Cherry Park in neighborhood profile
Twenty-six years ago, first-time homebuyers 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 Batavia's Cherry Park subdivision with a spacious floor plan that included a big open kitchen and open stairway.
"At that time, Cherry Park was quite far out. The neighborhood was affordable for us and it was close to the schools," Beth Conroy said.
"Kirk Road was not as busy then, and we liked having Fermi Lab across the street because we knew there would be no development there. Also, we're just a block away from the (Illinois Prairie Path) bike path, which is a nice attraction."
Today the family continues to enjoy living in Cherry Park. "We just had our patio redone; it's larger now, and we enjoy having friends over to barbecue and look out at the backyard.
"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."
Situated on Geise Road west of Kirk Road, Cherry Park features mostly two-story homes by Avalon Builders with three to four bedrooms, 2½ baths and two-car garages, said Christa Max, real estate broker with Premier Living Properties in St. Charles.
"They're good-sized family homes with large yards and sidewalks, and many homes have been renovated with new modern kitchens that today's buyers want.
"This is an affordable community where you can find a nice four-bedroom home with a minimum of 2,000 square feet for $250,000 and more, which is a good value in Batavia."
The neighborhood has a clean, uncluttered appearance with well-kept homes and yards. It's a great family neighborhood. It's safe; and kids are all over the place, Max said.
A big draw is its good location near I-88 and Butterfield Road for easy east-west travel and very close to the middle school and the park just south of the school.
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.
Two bike paths follow the river and connect to several parks and forest preserves.
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 Batavia 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 people enjoy the picturesque setting and beauty of the outdoors.
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.
Drive time to the Loop is 60 minutes and 45 minutes to O'Hare International Airport. Commuters can catch Metra in Geneva or Aurora for the approximate one-hour trip to the Loop.
Listing sheet
<span class="fact box text bold">Age of homes:</span> Built in late 1980s
<span class="fact box text bold">Price range:</span> $250,000 to $350,000
<span class="fact box text bold">Schools:</span> Hoover Wood Elementary, Rotolo Middle and Batavia High schools in Batavia Unit District 101
<span class="fact box text bold">Parks:</span> Batavia Park District