Pioneer Park in neighborhood profile

The urban feel of Arlington Heights was attractive to Erika Cutlit, who moved to the Pioneer Park subdivision a few years ago from Manhattan, New York, where she enjoyed the city lifestyle.

"Here we like the benefit of living close to downtown," Cutlit said. "When it's above 30 degrees, we're out walking to the park and to town."

With all the citylike amenities of the community - cultural events, performing arts, music concerts and festivals in the summertime, good restaurants and a movie theater downtown - life is good for Cutlit and her family.

While the established, walkable neighborhood with mature trees and excellent schools drew the Cutlits to Pioneer Park, it's the great neighbors that will keep them there, Cutlit said.

The first weekend after they moved in, a huge rainstorm hit the area - said to be the biggest flood in 100 years. "When people saw us carrying out carpeting from the basement, the entire neighborhood came over and helped us," Cutlit said.

"This was our first impression of the quality of our neighbors - kindhearted, nice people. It was quite a welcome for a brand new couple moving into the neighborhood."

The couple also liked that they purchased their ranch home from the original owner who bought the home in 1955. They were able to learn about the history of the home from the children who were selling the home and who had the original paperwork and architect's plan.

"We renovated the kitchen and added a fifth bedroom because we saw the value of increasing the square footage and the potential of the layout of the four-bedroom house," Cutlit said. "We have a lot of living space now."

Pioneer Park, located around Grove Street off Wilke Road, is one of the most asked-for subdivisions in Arlington Heights, and houses appreciate well, said Kathy Monaco, real estate broker with HomeSmart. "Even when a home has only a one-car garage, people will buy it because they want to be in that area."

Pioneer Park features a variety of homes - Georgians, Colonials, two-stories and a lot of ranches - and people like that diversity, Monaco said.

"This is a very appealing neighborhood where homes have been well kept with a lot of residents updating and extending their homes, which makes a big difference in the appearance of the neighborhood," she said.

Within Pioneer Park is the public Pioneer Park, the gem of the neighborhood with its popular outdoor pool, ice rink, soccer fields and picnic areas.

"It's a fabulous park with lots of sports going on and classes for all ages," Monaco said. "Many homes in the neighborhood circle the park, and kids can walk or ride their bikes there."

A lot of kids graduate from college, get a job and then they move back to Arlington Heights. They buy a house, and the parents may live down the street or in the house behind them, Monaco said.

Residents of the thriving village enjoy the quaint downtown with an eclectic mix of restaurants, pubs and coffee shops and shopping at boutiques, specialty shops and upscale grocery stores.

Other community amenities include Arlington Park Racetrack, several challenging golf courses in the area, the world-class Arlington Heights Public Library and the historical museum with its five-building campus.

Commuters can board Metra trains in the community's downtown area for a trip to the Loop.

Listing sheet

<span class="fact box text bold">Price range:</span> $350,000 to $600,000

<span class="fact box text bold">Age of homes:</span> Mostly 38 to 56 years old

<span class="fact box text bold">Schools:</span> Westgate Elementary and South Middle schools in Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 and Rolling Meadows High School in Northwest Suburban High School District 214

<span class="fact box text bold">Parks:</span> Arlington Heights Park District