My Favorite Thing to Do in Chicago Suburb Lisle: the New Prairie Pond Walk!

The Village of Lisle, one of the city of Chicago's Western suburbs, is a bit of a small town compared to the giants of Naperville, Oak Brook, and Downers Grove. With its quaint, newly remodeled Downtown District, its Depot Museum, and the Morton Arboretum, this small suburb has a lot to offer visitors as well as residents.

A new addition to the area is the Prairie Pond Walk. Not necessarily the most popular thing developed in the area, the park was the source of controversy for many years while it was planned and being built. As a part of the revitalization of the Downtown area, the construction uprooted dozens of families, and caused the demolition of an entire neighborhood.

However, now that it is completed, and open to the public, it is truly my favorite part of the town. The landscaping around the pond is natural and beautiful, utilizing indigenous plants to Illinois. The fountains give us a pretty light show every night, and its paved path around the park is the perfect distance for a quick jog or to walk your dog.

There is a newly built Gazebo next to the water to relax and enjoy the scenery, a modern play area for kids to enjoy, and a sprinkler and water play area during the summer months. Best of all, it has done a great job of adding cohesiveness to the Downtown area. The new water features and walkways marry perfectly with the transition to the park.

Sure, the Prairie Pond Walk still has its critics; it is right next to busy and loud Rte. 53, as well as being an enormously expensive undertaking, but the finished product was totally worth it. It's so peaceful, you don't even notice Rte. 53 all that much, and it's so much easier to check out the Downtown area after a stroll. It's definitely my new favorite place in Lisle. I never went and checked out the Downtown area as much as I do now, and it was shocking to see so many people walking dogs and jogging that I have never seen before at other parks.

The Prairie Pond Walk is located right on the east side of Route 53 between Burlington and Ogden Avenues. If you're driving, you can park and access the park from Main St. in Downtown Lisle, or from the parking lot just off Burlington and Garfield on the south side of the Downtown District just east of Raymes. Visit the Village of Lisle's website for more info.