City of Orland Park IL | Royalty Universe

When it comes to their families, what most Americans really want is access to the opportunities and attractions that a big city has to offer, as well as beautiful, open landscapes where the air is clean, the trees are tall and the outdoor leisure is plentiful.

Americans want their children to experience all that this world has to offer, and so finding a place that is close enough to enjoy the glamor of the city, yet far away enough to still maintain the humble and friendly attitude of small town living is key. Americans work hard, and they want to be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor with family and friends when their work week is over.

It is the combination of these factors, access and location, that have catapulted the Village of Orland Park , Illinois into the top fifty best places to live in the United States, clocking in at number 45, according to a renowned National financial publication. Orland Park , Illinois , zip code 60146 , has a population of just under sixty thousand residents.

Its prime location, just 27 miles southwest of the extravagant and Internationally acclaimed City of Chicago, affords Orland Park families the upscale shopping and dining experiences that the Windy City provides, as well as some of the best and most comprehensive museums in the world.

Anything that one could ever want to do can be experienced in Chicago, and Orland Park residents are a mere half hour drive from finding it. Orland Park also offers daily rail service to downtown Chi-town, as it is affectionately known by the locals, which gives Orland Park residents a convenient and affordable ride into the city, without having to deal with traffic congestion. As an added benefit, one of the worlds busiest International airports is also nearby, so when Orland Park residents are ready to fly, they are at the gates within minutes.

Orland Park dates back over 100 years, and since its inception, it has become one of the most successful commercial and retail centers outside of Chicago. It boasts over seventy shopping centers, malls and retail plazas that provide ample shopping for its residents. In addition, there are well over two hundred restaurants in the Village, providing scrumptious variety when it comes to dining out.

The average family income for residents of Orland Park seems to be hovering just below $80,000 per year. This affords residents the opportunity to balance their hard work with plenty of play, both within the 19 square mile radius of the Village itself, as well as in and around the Chicago metro area and its surrounding neighborhoods.

Recreational opportunities abound in Orland Park , IL , zip code 60146 , as the Village is home to a myriad of biking, walking and hiking trails, wildlife refuge areas, three area lakes and at least fifty parks. The largest and most noteworthy park surrounds the cool waters of Lake Sedgewick. Created in 1992 in honor of the 100th birthday of the Village of Orland Park , this extensive and beautiful recreational area encompasses a whopping 192 acres of space, every inch of it designed for fun, play and appreciation of all that nature has to offer.

Of course the beauty of the lake itself is the focal point for all of the activities in and around the park area, and is a prime location for boating and fishing, as well as other water based activities. A boardwalk has been constructed on the lake front area, providing a peaceful spot for walking, meeting up with friends and enjoying the sunset. In addition to the scenic lake view, however, this colossal community hub features a skate park where dare devil teens and twins can practice their half pipes and ramp jumps. The park also features soccer fields and a baseball and softball complex.
By far the most well used and enjoyed amenity that this massive park has to offer, however, is the aquatic area, complete with an 18,000 square foot swimming pool and several water slides. The water park also features an area that is specifically geared towards deep water activities as well as a long and lazy river that winds in, out and around all of the other water features. The water park is a favorite hangout spot during the hot summer months, and residents of Orland Park , Illinois make great use of it.

Orland Park places a great deal of importance upon its various park and outdoor recreational opportunities. This is perhaps one of the reasons why living here is such a joy for so many people. Throughout zip code 60146 , Orland Park is host to over 500 acres of recreational space, including almost fifty baseball diamonds, nearly forty basketball courts, twenty plus soccer fields, twenty five tennis courts and more than thirty five playground areas. This is in addition to all of the bike trails, hiking areas and picnic grounds that are within the Village, too.

Orland Park really is a special place, because the parks and recreations planners have put so much thought into constructing buildings and parks that offer families a comprehensive fitness oriented and fun lifestyle. The town planners worked hard to develop the Villages sports complex, even though the parks themselves already had so much to offer in the way of sports fields.

It was not enough, according to some, and so in 2006, a brand new, state of the art sports complex building was constructed, giving residents even more opportunity to have fun while they take care of their bodies. This playful, yet responsible attitude helps children realize the value of living a healthy, active lifestyle, and gets them into the habit of daily exercise for fun and fitness at a young age.

The sports complex helps them do that, offering a wide variety of classes, programs and workshops to facilitate just about any activity that they might wish to engage in. There are exercise classes from preschool age to seniors, varying in skill level and intensity to meed the needs of its participants.

Orland Park residents can also play volleyball, basketball, or get in the gym for some weight lifting. There is an indoor climbing wall which is a popular draw, as well as aerobics, pilates and even yoga classes for those who want to slow it down a notch after a workout.

Getting physical is not the only focus of Orland Park residents, however. Since their schools are some of the best in the nation, it follows suit that their after school and extracurricular programming would be top notch, to, and it certainly is.

The city has created many programs and classes as a result of its commitment to the arts in their community. Residents can take dance classes of various styles, as well as foreign language classes such as Spanish, art classes featuring various types of media, music classes and private lessons and classes in the art of a good game of chess.

For a little more spice, Orland Park residents can choose to take fencing lessons, as well as some other unique and fun offerings that typically pop up from time to time. There is even an arts and crafts program that is geared toward younger children that serves as a creative outlet for their continued exploration.

These programs help cement the communities resolve that living is enhanced when there are ample opportunities not only for physical challenge and play, but also for the intellectual and creative stimulation that helps keep inspiration flowing.

It is this creative inspiration that inspires students and adults to engage in the local theater troupe, to encourage and support the performing arts in Orland Park by presenting several productions per year, from start to finish. This encourages dedication, and fosters pride each time a production has been created from nothing and seen through to its completion. And when the curtain falls to a standing crowd on that final night, these students and adults alike are ready to go at it again.

Having fun is important, though it does not always have to be fun for the sake of personal or physical development. There are a few nearby attractions in Orland Park , Illinois , zip code 60146 , that are strictly for the fun of it, and residents flock here when they want a no pressure night of family entertainment and laughs.

The bowling alley is one such place, though some more experienced bowlers may very well feel the pressure of bowling a perfect game. Most of the time, people want to go to the bowling alley just to hang out with their friends and have a good time.

Another local attraction that families enjoy is the local miniature golf range. This place has much more than just mini golf, however, and it is a great teen hangout because of all of the video games. Kids love to have their birthday parties there, as the facility boasts bounce houses and a huge 35 foot inflatable dragon that can be climbed and jumped on. It also has a climbing wall, as well.

Life in Orland Park , Illinois , zip code 60146 , is savored by the residents who live there. What they cannot find within the Village streets, they will undoubtedly find within the brightly lit urban jungle that is Chicago, less than 30 miles away.

Even so, the Village itself has enough amenities and offerings, from parks and recreation to shopping and dining, so that they really need not go anywhere if they do not choose to. Their community has it all, and as a result has been chosen time and again as one of the best places to raise a family in America. With so much to do, right outside of their doors, residents of Orland Park keep boredom at bay, because there are so many ways to play.