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10 Reasons to call Elgin Home this year!
10 reasons to call Elgin Home this year! W e’ve compiled a list of the top 10 reasons to live in Elgin, including downtown Elgin, things to do in Elgin, the art scene, local restaurants, biking accessibility and more.
Special events The city of Elgin’s commitment to quality of life for its residents is supported by a comprehensive yearly calendar of special events. In addition to programs available through the Edward Schock Centre of Elgin, public events also
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Elgin Movie in the park
include the Fourth of July Fireworks, free concerts in Wing Park, free movies in Festival Park, National Night Out and Elgin Short Film Festival, among others. Check out a full list of Elgin events at www.ExploreElginArea.com. Attractions There’s no shortage of things to do or see in Elgin. History buffs can explore the Elgin Area History Museum and Elgin Public Museum to learn all about the history, the people and the places who made Elgin, Elgin! Nature lover? Hawthorne Hills Nature Center offers a picturesque 67-acre natural area.
Love to read? One of Elgin’s most popular attractions is the award-winning Gail Borden Public Library. The main branch’s more than 150,000 square feet of space offers more than 530,000 books and digital assets, meeting and community rooms, a teen center and hundreds of educational programs annually.
Fox River Trail The Fox
River Bike Trail offers bikers more than 40 miles of scenic adventures. The trail is the perfect outing for cyclists, hikers, families and outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, boating and kayaking. Downtown Elgin is the perfect place to get on and off the trail.
Parks and recreation Making your fitness to-do list? Whether it’s playing 18 holes at Bowes Creek Country Club or The Highlands of Elgin, swimming laps at Adventure Island or Wing Park Pool, shooting hoops in the fieldhouse or ascending the 32-foot climbing wall at the Edward Schock Centre of Elgin or enjoying family time in one of 76 city-owned parks … whatever your game, Elgin’s got game.
Arts and Entertainment Arts and culture truly help define Elgin as a city, as evidenced by multiple performing arts venues such as the Elgin Art Showcase, Side
Street Studio Arts, Elgin Community
College’s Spartan Auditorium and the 1,200-seat Hemmens Cultural Center, which continues to host the nationally renowned Elgin Symphony Orchestra. For local entertainment, look no further than the Grand Victoria Casino, which offers Las Vegas-quality gaming, dining and nightlife. If gaming is not your thing, double down on the cuisine from one of the on-site restaurants: The Slice Pizzeria,
Buckingham’s Steakhouse and Lounge or Crave Deli.
The Funky Rooster Tattoo and Art Studio has recently been recognized as an Illinois Maker by the Illinois Office of Tourism for its artistic flair. Stop in to see for yourself or book an appointment!
Downtown Elgin’s Central Business District is the place to be for arts, culture, events, niche shopping and a wide array of eateries and drinking establishments. Architecture junkies, take note: Downtown Elgin is replete with Art Deco, Romanesque Revival,
Chicago School and midcentury modern buildings. Amenities such as Festival Park, the splash pad, Riverside Drive Promenade and the cobblestone courtyard of DuPage Court are all home to concerts and popular events. Elgin’s Cultural Arts Commission has sponsored public art pieces by local artists featured throughout downtown Elgin. Take a walking tour to see them all!
Transportation Commuting to Chicago is made easier with Elgin’s proximity to Interstate 90 and easy access to public transportation including three
Metra stations and a Pace Bus Park and Ride facility. Elgin is also bicycle-friendly, with miles of bikeable thoroughfares in town and along the Fox River Bike Trail.
Parking is always free in downtown Elgin, boasting three large parking decks that can accommodate more than 1,000 vehicles daily.
Public safety, health and community services
Elgin’s responsive, award-winning public safety department includes the Elgin Police Department, employing more than 180 sworn officers, and the Elgin Fire Department, with more than 130 sworn firefighters operating out of seven stations. The city’s Elgin 311 call center is a tremendous resource to help connect residents to Elgin’s local government. During normal business hours, Elgin 311 citizen advocates answer general questions and process non-emergency service requests, including reporting potholes, a missed garbage collection and more.
Education Elgin is primarily served by School District U-46, the state’s second-largest school district with an enrollment of nearly 39,000 students. U-46’s award-winning dual-language program enables more than 10,000 students to develop bilingualism and biliteracy skills. Elgin Community College offers 138 associate degree and certificate programs. Judson University is a four-year Christian college with more than 50 undergraduate majors, minors, pre-professional programs and adult undergraduate programs. An Elgin student could conceivably attend school locally from pre-K all the way through a doctoral program without leaving the city.
Businesses and workers are thriving
In 2018, Elgin employed over 57,000 people, primarily in manufacturing, health care, social assistance and retail services. Small businesses account for more than half of the people employed in Elgin, and our Downtown Neighborhood Association and Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce cultivate a fantastic support system for companies of all sizes. In Elgin, we proactively encourage shopping small and local all year round.
Need more reasons to call Elgin home? Check out www.ExploreElginArea.com.
