Stone Fence Farms in neighborhood profile

Connie and John Hirth purchased a home in the Stone Fence Farms subdivision in Vernon Hills 25 years ago when the builder was selling out of a trailer and the home wasn't even finished.

"This is a great place to raise a family," said Connie Hirth, a former resident of the subdivision and real estate broker with Coldwell Banker in Libertyville. "Our kids are grown, and it was time to downsize. We just moved in October.

"Our house was a great floor plan; even 25 years ago, the kitchen flowed into the family room. It was all open where you could see the kids playing. We also had a really nice backyard and always had open space behind us. Now the home backs up to the Vernon Hills High School ball field. You might hear a soccer game going on, but they did such a good job with the berm, that you don't see anything.

"It's a great place for kids, and there are tons of paths and parks. I walked our yellow lab two miles every morning on the park paths all the way to Target. It's a little gem."

Stone Fence Farms sits on Route 45 west of Route 21, near Route 22 and I-294 and minutes from the train station.

The community was built by Kimball Hill Homes and features 177 upscale, Colonial homes, typically with four to five bedrooms, 2½ or more baths, a basement and two-car garage, said Edie Love, real estate broker with Koenig Rubloff.

With a variety of exterior styles and 12 different open and flexible floor plans, there is a design for everyone's tastes.

Homeowners take pride in their homes, which sit on deep lots with well-maintained, beautiful properties that have natural privacy and sidewalks, and that is very appealing to people, Love said.

Students in the community attend two of the best school districts in the state, and that is a big attraction for the subdivision. Only a small portion of Vernon Hills feeds into the Stevenson High School district.

Known as a friendly place to live, the community's homeowners association plans several neighborhood events, such as an annual picnic, bowling league, bunco groups, play groups for kids and other informal social activities.

For recreation within the neighborhood, the park district's Stone Fence Park features 3.77 acres with an open field and play area, a walking trail, playground and pergola. The park was designed with input from area residents.

The subdivision borders the Vernon Hills Athletic Complex operated by the park district and is within walking distance of the Vernon Hills Golf Course, a walkable, nine-hole layout on rolling terrain with a creek that meanders into play on seven holes.

There is plenty of shopping along Milwaukee Avenue and Route 60 with the Westfield Hawthorn Mall nearby - a shopping destination that draws shoppers from miles around. Many dining options in and around the mall, an AMC movie theater and various entertainment venues in the area offer a great night out close to home.

As an alternative, with the Vernon Hills Metra train station within walking distance of the subdivision, residents can choose to head into the city for a night out on the town.

The Cuneo Mansion and Gardens, filled with fine art and furnishings on 100 landscaped acres, is a local attraction.

Listing sheet

<span class="fact box text bold">Price range:</span> $550,000 to $610,000

<span class="fact box text bold">Age of homes:</span> 25 years

<span class="fact box text bold">Schools:</span> Sprague Elementary, Half Day and Wright Middle schools in Lincolnshire-Prairie View Elementary District 103 and Stevenson High School in Stevenson High School District 125

<span class="fact box text bold">Parks:</span> Vernon Hills Park District