Melrose Park has a glorious -- and fun -- past! This Chicago suburb was once home to the beloved Kiddieland Amusement Park, which recently closed in 2010. Today, that land is home to Maywood Park Racetrack. Melrose Park is also the hometown of Stern Pinball, Inc -- the world's last manufacturer of coin-operated pinball machines!
When Melrose Park was first established, it was called Melrose, a small Chicago suburb in 1882
Melrose Park has a glorious -- and fun -- past! This Chicago suburb was once home to the beloved Kiddieland Amusement Park, which recently closed in 2010. Today, that land is home to Maywood Park Racetrack. Melrose Park is also the hometown of Stern Pinball, Inc -- the world's last manufacturer of coin-operated pinball machines!
When Melrose Park was first established, it was called Melrose, a small Chicago suburb in 1882. For some reason in 1893, the residents decided to add a "Park" to their name, and with that, the population began to grow. It hasn't been total smooth sailing in town; in 1920, there was an F4 tornado on Palm Sunday that killed 10 residents and destroyed the Sacred Heart Church and the attached convent. But since then, the small town has recovered, repaired itself, grown and continued to thrive as one of Chicago's most beloved suburbs. People that live here tend to commute into Chicago for work and play. But the community itself is solid and strong, and there are actually tons of things to do in town without having to leave.
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Thinking about moving to Melrose Park? You're in luck! The town's a great place to find places for rent! It pays before moving anywhere, though, to do some research about the town. You want to make sure you end up in the right area! Want to know more about Melrose Park neighborhoods? Check out the list below.
Southern Melrose Park: Southern Melrose Park feels more like the city's center. That's because it's home to most of the town's main amenities. In southern Melrose Park, particularly on West Lake Street, you can find tons of restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and even transportation options. This is a great place to live if you want to be in the heart of the action; search for apartments here if you want to be close to all the amenities you could want.
Central Melrose Park: The center of Melrose Park is a good transition area. It has some businesses and restaurants, but it's mostly residential. You can find places for rent here, in addition to homes to buy. There are still some commercial joints here, so you won't have to drive too far if you want to go out to eat.
Northern Melrose Park: Northern Melrose Park is the most rural and suburban feeling of any area in town. The area has the largest and nicest property rentals in Melrose Park, but it does have some apartments for rent if you look hard. One great part about Northern Melrose Park is that it has greenery! There are lots of parks here -- playgrounds, dog runs, picnic areas and more. Come here if you're an outdoorsy person who also wants to be near a big city.
If you want to move to Melrose Park, the smartest thing to do would be to gather all the proper documentation you'll need to apply for an apartment. This is because apartments that are affordable near Chicago are highly-sought after, and you don't want to miss out in case you find your dream home! The requirements of every landlord are different. But you can expect to have to have things like your driver's license, copies of your IDs, letters from former landlords, letters of reference, proof of employment, proof income -- and possibly more! You'll also want to have the deposit prepared in case you find the apartment you love! Living near Chicago is something a lot of people do, and if you find just the right place, you'll want to secure it -- don't let it get snatched out from under you!
If you live in Melrose Park, there's a really good chance you commute into Chicago. Some people commute in for work, and others commute in for play. The town, of course, has some of the best amenities in the entire country. You can see world-class theater at the Goodman or Steppenwolf, have the time of your life at Navy Pier, shop on the Magnificent Mile, check out art at the Chicago Institute of Art, or just wander around the architecturally beautiful city. One of the best parts about living in Melrose Park, then, is how easy it is to get into Chicago. The city is on a Metra line, which means you can hop a train on into the big city whenever you want. The city is on the Union Pacific/West Line, which is a fast, easy and quick way to get into town. Want to drive into Chicago? Many other residents of Melrose Park own cars. You can easily hop on Interstate 290 and be in Chicago in a jiffy.
You don't have to leave Melrose Park to have a good time, though. The legendary Kiddieland might be closed, but there's still plenty to do! If you like to eat, Melrose Park's a great place for you. Abruzzo's Italian Restaurant serves up famous class Italian fare, while famous chain Lou Malnatis serves that classic Chicago-style deep dish pizza. Shopping's good in Melrose Park. There are a myriad of boutique stores and malls to browse through if you're on the hunt. Maywood Park Racetrack, which took the place of Kiddieland, also offers tons of entertainment. Not only does the venue feature horse races, but people can also host parties and special events there.
People in Melrose Park also value spending time outside. The city has a lot of public parks that residents can take advantage of. These parks include Memorial Park District, the Veterans Park District, and the Westdale Park District. If people like playing racket sports, Melrose Park is also home to an outstanding Racquetball Club, which is located at 24th and Cortez in the city.
Often called "Corporate Suburbia," Melrose Park has a unique history, and it's churned out its fare share of outstanding residents. If you decide to make the move there, you can be in the company of people like actress Carol Lawrence, basketball player Doc Rivers, actor Dennis Grimaldi, L.A. Dodgers player Roy Gleason, basketball player Michael Finley, cookbook author Clara Cannuciari, and many more!
