Neighborhood profile: Copeland Manor

A mix of original vintage homes and newer homes built throughout the years, mature trees and well-tended yards give Copeland Manor an irresistible warmth and charm.

Situated off Rockland Road east of Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville, the neighborhood sits near the quaint downtown area, within walking distance of the elementary school and close to the Des Plaines River Trail.

Copeland Manor was developed after World War II with the Copeland brick ranch that was built on a slab with two bedrooms, one bath and no basement, and it was duplicated throughout the subdivision. Some of the homes have been torn down, and others have been incorporated into larger residences. The two-story house with basement was also the basis for many homes in the subdivision, said Chris Wegren, real estate broker with Century 21 Kreuser & Seiler in Libertyville

Today, Copeland Manor is comprised mostly of ranches, Georgians and Cape Cods and is a sought after neighborhood, especially for families with children.

"The neighborhood is unique in that you have the solace of the forest preserve and Des Plaines River right there and the community of the elementary school with a short distance between houses in the neighborhood," Wegren said.

"I appreciate any community where walking between homes helps build community. At Halloween, it wasn't just the kids out, parents had a chance to visit because some homes had small bonfires in their driveways, and it became a nice gathering point for families.

"Living in a walkable neighborhood is important to me and many other homebuyers. It's nice to be able to walk to the elementary school and massive park attached to it with no major streets to cross."

Many people want to move to Libertyville because of the schools, and with Copeland Manor's affordable homes, buyers can get into a nice family area with many nearby amenities.

Almost 50 years ago, George Callison and his wife happened to find a vacant lot across from Copeland Elementary School and decided to build a house there. "It's something we could afford at the time; it fit our needs; and it was nice being across the street from the school," Callison said.

"My wife was always attracted to Libertyville, and we were familiar with the area because we both grew up in Waukegan. We like the town and being close to the Des Plaines River Trail.

"This is a close-knit neighborhood that's turned over three or four times since we moved here with many young people moving in. We could be grandparents to some of the people here."

For recreation, Copeland Manor sits near Riverside Park with baseball diamonds, soccer and softball fields, tennis and volleyball courts, outdoor pool, bike path and a nine-hole golf course with leagues and tournaments. Those who like the water can go canoeing, paddle boating or kayaking. There is also a picnic area and playground.

Forest preserves abound in the area. East of the subdivision, the Old School Forest Preserve offers miles of trails, great bass fishing and secluded picnic spots. It attracts bicyclists, horseback riders and cross-country skiers. The sled hill is one of the most popular features of the preserve and can be seen from I-94. Also, several preserves sit south of the village.

Libertyville's quaint downtown area features historic buildings, antique stores, gift shops and boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops that invite you to linger a while. In the summer, lunch and dinner in the park are popular events when local restaurants set up shop around the downtown square. Concerts and other events throughout the year also draw people to the downtown area.