Introduction to Forest Park, Illinois
Forest Park, Illinois is 1 mile W of Oak Park, Illinois and 8 miles W of Chicago, Illinois. It is in Cook county. The village is part of the Chicago metropolitan area.
Forest Park History
The early settlers were mostly Italian and German immigrants who settled down along Oak Park Spit, which was a high sand ridge running along Des Palines Avenue. The first major land owner in this area was a French Indian trader named Leon Bourassa, who purchased around 160 acres of land in the area in 1839. He was followed by other land owners and the area was eventually incorporated in 1884 as the Town of Harlem. The name was changed to Forest Park in 1907.
Forest Park and nearby Attractions
- Forest Park Village Hall
- Unity Temple
- Brookfield Zoo
- Ernest Hemingway Museum
- Cernan Earth & Space Center
- Forest Preserve Park
Things To Do In Forest Park
The Village of Forest Park has a large park district that offers a variety of amenities for recreation. The Park District includes a well equipped Aquatic Center and a tree lined picnic grove.
Forest Park Transportation
Chicago O'Hare International Airport is the nearest major airport.
Forest Park Higher Education
Morton College, Triton College, Wilbur Wright College and Malcolm X College are all in the neighborhood.