Norwood Park

Norwood Park is the farthest northwest of Chicago’s neighborhoods, located 11 miles northwest of downtown Chicago and just minutes to O’Hare Airport. Originally settled in 1830, Norwood Park became incorporated in 1874 and has managed to maintain a suburban feel. Nearly 38,000 Chicagoans live in this community including many Chicago firefighters, police officers and Chicago Public School employees, who are all required to live within the city limits.

Public amenities, services and civic organizations

Norwood Park has 5 parks including one of its largest named Norwood Park. At 14 acres this park offers the only outdoor swimming pool in the Chicago Park District’s north side. The other 4 parks include Indian Road Park, Norwood Circle Park, Oriole Park and Rosedale Park. These parks combine to offer many activities for all ages ranging from flag football to sewing to piano lessons.

The Norwood Park Fire Department is located in Harwood Heights and serves the Villages of Norridge, Harwood Heights and Norwood Park Township.

Incorporated in 1997, the Norwood Park Chamber of Commerce works with local businesses and officials to promote a healthy and strong community including their annual Memorial Day Parade which dates back to 1922 and is participated by more than 100 groups such as schools, churches, and local businesses.

There are close to 20 places of worship and more than a dozen schools including Taft High School, Chicago’s most northwest high school.

Five of Chicago’s major angle streets cut through Norwood Park making for interesting navigation. Talcott Avenue is among these streets and houses Resurrection Medical Center, which made the U.S. News & World Report’s list of best hospitals in America. With 360 beds nearly 500 physicians, this full service health care facility has earned several awards and distinctions.

Housing stock

Comprised mainly of single family homes, Norwood Park offers a wide variety of architecture including 19th-century Victorians, Georgians, Cape Cods, bungalows and ranches. While most homes in Norwood Park are priced from $300,000 to $600,000, some of the larger homes price out in the $800 to $1 million range.

Transportation

The Kennedy Expressway (I-90) splits through the center of Norwood Park equally convenient for all residents to access this major thoroughfare. In the center of the Kennedy is the CTA’s Blue Line which takes you to O’Hare in around 10 minutes and downtown in around 30 minutes. There are several bus routes covering all major streets in this community.

Shopping, dining and nightlife

There are several independent retailers scattered throughout Norwood Park.

There are only a handful of restaurants in Norwood Park such as Dino’s Pizza, Northwest Café and the world famous SuperDawg which is located at the northeast park of Norwood Park. The bar scene is non-existent however Edison Park is just north of Norwood Park and offers an excellent night life with several bars and restaurants.

Schools

Chicago Public District 299 serves Norwood Park and includes several schools. There are also several local parochial schools for residents to consider including Resurrection High School for girls, which was founded in 1962 and strives to maintain small classroom sizes of less than 20 students per teacher.