WWW.PALOSHEIGHTS.ORG PALOS HEIGHTS, IL A CALM AND CONNECTED SUBURBAN TREASURE
PALOS HEIGHTS, IL A CALM AND CON SUBURBAN TREA AT A GLANCE PALOS HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS WHAT: A vibrant suburb of Chicago WHERE: Cook County, Illinois WEBSITE: www.palosheights.org 1 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11
NNECTED ASURE AN EASE OF LIFESTYLE WITH JUST A SHORT HOP TO THE GLAMOR OF BIG CITY LIFE Tucked within the southwest suburbs of Chicago, Palos Heights offers an ideal blend of serenity and small-town charm, with easy access to city conveniences. It is the type of community where small businesses thrive, and stunning natural landscapes provide a peaceful backdrop to daily life. 2 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11
Mayor Robert Straz describes, “We have a very heavily wooded area in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. We have some small, independently owned businesses. We’re not a home for a lot of big box stores, but they’re 5 or 10 minutes away. We have a calm community, and a lot of nice families have come here.” That mix of quiet living and easy accessibility has made Palos Heights a desirable place to call home. Commuters can be in Chicago’s downtown core within half an hour by train, or by car in less than 45 minutes. In addition, Midway Airport is only 15 minutes away, and O’Hare can be reached in under an hour. REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN In the heart of Palos Heights is a downtown undergoing a renewal. Once a classic 1960s suburban shopping district, it has evolved into a vibrant dining and social hub. Downtown’s culinary diversity is a point of pride in the city. Straz shares, “One of the keynote restaurants would be Franklin House. It actually started out in the old days as a Ben Franklin store. He’s taken that and turned it into a very efficient and successful casual restaurant, along with six apartment units above it.” Across the street, Capri Italian Restaurant is a big draw. “People come from all over the south and southwest suburbs to eat there,” Straz portrays. “We’ve got a very diverse ethnic background as far as the types of restaurants. You can go anywhere from Italian to traditional American food. We’ve got a Greek restaurant, even an Ethiopian coffee shop in town.” This transformation has brought life back into the district, as diners linger longer and foot traffic increases. “That creates unique problems that did not exist back in the day of the traditional suburban shopping center where people would come in buy a shirt and leave,” Straz admits. “Now they come for an hour and a half and have dinner and stay around and socialize. The parking needs have changed dramatically over the years, so we’ve addressed some of that.” Economic Development Director Aimee Ingalls shares that the city is planning for the future through a new downtown development plan. She explains, “We’re interviewing consultants to help us with that, just to create a little bit more walkability, give it a facelift.Times have changed, so we just want to make sure that it’s up to what the current market needs.” Plans include additional parking, along with efforts to attract more retail and restaurants.“We’re always looking for niche and unique shops and restaurants 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11 PALOS HEIGHTS, IL
the major thoroughfares in Palos Heights in the last 20 years,” says Straz. “We also are part of a huge suburban trailway.” The trails follow the Calumet-Saganashkee (Cal-Sag) Canal, connecting to communities across the region. Straz continues, “Most of it goes through the forest preserves and the like. It’s a very relaxing Sunday afternoon, a bike ride and a stop for dinner.” At the center of the city’s outdoor offerings is Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanical Gardens, an 85 acre destination that blends recreation, education, and conservation. “This community is so very much into the environment and the outdoors and recreation and exercise. It is just so conducive for that kind of lifestyle,” emphasizes Ingalls.“When people are coming through this portion of the CalSag trail system, they come right by Lake Katherine. We’re able to leverage the people who are enjoying that trail to also enjoy the nature center. With those two, we get about 100,000 visitors a year.” COMMUNITY AND CELEBRATION Palos Heights is alive with community spirit, offering a full calendar of family friendly events that bring residents and visitors together throughout the year. One of the most anticipated is the Kringle Market, a Christmas festival that transforms downtown into a holiday market. “It brings in the 5000s of people to the downtown. That’s a well-attended and popular event that gets better every year,” describes Ingalls. In the summer months people gather for the Fourth of July celebration held at City Hall and Community Park.“That, again, brings in thousands of people,” she says.The annual car show is another signature event, bringing over 700 classic cars into the downtown, and attracting thousands of people from across the region. “We like to bring people downtown to experience it and maybe come back later and spend some money,” Ingalls remarks. INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT Forward thinking infrastructure management is a priority in Palos Heights. Straz outlines, “We have a program for water and sewer, either realigning or replacement. We have had for the last 25 years to locate down there,” she relays. “So we keep our eye out for those, and we want to elevate the area in order to accommodate them.” GREEN SPACES AND TRAILS Palos Heights is known for its natural setting and outdoor opportunities.The city’s beautiful tree lined neighborhoods are complemented by trails, parks, and forest areas. “We put in new sidewalks on all 4 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11
Regardless of age, the opportunity to learn new things, and to broaden one’s horizons is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. We inspire residents to be engaged in life, to be adventurous, and to rethink what retirement living can be. Here, we don’t “act our age” – we act however we want! rewriting the rules of retirement
Age fearlessly. Live colorfully.® Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care 708-659-3635 | PalosHeightsSeniorLiving.com 7100 W. College Drive, Palos Heights, IL 60463 For more information, you may also email: Accessibility@SpectrumRetirement.com. ©2025 All rights reserved. Spectrum Retirement Communities.
