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vergreen Park is a warm and welcoming community of approximately 21,000 residents. The village is bordered on three sides by the city of Chicago and on one side by the suburb of Oak Lawn. The village was incorporated in December 1893 with a population of only 500 residents. Its name was derived from the evergreen tree-filled park at the corner of what is now 97th and Homan Avenue. At that time, this park was the center of the town, emulating the Champs d’Elysee of Paris, France with its wagon wheel appearance. As the village expanded, the center of town slowly moved in a northeasterly direction to 95th Street and Kedzie Avenue.
Evergreen Park is a village with affordable housing, low taxes, dependable village services and high quality schools. Its streets, homes, and businesses are well maintained. There are 7,617 households in the village, with an average annual household income of $54,840. The average household size is 2.62 persons, with a median age of 39.1 years (per 2000 census). The Village is experiencing an influx of former residents, returning home as young parents to raise their children in Evergreen Park. Public parks and open space are a priority as seen in the new recreational facility development at 87th & Kedzie and the “Tot Lot” at 89th & California.
Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124 serves 2086 students in grades Pre-K through 8. It is one of only two elementary school districts in the state that is totally contained within the boundaries of its village. The District encompasses Pulaski Road from 99th St. to 91st on the west; 87th St. from Central Park to Rockwell on the North; Western Ave. from 91st to 99th St. on the East; and 102nd Pl. California to Kedzie to 103rd St. from Kedzie to Central Park on the south. The names of the five schools are
Central Junior High School
(Grades 7-8 and Pre-K),
Northeast School
(K-6),
Northwest School
(K-6),
Southeast School
(K-6), and
Southwest School
(K-6).
Children from each of the village’s five elementary schools typically score in the top 15 percent on statewide testing. Illinois Goals Assessment Program scores average in the 90th percentile. Today, each of the four K-6 public elementary schools has an enrollment of approximately 400 students with a teacher to pupil ratio of about 1:20. Central Junior High has an annual enrollment of approximately 450 students. In 2000, Central Junior High School was recognized as a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education for its excellence in education. The annual operating cost is $5,630 per pupil. The village is also home to three excellent parochial grammar schools (Most Holy Redeemer School, Queen of Martyrs School and St. Bernadette School) and other denominational church studies.
Evergreen Park Community High School District 231 has an enrollment of approximately 875 students, with an increase of about 40 students annually. The school offers dozens of course options including dual enrollment courses and advanced placement classes. The operating cost is $10,200 annually per student. Approximately 80 percent of EPCHS students go on to enter college and collectively receive more than a million dollars annually in scholarships. The high school also serves the community by offering college courses, computer and travel courses and swimming instruction for all ages.
T
here is a strong retail economy in Evergreen Park. The largest business entity in the community is The Plaza, which is located on the Southwest corner of 95th Street and Western Avenue. The Plaza, a renowned regional shopping center that opened in 1952, is the village’s largest taxpayer. It features more than 100 retail and service stores, restaurants, offices, healthcare centers and a financial center. Sales tax revenue from the mall stores has been a boom to the Evergreen Park tax base helping to make municipal services among the very best in the state. This past fall, The Plaza completed a significant $12-15 million dollar renovation and beautification program which included removal of the old parking deck and reconfiguration and landscaping of the site.
Evergreen Park is also home to many other fine retail and service establishments along with eight financial institutions. The majority of the villages’ businesses are located along 95th Street from Western Avenue to Pulaski Road. Businesses can also be found on Pulaski Road, Kedzie Avenue, 87th Street, and Western Avenue. Evergreen Park boasts a varied business community including award winning restaurants, car dealerships, and many small retailers focusing on unique services ranging from a day spa to a dog bakery. If you need it, chances are we have it here in Evergreen Park.
Looking to the future, residents, businesses and village officials recently developed and approved a $4M construction plan to make significant streetscape improvements along West 95th Street that will invite more people to shop within the village. As a result, many new businesses are now expanding to our area. For example, Wal-Mart is set to begin construction of a state-of-the-art facility this year which is located on the site of the former Martinique/Drury Lane Theatre/Banquet Complex, 95th & Campbell. Last December, we welcomed Applebee’s Restaurant as a new partner in our village. Finally, the corner of 87th Street and Kedzie will soon feature a retail center that will be the home to a Walgreens, Aldi’s, Mid America Bank, Starbucks, and some other upscale retail establishments.
The largest employer in the Village is Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers, a 500 licensed bed, full service hospital, employing over 2000 full and part-time employees with a medical staff of 500 physicians. Little Company joined forces with the Medical Oncology Group of the University of Chicago Hospitals to open a 33,000 sq. ft. cancer facility. All cancer services are centered in one area of the Hospital in order to better accommodate patients.
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vergreen Park has a wide variety of recreational and cultural opportunities for all ages. There are numerous parks, baseball diamonds and soccer fields for the enjoyment of the residents.
The Evergreen Park Recreation Department offers year round and seasonal programs as well as special events. One of its most successful programs has been the preschool for children between the ages of three and five. The average enrollment each year is 200 children with a teacher to student ratio of 1:10. The Recreation Department also offers tap, ballet, baton, Irish dance, tumbling, drama, aerobics, fitness, basketball, soccer, t-ball, volley ball and moms & tots classes. There is also a myriad of seasonal programs, as well –preschool day camp, mini day camp, all day camp, drama camp, baseball camp and soccer camp. These programs are designed to offer athletic as well as cultural experiences for the students. The annual Day in the Park held the Saturday before the Fourth of July is a favorite community wide activity.
There are many festivals and activities held in the Village annually besides the Day in the Park. For example, the first Winter Festival in February, 2004 which features two days of fun filled activities, an Environmental Awareness Fair in April, Bike the Park in September, and to ring in the fall season the Village holds its’ annual Octoberfest.
The Office of Citizen Services serves the local senior and disabled residents. OCS is an active group, which provides information and referrals as well as a wide variety of other services and activities. The office coordinates bus tours, mini-bus service, healthcare programs, a cancer closet, hobby classes, social clubs and an outstanding choral group – The Double Nickel Chorus. The Village Pantry Coalition, a food pantry located within the Village provides support and services for local residents in times of need.
The Evergreen Park Youth Commission assists the village youth from ages 12 and older with employment referrals, counseling, Red Cross babysitting courses, tutoring, a summer day camp and a wide variety of recreational events. The popular Youth Drop-In Center provides extra fun with a gym, jukebox, billiards, ping pong, computers and arcade games and a TV/VCR area.
Also located in the village are Evergreen Aqua Pool, Evergreen Racquet & Fitness Club, Bleeker’s Bowling Alley, and Evergreen Golf Course. An ice skating rink, skate park, and two ball fields are recent additions to the Village’s recreational facilities. The site, Yukich Fields, at 89th and Kedzie, was dedicated approximately three years ago and features 7.5 acres of green area. Soon to be added is an additional 17 acres of land which will feature a walking/bike path, three fields for soccer and football, and parking. Work on this project is set to begin sometime over the summer. Finally, the Evergreen Park Library showcases more than 58,000 books and resources and is used annually by more than 12,000 cardholders.