A Guide to Moving to Fort Myers
Plainfield, Illinois has a hot housing market, and for good reason! With its blend of small-town charm, big city amenities, and a top-notch school system, it’s no wonder why many young families with children are flocking to Plainfield to put down their roots.
The ideal location to raise a family involves a lengthy list of factors such as access to everyday conveniences, safety, quality education, recreational opportunities, and affordability to name a few. Here are 6 reasons why younger families are choosing Plainfield, Illinois to call home.
1. Downtown Plainfield
Talk about a downtown area that has it all! Downtown Plainfield boasts a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly atmosphere for shopping, dining, and entertainment set against a backdrop of many beautifully restored historic buildings with plenty of parking.
Residents can savor a wide range of foodie-approved restaurants, enjoy kid-friendly activities, and stay active in the many parks.
There are over a dozen restaurants in Plainfield along Main Street that appeal to every palate, including those with young children.
Check out Sovereign, a farm-to-table restaurant offering indoor and outdoor dining with a diverse menu and known for their crafts beers and cocktails. If you’re looking for an eclectic medley of Asian food, head over to MORA Asian Fusion for some pan-Asian tapas and sushi. HopScotch & Vine, a family-run restaurant, prides itself on its exceptional service, excellent food and its lavish ambiance.
With its walkable main street, there is plenty of nightlife spots for parents to let loose with friends such as NWB Next Whiskey Bar featuring craft beer and wine, classic whiskey, and bourbon cocktails. Uptown Tap & Eatery, a bar with an outside covered beer garden and live music events on Thursday nights is the perfect place for parents to enjoy an evening out while staying close to home.
Not only does the downtown area offer one-of-a-kind eateries, but it also boasts a handful of boutiques like Me Tu Boutique Bella and J Joho Boutique, where you can shop for unique clothes, accessories, and home goods.
2. Plainfield, IL School District
Plainfield is well known for its highly rated school system, from preschool and elementary all the way through high school. For those young families looking for consistent and excellent education throughout their children’s entire upbringing, Plainfield schools offers just that with its strong leadership, collaborative teachers, and a solid curriculum at each stage of learning.
According to greatschools.org, “64% of the schools in Plainfield School District #202 ranked above average in school quality,” and when it comes to academics, “54% of students in Plainfield schools are marking more academic progress than their peers at other schools in the state.”
For high school students, an impressive lineup of up to 27 sports programs are available to enhance athletic ability, from competitive dance, swimming, football, competitive cheer, basketball, and golf to name a few.
Also accessible are other programs and activities, such as Career Education Events, a Mentoring Program, a Tutoring Program, Drama/Theatre, Marching Band, Learning Lab, National Honor Society, and Student Ambassadors.
Plainfield North High School and Plainfield East High School score a 10/10 for college and career readiness—far above the state average for those key measures.
3. Family-Friendly Community Calendar
With its strong community ties, the village of Plainfield sure knows how to keep its residents engaged all year round with loads of family-friendly things to do.
During the summer, the village is known for its ever popular Plainfield Cruise Nights hosted every Tuesday evening during June, July, and part of August. Local car enthusiasts gather to showcase their classic and unique cars during this ultimate car show where they close off W Main Street in the downtown area. Hundreds of people of all ages show up to admire the stunning lineups of vehicles, savor some local street eats, and get a buzz off the energy-filled event.
Not too far from W Main Street is Settler's Park, home to the Village’s annual summer concert series at the Amphitheater, showcasing a variety of local bands and musicians where you can bring your own lawn chairs to sit back, relax, and listen to some tunes.
On beautiful warm nights, families can enjoy Movies in the Park to watch family-friendly movies creating wonderful summer memories.
Plainfield is also notable for its Plainfield Fest, a fun-filled event for all ages with great food, live music, entertainment, and crafts.
During the cooler months, the downtown area hosts an annual “Halloween Spooktacular” for some trick-or-treating fun and a costume contest for the little ones.
Every year, the Chamber of Commerce hosts a Candlelight Christmas event that includes pictures with Santa, sleigh rides, crafts, and holiday dance performances.
Check out the village’s jam-packed community calendar for more things to do in Plainfield, IL!
4. Plainfield Park District Programs for All Ages
The Plainfield Park District has an all-encompassing recreational program for everyone, especially for young families. There are childhood enrichment options, dance, several athletic opportunities, an equestrian center, fitness facilities, parks, and special events.
With a bi-annual activity guide available online, parents can easily sign up their kids (and themselves) for all sorts of enrichment programs throughout the year. It’s the 9th largest park district in the state of Illinois, maintains more than 90 parks, and has 7 building sites—Normantown Equestrian Center, Ottowa Street Pool, Streams Dance Studio, and Prairie Activity & Recreation Center to name some.
The Normantown Equestrian Center, with its impressive 6-acre facility, features an indoor riding arena, 2 large outdoor riding arenas, and 5 paddocks.
The Ottowa Street Pool is fully equipped with high and low diving boards, lap lanes, a deck for sun-bathing, and a separate enclosed tot wading area—the perfect community pool to cool off during those hot summer months.
The 40,000 square foot Prairie Activity & Recreation Center includes a full-size gym, a 4,000-square foot fitness center, a fitness studio, an elevated walking track, 4 preschool classrooms, and a multi-purpose room to host any birthday parties or large family reunions.
5. Outdoor Recreation
For families who are outdoor enthusiasts and love spending time outdoors with their kids, Plainfield offers a lot of recreational opportunities with remarkable places to discover, as it prides itself on nature preservation; canoeing, hiking, fishing, walking trails, and bike trails can all be enjoyed at the nearby parks and forest preserves.
The 839-acre Lake Renwick Preserve protects a 200-acre lake along with its wetland habitat, a variety of plant species and migratory of birds.
The Heron Rookery Nature Preserve within Lake Renwick is visited by hundreds of people each year to observe the nesting herons, egrets, and cormorants from mounting scopes for bird viewing.
And after nesting season is over, Lake Renwick is still a favored by majestic bald eagles, American white pelicans, and hundreds of winter waterfowl to perch. It also offers miles of beautiful trails, ideal for nature discovery walks for the kids.
Neighboring park Eaton Preserve has an onsite playground, trails, a boat launch, shelters, a volleyball court, and an area for fishing off the Du Page River.
Another unique family-fun activity includes floating down the Du Page River, offered by Plainfield River Tubing, ending your trip in the heart of Downtown Plainfield. Float times are Saturday and Sunday every half hour during the summers. What a perfect way to cool off, relax, and create those special memories with the family!
6. Affordability for Families in Plainfield
Families find that although the cost of living is low, their quality of life is well above average. While goods and services in the village are slightly higher, housing costs and utilities are below average due to Plainfield Township’s commitment to keeping taxes low while maintaining vital and convenient services for their residents.
Plainfield spans across 2 counties: Will County and Kendall County. Offering convenient locations and homes for sale at affordable prices, families can choose from a range of great neighborhoods in Plainfield to best suit their needs.
M/I Homes has worked with the Village of Plainfield for many years to develop new construction homes in the Plainfield area.
I know there is a lot to consider when uprooting your family to a new city. To learn more about this great Illinois town or M/I Homes, contact me for more information any time!
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