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Plainfield is a village of about 45,000 people on the DuPage River in Will and Kendall counties, Illinois, roughly 35 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. Settled in the late 1820s, it is one of the oldest towns in the Chicago region and was a stop on the stagecoach road between Chicago and Ottawa.
In the 20th century two famous roads met here: the original alignment of Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway crossed in Plainfield, and the village still celebrates that crossroads history. Its compact downtown along Lockport Street has 19th-century brick storefronts, a restored 1920s Standard Oil station and restaurants and shops, while the old Halfway House recalls the stagecoach era.
Since the 1990s Plainfield has grown quickly into a large suburb, but it keeps plenty of green space. Lake Renwick is known for its nesting herons and cormorants, and parks and forest preserves line the DuPage River. Naperville, Joliet and the Illinois and Michigan Canal are all a short drive away.
A Will County forest preserve on former gravel pits where great blue herons, egrets, cormorants and night herons nest on islands each spring and summer. The rookery area is protected and opens only on scheduled viewing days, so check the forest preserve calendar and bring binoculars.
Lockport Street's blocks of 19th and early 20th century brick buildings, listed on the National Register, now hold restaurants, bars, boutiques and a small-town square. It is busy with events in summer and around the holidays. Park once and walk; the DuPage River is just a few blocks west.
A small restored 1920s Standard Oil filling station in downtown Plainfield, a reminder of the days when Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway both passed through town. It is a favorite photo stop for road trip fans. View it from the street and look for the Route 66 signs nearby.
A building from the 1830s that served travelers on the stagecoach road between Chicago and Ottawa, roughly halfway between the two, and is one of the oldest structures in the area. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. View it from outside and read the historical marker.
A monument in Plainfield marking the site of Fort Beggs, a stockade that settlers built in 1832 for protection during the Black Hawk War. It recalls the area's earliest pioneer days, when Plainfield was a tiny settlement on the DuPage River. It is a quick stop; combine it with a downtown walk.
A Plainfield Park District nature park along the DuPage River with trails through woods and meadows, river views and spots for fishing and birdwatching. It is quieter than the busier sports parks. The trails are mostly flat and easy; wear boots after rain as low areas can be muddy.
A Forest Preserve District of Will County site along the DuPage River on Plainfield's north side, with wooded trails, a picnic area and access to the DuPage River Trail. Look for wildflowers in spring and colorful oaks and maples in autumn. It is free and open from sunrise to sunset.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Dougtone, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Teemu08 at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Dougtone, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Dougtone, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Teemu08 at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Lotzman Katzman, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Lotzman Katzman, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
