Neighborhood profile: Cherry Hill, Batavia

Twenty-one years ago, first-time home buyers John and Beth Conroy wanted to live out and away.

Moving from a townhouse in Carol Stream, the couple found a nice Colonial home they liked in Cherry Park with a spacious floor plan that included a big open kitchen and open stairway.

“At that time, Cherry Park in Batavia was quite far out; the neighborhood was affordable for us; and it was close to everything,” Beth Conroy said.

“Kirk Road was not as busy then, and we liked having Fermilab across the street because we knew there would be no development there. That was a strong attraction for us.”

Today the couple and their three children continue to enjoy living in Cherry Park. “We're just one block away from the bike path, which is a nice attraction, and the kids are able to walk to school,” Conroy said.

“It's a very nice neighborhood. We've always had good neighbors surrounding us, and that's what has kept us here — good friendships with good neighbors.”

Although the neighborhood probably isn't as far out as it seemed 21 years ago, real estate broker Mary Brauer says it's nestled in a nice little area off the beaten path.

“Cherry Park is a well-planned, established neighborhood,” Brauer said. “With just a drive through neighborhood streets, people can see how well residents have taken care of their homes and yards. It's very clean and uncluttered and has a nice continuity with all the homes about the same age.”

The neighborhood features mostly two-story homes with three to four bedrooms, 2½ baths, family rooms and two-car garages. They're good size family homes with large yards and sidewalks.

Batavia schools are a big draw for residents of this family-oriented neighborhood, and many kids can walk to the elementary school, Brauer said.

For shopping, Batavia's East Wilson business district is home to many antique and specialty shops while the Randall Road corridor on the west side offers several large shopping centers and national retail stores.

Recreation is on everyone's agenda because of Batavia's natural environment, scenic beauty and location along the Fox River, which is a big draw for the city. Picnicking along the river, fishing, swimming and water skiing are popular summer pastimes. In the winter, ice skating, sledding, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing take center stage.

Strolling along the Riverwalk is enjoyable in any kind of weather. The park and native wildflower sanctuary along the Fox River is a focal point of the community, where residents enjoy the picturesque setting and beauty of the outdoors.

Also, the subdivision has easy access to the bike path. “It's bike path utopia over there,” Brauer said. “You can catch the bike trail and go anyplace.” Two bike paths follow the river and connect to several parks and forest preserves.

The park district offers programs and classes for residents of all ages. The community's 60,000-square-foot swimming pool, one of the largest in Illinois, was once a rock quarry that supplied limestone to Chicago after the 1871 fire.

Situated 35 miles west of Chicago, Batavia is the oldest city in Kane County. Despite its growth, the city retains its small-town atmosphere with friendly people who enjoy a relaxed lifestyle.

Cherry Park residents have easy access to the East-West Tollway with drive time to the Loop in about an hour, and 45 minutes to O'Hare International Airport. Commuters can catch a Metra train in Geneva or Aurora for the hourlong trip to the Loop.

Listing sheet

<b>Age of homes:</b>22 years old

<b>Price range:</b> $260,000 to $310,000

<b>Schools:</b> Hoover Wood Elementary, Rotolo Middle and Batavia High schools in Batavia Unit District 101

<b>Parks:</b> Batavia Park District