AGING FEARLESSLY, LIVING COLORFULLY AT PALOS HEIGHTS SENIOR LIVING Activist Betty Friedan once said, “Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” At Palos Heights Senior Living, a Spectrum Retirement Community, we embrace that philosophy every day—helping residents live life fully, joyfully, and without limits. No matter your age, there’s always room to learn, grow, and explore. Our community encourages residents to expand their horizons—whether through fitness and wellness programs, creative pursuits, or new adventures. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to try yoga, plant a garden, or even go skydiving. Here, we believe age is simply a number, not a definition. We help you create a story that’s uniquely yours, where you can Age fearlessly. Live colorfully.® At Palos Heights Senior Living, this is your time—to do more of what you love and discover what inspires you next. Our Assisted Living services provide just the right level of support when needed so you can continue to live independently, while our specialized Memory Care neighborhood fosters engagement, comfort, and purpose for those living with dementia. “We know there is more to life than bingo and scenic rides,” says William Swearingen, Executive Vice President. “Too often, senior living focuses on what someone can’t do. Here, we focus on what is possible—and help residents rediscover the excitement of everyday life.” Each day brings new opportunities to enhance well-being and vitality. From wellness programs that strengthen body and mind to activities designed to promote cognitive health, we focus on helping residents make intentional choices that support a vibrant lifestyle. The first step is simple—decide to move forward, confidently, and redefine what’s possible. We’re often asked if senior living can really be different. Our answer is an emphatic yes. Recognized as a “Best of Senior Living” community by SeniorAdvisor.com, Palos Heights offers exceptional amenities to enhance your lifestyle within a boutique-inspired setting that feels like home. Discover how senior living can be an inspiring new chapter. Schedule your personal visit today and experience the difference at Palos Heights Senior Living.
a program for resurfacing the streets. We hope to resurface every one of the streets every 15 or 20 years, which we’ve calculated is the useful life of a street in our town. So we’ve taken some pride in actually having a formal capital improvement plan to get that stuff done.” The city also has two TIF districts, one at Lake Katherine, originally there to support the development of the nature center and botanical garden. “Right next to that is a couple of shopping centers and office buildings,” expands Mayor Straz. “We’ve got another TIF in the town, which was done to repurpose a Jewel-Osco building into a brand new building.” Incentives are also in place to encourage facade and parking lot improvements throughout the community. On the subject of housing, Mayor Straz says that although Palos Heights is landlocked, there has been reinvestment in the city.“It’s encouraging that we’re seeing a lot of younger individuals who grew up here, and now they’re moving back into town after they’ve had a family and decided they needed to have a place to raise their kids,” he recounts. “What we’re seeing are a lot of the older, smaller, cottage type houses being either torn down or totally remodeled.” EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND SAFETY Education and healthcare are two major pillars of the community.“We have Lake Katherine nature preserve and botanical garden. We have a golf course. We are home to Northwestern Medicine’s Palos Hospital campus. Northwestern is rated one of the highest ranking hospitals in the United States.” Strong school systems and medical presence not only serve residents but also attract professionals. “We have two high schools and two grammar school districts, and they are premier districts,” he adds. “We have a great educational system, with a concentration of professionals who can work in a lot of those institutions.” 8 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11 PALOS HEIGHTS, IL
Public safety is a top concern, and the city is home to two fire departments.“Both are very capable and have great response time and facilities. On the police side, we take pride in our great Police Department, all certified officers,” says Mayor Straz. Palos Heights also operates a Community Intervention Unit to support residents in crisis. Straz details. “We have people who have advanced degrees in social work, so they can respond to mental health crises at a house as opposed to having just an armed officer. They work closely with social service agencies in the area to help and monitor the people who find themselves in those situations.” LOOKING AHEAD Moving forward, Mayor Straz says the focus is on the downtown improvements. Attention will also be on the Northwestern Medical Center expansion, which is expected to have a significant economic and community impact. “They’ve got some massive plans, bringing world class activity and healthcare here to the southwest suburbs. That’s going to draw 9 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11 PALOS HEIGHTS, IL
PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Spectrum Senior Living www.palosheightsseniorliving.com Palos Heights Senior Living, a Spectrum Retirement Community, redefines aging as a vibrant new chapter of opportunity and strength. We inspire residents to live fully— through wellness, creativity, and connection— while providing personalized Assisted Living and Memory Care. Boutique-style comfort, exceptional service, and joyful engagement create a community where you can Age fearlessly. Live colorfully.® n Lake Katherine Nature Center www.lakekatherine.org Welcome to Lake Katherine Nature Center, an 85 acre restored natural refuge in the heart of the south west suburbs of Chicago. Whether its hiking, cycling, nature watching, environmental programs, public events or you are looking for a place for your special event, Lake Katherine is the place to come back to nature. Lake Katherine Nature Center is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. more people, whether it be patients or professionals who work there, into our area,” he conveys. For Ingalls, the character of the city makes her job easy. “It’s just got that smaller town feel,” she acknowledges. “It’s desirable. It has that calm suburban feeling. However, it is bustling, and it is a hub. That makes it attractive for others to want to be here and synergize with that energy. I don’t have to knock on a bunch of doors to get interest in this community. It’s just there.” 10 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11
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