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Tinley Park is a village of about 55,000 people in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. It began in the 1850s as a farming settlement called Bremen and was renamed in 1892 after Samuel Tinley, the first railroad station agent. German immigrants shaped its early history, and its historic downtown along Oak Park Avenue still has buildings from that era.
The village is best known for the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, one of the largest outdoor concert venues in the Chicago area, which hosts major tours every summer. Its two Metra stations, especially the striking Oak Park Avenue station with its clock tower, connect Tinley Park directly to downtown Chicago.
The Tinley Park Historical Society preserves the village history, and the Tinley Park Public Library is a large modern building. Several forest preserves and parks surround the village, where deer are often seen, and the Chicago Southland region's golf courses and trails are close by.
Tinley Park's landmark Metra stop on the Rock Island line, a brick depot with a tall clock tower, a landscaped plaza and an old fireless steam locomotive on display. Trains run straight to LaSalle Street Station in downtown Chicago in under an hour. Weekend service is lighter, so check the timetable first.
A 19th-century brick commercial building in downtown Tinley Park, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and one of the oldest surviving storefronts in the village. It recalls the era when the town grew up around the railroad depot. Admire the facade on a walk along Oak Park Avenue near the station.
A large modern library with bright reading rooms, a children's area, quiet study spaces, computers and a busy calendar of talks, story times and maker programs. Visitors can use the building and its wifi for free. It is a calm place to rest between downtown errands, especially on hot or rainy afternoons.
The village's historic core along Oak Park Avenue around the Metra station, with older brick storefronts, family restaurants, pubs, cafes and small shops. Summer evenings bring outdoor dining and street events on the plaza. Park near the station and explore on foot, since most places are a short walk apart.
One of the Chicago area's biggest outdoor concert venues, opened in 1990 as the World Music Theatre, with covered reserved seats and a huge lawn for rock, country and hip-hop tours from spring to autumn. Bring a blanket for lawn tickets, and arrive early, because traffic on nearby roads backs up before big shows.
A large exhibition hall on the village's south side that hosts trade shows, collectibles and sports card fairs, craft and car shows, bridal expos and community events throughout the year. There is a hotel attached for out-of-town visitors. Check the events calendar, since admission and parking depend on the show.
A volunteer-run society that preserves the story of the village, from its German farming settlers and the arrival of the Rock Island railroad to the rapid suburban growth after World War II. Its museum displays photographs, artifacts and changing exhibits. Opening hours are limited, so check before you visit.
A paved trail system through the Tinley Creek woods of the Forest Preserves of Cook County on the village's eastern side, looping past oak woods, prairie, ponds and the creek itself. It is popular with cyclists, runners and birders. The loops add up to more than 20 miles, so carry water and plan your route.
A family amusement center with go-karts, mini golf, laser tag, an arcade and other rides, plus party rooms and casual food. Many attractions are indoors, so it works on rainy or cold days as well as summer evenings. A combo pass is the better value if you plan to try several activities in one visit.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: Adam Moss, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Adam Moss, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Adam Moss, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Matt North from Chicago, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Adam Moss, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Adam Moss, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
