early in his career.
Looking around Oak Park you can track the very origins of Wright’s Prairie School movement, and you can see how it influenced landscape design at Jensen’s Columbus Park, also a short hop from Berwyn.
Closer to home, Berwyn has a vibrant cultural scene thanks to the 16th Street Theater and The Outta Space, which combines a bar and creative hotbed.
1. Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
Source: littlenySTOCK / shutterstock
Completed in 1889 and extended six years later, Frank Lloyd Wright’s house and studio was the very first project over which he exerted complete artistic control.
Wright would spend 20 years here with his family, over which time he repeatedly refined the design of his building as he experimented with the ideas that would define the rest of his career.
The property has been restored to its 1909 appearance, which was the final year he spent here before moving in to his famous Taliesin in Wisconsin.
Looking around the property you’ll notice how the rooms seem to flow together thanks to the wide doorways, closed off by portieres.
One extraordinary space is the children’s playroom (1895), informed by Wright’s belief in the importance of nurture, with a barrel vault illuminated by a skylight with blossom and seedpod motifs. 25 Most Beautiful Medieval Castles in the World
2. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple
Source: Nagel Photography / shutterstock
Part of a collective, nation-spanning UNESCO World Heritage Site for Frank Lloyd Wright’s most important works is the Unitarian Universalist church in Oak Park, built between 1905 and 1908.
A weighty cube of unadorned reinforced concrete with an overhanging flat roof, the Unity Temple has been described as the first Modern building, influencing architects who came after, like Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
The austere exterior gives way to a warm interior, cherished for the sublime composition of light and space, lit from a high, continuous band of windows in the clerestory and a grid of amber-tinted lights in the ceiling.
3. Brookfield Zoo
Source: Steve Cukrov / shutterstock
Head across the Des Plaines River from Berwyn and on the west bank you’ll find Brookfield Zoo, a pioneering attraction since opening in 1934.
This was the first zoo in America to have giant pandas, and was the first to use moats and ditches for habitats, rather than cages.
And thanks to the Chicago climate Brookfield Zoo has also innovated indoor exhibits, like Tropic World, which became the first indoor tropical rainforest enclosure when it opened in the 1980s.
There are more than 450 species at the zoo, at 20 different exhibits, like Big Cats, Great Bears Wilderness, Habitat Africa!, Reptiles and Birds and the Fragile Desert.
Every year there’s also a new special exhibit, and one that returns every few years is Dinosaurs Alive!, when the park is taken over by dozens of lifesize animatronic dinosaurs.
4. Frank Lloyd Wright Walking Tour
Source: littlenySTOCK / shutterstock
With more buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright than any other place in the world, Oak Park is the ultimate place to visit if you want to witness the development of the nascence of his Prairie School movement at the turn of the 20th century.
Between 1888 and 1913 Wright designed numerous structures around the village, for Sullivan & Adler and then as an independent designer.
These are now encompassed by a designated Historic District. You can download a map for a self-guided tour of Oak Park, taking in masterpieces like the Harry S. Adams House (1913), William E. Martin House (1902-1903), Oscar B. Balch House (1911) and William G. Fricke House (1901-1902).
Conservatively you could make as many as 25 stops on your walk. For a rare inside look you could join the annual Wright Plus Housewalk in May, showing you around eight private residences and two landmark monuments by Wright and his contemporaries.
5. Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum
Source: Geraldo Ramos / shutterstock
Within ten minutes of Berwyn you can visit the place where Ernest Hemingway was born and spent the first six years of his life.
The Queen Anne-style house at 339 N Oak Park Ave was built by the author’s maternal grandparents in 1890 and was the first home in Oak Park to have electricity.
Hemingway was born in a second floor bedroom on July 21, 1899, delivered by his father, Clarence, who was a medical doctor. His mother, Grace, was a prominent opera singer and music teacher.
The property was purchased by the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park in 1992 and opened to the public in 2001 after being restored to its 1890s layout and embellished with Hemingway family heirlooms.
On an informative guided tour you’ll find out about Hemingway’s early days and see objects and fixtures that would have been familiar to the writer.
6. Berwyn Cultural Center
Source: wee dezign / shutterstock
Part of the North Berwyn Park District, this dynamic amenity is in the former library building for Lincoln Middle School, which is still found opposite Elmwood Avenue.
The Berwyn Cultural Center is home to the 16th Street Theater, Berwyn’s only professional equity theater, established in 2007 and staging three superb productions a year.
Many of these shows have been recommended by the Jeff Awards, recognizing excellence in performing arts in the Chicago area.
The theater is also deeply engaged in the community, with acting classes for adults and a diversity of programs for kids and teens, including a popular summer theater camp.
7. Columbus Park
Source: looneytuneted / Flickr | CC BY
You can keep the Prairie School theme going at this historic park, just beyond Berwyn’s northeastern corner. Columbus Park is held as the highpoint of landscape architect Jens Jensen’s (1860-1951) storied career.
Laid out in 1915, these 135 acres conform to Prairie School principles, emphasizing the natural beauty of the landscape, using native plants and evoking the natural rock outcroppings of the Midwest.
These can be admired along the stone paths and in the layered rock of Jensen’s waterfalls. The park features Jensen’s signature Council Ring, for storytelling or contemplation, while there’s a charming refectory building rented out for weddings and other events.
The park stages a number of events in summer, like Chicago Shakespeare Theater productions and open-air Movies in the Park.
