Morton Arboretum adds beauty to Lisle's array of attractions
A snapshot of spring and summertime in Lisle provides some beautiful, recurring sights:
Yellow daffodils announce the arrival of warm weather at the 1,700-acre Morton Arboretum, a natural paradise of oak and maple forests, lakes and rivers, birds and wildlife.
Under bright canopies, the downtown French Market blooms from mid-May through October with fresh produce, pastries, fresh flowers, artwork and one-of-a-kind treasures.
Colorful hot air balloons rise at Lisle's Eyes to the Skies festival with entertainment, food, carnival and fireworks, attracting 200,000 people every July.
While the Morton Arboretum, French Market and Eyes to the Skies are some of Lisle's most popular attractions, Lisle also offers homebuyers an ideal place to call home.
Lisle reflects the natural beauty of the arboretum with tree-lined neighborhoods and beautiful parks along with a new downtown Garden Walk with sitting walls, a winding brick path and colors and textures to enjoy year round.
It offers a great location between the East-West (I-88) and North-South (I-355) tollways, which gives residents easy access to the city and other suburbs, said Realtor and broker John Simon. The village is also part of the technology and research corridor where major corporations continue to locate. And several upscale hotels have opened to serve area businesses.
Lisle public and parochial schools offer education for students from kindergarten through college. Two public school districts serve the community, Naperville District 203 and Lisle District 202, Simon said. "Those who want their children to attend smaller schools like the Lisle school district, with one junior high and one high school, where kids will be with the same students from kindergarten through high school."
Two private schools, St. Joan of Arc elementary and Benet Academy high school, are also located in Lisle, as well as Benedictine University. College of DuPage and North Central College are in nearby suburbs.
Lisle has a quaint downtown Main Street with good restaurants, retail shops, services and professional offices. Redevelopment includes mixed use buildings, condominiums, row houses and townhouses that will draw new residents to the downtown area.
This residential development brings more options to Lisle's housing stock, which ranges from affordable starter homes to large estates.
"The community's real estate has held pretty steady and isn't down much," Simon said. "The average sold price was $375,000 through last year, and this year it's up a little bit."
Nature takes center stage in the large Green Trails subdivision nestled within 744 acres that includes 25 miles of trails, nine lakes, public parks, mature woods and grassy open spaces.
"Green Trails is an attractive subdivision and is popular with my clients because they love the walking/biking trails winding through the Naper Boulevard/Hobson area," said Realtor Mary Volk. "Four Lakes condos have a wooded resort-like feel with a clubhouse and skiing and is popular for first-time buyers."
Other areas include a quaint older section of bungalows near town and newer homes around Ogden Avenue closer to Naperville, Simon said.
"The Meadows is a popular subdivision with ranches, split levels and raised ranches. Arbor View was built in the 1990s and has more two-stories along with a few ranches. There were a few teardowns, but with the economy, those came to a screeching halt," he said.
Volk believes Lisle's location is ideal, and the train station makes for a convenient commute.
"Lisle is tucked between Naperville and Downers Grove, and buyers not familiar with the area don't know what they are missing. This is also a great town for buyers who need the Metra," Volk said.
A Lisle gem is the Bulls/Sox Training Academy operated by the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls for athletes who want to push themselves to a high level of achievement. The academy offers private instruction, travel teams, leagues, and tournaments for boys and girls of all ages.
For outdoor sports and recreation, Community Park is the centerpiece of the Lisle Park District. The 110-acre park includes the park district administrative offices, fitness center and Sea Lion Aquatic Park. The park also hosts community activities and special events.
The Meadows Center houses many of the park district's indoor activities and also features parkland, ball fields and outdoor and indoor playgrounds.
And the park district's River Bend Golf Course features scenic wetland areas with water coming into play on eight out of nine holes. It is rated one of the top three nine-hole courses in the state.