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Downers Grove is a village of about 50,000 people in DuPage County, Illinois, about 20 miles west of downtown Chicago. It was founded in 1832 by Pierce Downer, a settler from Vermont, and grew after the railroad arrived in 1864. Today it is a leafy commuter suburb with three Metra stations and a busy, walkable downtown.
The heart of downtown is the Tivoli Theatre, which opened in 1928 as one of the first theaters built for sound films and still shows movies today. Around it, Main Street holds restaurants, cafes and shops, and Fishel Park's bandshell hosts summer concerts. The Downers Grove Museum, in the 1892 Blodgett House, tells the village's story, and Pierce Downer is buried in the historic Main Street Cemetery.
Nature is close at hand. Lyman Woods protects oak woodland and wetlands, Belmont Prairie preserves rare native tallgrass prairie, and Hidden Lake Forest Preserve offers fishing and trails. The Morton Arboretum is just west in neighboring Lisle.
A grand movie theater that opened on Christmas Day 1928, one of the first in the country built for sound films, with an ornate auditorium and organ. It still shows recent movies at low prices, plus classic film nights and special events. Grab popcorn and enjoy the old-time atmosphere downtown.
A walkable downtown around Main Street and the Metra station, with independent restaurants, cafes, bakeries, bars and shops in historic and newer buildings. It hosts a summer farmers market, street festivals and holiday events. Taking the train from Chicago makes it an easy day trip without a car.
The village history museum in the Blodgett House, an 1892 Victorian home set in Wandschneider Park, with period rooms and exhibits about the founding family, the railroad era and suburban growth. Small changing exhibits add variety. Admission is free or by donation, and hours are limited, so check first.
A small historic cemetery on Main Street where Pierce Downer, the village founder, and many early settlers are buried among old trees and weathered stones. Interpretive signs tell their stories. It is a quiet stop on a walk between downtown and the museum, and occasional history tours are offered.
A small park near downtown Downers Grove with a bandshell that hosts free summer concerts and community events, plus lawns, a playground and shady trees. It is a lovely place for a picnic before a show. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs for evening concerts, and walk to dinner on Main Street afterward.
A DuPage County forest preserve on the village's western edge with a lake for fishing and boating, a trail loop through woodland and meadow, and good bird watching along the East Branch of the DuPage River. It is a peaceful spot for an hour's walk. Parking is free, and there are restrooms near the lake.
A newer park with sports fields, a playground, walking paths and open space, developed with a donation from Ty Warner, the toy maker behind Beanie Babies. It offers good facilities for families and youth sports. The paths link to quiet green space, making it an easy stop for a short walk.
A natural area of about 150 acres of oak woodland, savanna, prairie and wetlands on the north side of the village, with an interpretive center and several miles of walking trails. Spring wildflowers and fall colors are highlights, and birding is good. Trails can be muddy after rain, so wear good shoes.
A rare surviving remnant of native tallgrass prairie, protected as an Illinois Nature Preserve, with hundreds of native plant species that bloom from spring to fall. It is small and wild, with a mown path along part of it. Visit in mid to late summer for the best flowers, and stay on the paths.
A large community park with a pond, a big playground, a sledding hill, ball fields and walking paths, popular with local families in every season. It is a good place for kids to burn off energy after downtown, and anglers fish the pond. Parking is free, and the paths are flat and stroller friendly.
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Photo: SimLibrarian, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: SimLibrarian, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