8. Proksa Park
Source: deryabinka / shutterstock
Berwyn Park District’s largest park is a beautiful space, ready for passive and active recreation.
The south side is especially pretty for its rambling paths, flowerbeds, shrubs, hedges and trees, while there’s a pair of picnic groves, a children’s garden, a sizable playground, two ponds and a creek.
Head north, under the canopy of mature trees and past expansive lawns, and you’ll come to the Proksa Park’s sports amenities, which include a small disc golf area, two lighted baseball diamonds and three lighted tennis courts.
It’s no surprise that the park should be a popular venue for weddings in summer, while the Activity Center on the west side is also available for rental.
9. The Outta Space
Source: Andrey Armyagov / shutterstock
In the few years that it has been open, The Outta Space has been a linchpin for the local arts community.
Essentially, this is an arts and music venue with a bar, encouraging communication, collaboration and creation.
At The Outta Space local artists have a positive platform to exhibit their work and perform, but, thanks to a rich program of events and workshops, also learn, teach, celebrate and connect.
On the schedule is a ton of live music, but also art shows, art sessions and workshops, mini film festivals, markets, circus performances a lot more besides.
10. Freddy’s Pizza
Source: Andrey Armyagov / shutterstock
Next door in Cicero, this family-run corner food mart has been going since 1968. You can come to Freddy’s Pizza for ingredients like olive oils, balsamic vinegars, fresh and dry pasta and capers.
The deli counter is heaven for food lovers, loaded with everything from ricotta to mozzarella, prosciutto, antipasti, capicola, provolone, salami and much more besides.
And as for freshly made specialties, you can choose from Italian sandwiches, indulgent squares of thick crust pizza, all kinds of pasta dishes, chicken eggplant, gnocchi in vodka sauce, delicious homemade gelato and Italian lemonade.
11. North Riverside Park Mall
Source: michaeljung / shutterstock
On Berwyn’s west flank is a vast area, almost a mile wide, dedicated to shopping. Beside the big box centers at Cermak Plaza and North Riverside Plaza is the North Riverside Park Mall.
This opened in 1975 and at the time of writing had more than 150 stores. There are branches of the many well-known chains here, like JCPenney, Foot Locker, Old Navy, Sephora, Victoria’s Secret, H&M and Forever 21.
For dining or snacks you’ll find several mall ever-presents like Taco Bell, Cinnabon, Auntie Annie’s and Subway, as well as a McDonald’s, Sbarro and Olive Garden.
The adjacent centers feature essentials like Best Buy, Costco and Kohl’s, as well as chain restaurants from Raising Cane’s to Red Robin, Panda Express and LongHorn Steakhouse.
12. Freedom Park
Source: Andrey Burstein / shutterstock
This park in the south of Berwyn is the HQ for the city’s Park District, hosting their administrative office, board meeting room and preschool classroom.
Outside, much of the park is taken up by a newly laid football field, with synthetic turf and floodlights.
At the north end, by the buildings there’s a great children’s playground area, while on a sunny day you can bring lunch to the peaceful picnic area, shaded by hardwood trees at the park’s south end.
13. Oak Park Conservatory
Source: Teemu008 / Flickr | CC BY-SA
Moments north of Berwyn is a gorgeous glasshouse and botanical garden with free entry for the public.
As you see it now, the Oak Park Conservatory is in an Edwardian style, dating to 1929 and restored in the 1970s after decades of neglect.
This stunning piece of heritage has three distinct rooms, for tropical plants, Mediterranean plants and desert plants, including three groups of cactus and a variety of succulents.
There are also delightful urban gardens to explore outside, and this site serves as a nursery for spaces across the Park District of Oak Park.
The conservatory is a backdrop for a host of summer events, like Uncorked, bringing wine tasting, local food and live music.
14. Rehm Park
Source: Benoit Daoust / shutterstock
Opposite Oak Park Conservatory is a gorgeous neighborhood park that just came through a major renovation in 2021.
The first thing to mention about Rehm Park is the pool, which is Olympic sized and is still the most convenient public swimming facility for Berwyn.
This is open during the summer months, weather permitting, and is accompanied by some excellent family amenities.
The playground has been completely revamped and is laid with a soft synthetic turf surface, while another summer highlight is the miniature railroad, with trains propelled by the kids riding them.
A member of the Park District of Oak Park staff needs to be present for this to operate.
15. Berwyn Route 66 Car Show
Source: Sheryl Chapman / shutterstock
Ogden Avenue in Berwyn is on the Historic Route 66, and to mark this heritage a car show takes place here every year in early September.
Since 1990, the Berwyn Route 66 Car Show has welcomed hundreds of vehicle enthusiasts and many thousands of spectators. The show shuts down a portion of the avenue, between Ridgeland and Oak Park Avenue.
This is the largest heritage vehicle display in the area, with upwards of 550 vintage cars, motorcycles and trucks, along with a variety of live entertainment and food trucks for local restaurants.
15 Best Things to Do in Berwyn (IL):
- Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple
- Brookfield Zoo
- Frank Lloyd Wright Walking Tour
- Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum
- Berwyn Cultural Center
- Columbus Park
- Proksa Park
- The Outta Space
- Freddy’s Pizza
- North Riverside Park Mall
- Freedom Park
- Oak Park Conservatory
- Rehm Park
- Berwyn Route 66 Car Show