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Discover what makes Elgin a great place to live. We’ve compiled a list of the top reasons to live in Elgin, including downtown Elgin, things to do, the art scene, local restaurants, biking accessibility and more.

1. . S p e c i a l S p e c i a l e v e n t s e v e n t s

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 include the Fourth of July fireworks, free concerts in Wing Park, free movies in Festival Park and Elgin Short Film Festival, among others. A full list of Elgin events is on www.ExploreElginArea.com.

2 2. . A t A tt r a c t i o n s & Re c r e at i o n

There’s no shortage of things to do or see in Elgin. History buff? Explore the Elgin Area History Museum and Elgin Public Museum all year round. 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. 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, Elgin is your place. The Fox River Trail offers cyclists, hikers and water enthusiasts the joys of the outdoors all within steps of downtown Elgin.

3 . 3 . A r t s a n d E n t e r ta i n m e n t

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 1,200seat Hemmens Cultural Center, which continues to host the nationally renowned Elgin Symphony Orchestra. The Funky Rooster Tattoo and Art Studio has recently been recognized as an Illinois Maker by the Illinois Office of Tourism for its unique and artistic flair. Stop in to see for yourself, or book an appointment! 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, the smart play would be to double down on the cuisine from one of the on-site restaurants: The Slice Pizzeria, Crave Deli or Buckinghams Steakhouse and Bistro.

4 4. D o w n t o w n

Downtown Elgin is arts, culture, events, niche shopping and a wide array of eateries and drinking establishments. 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!

5. T r a n s p o r ta ti o n

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 facility. Elgin is also bicycle-friendly with miles of bikeable thoroughfares both in town and along the Fox River Trail.

By the Elgin Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

6 6. . P u b l i c P ub li c s a f e t y, hs a f e t y, he a e al lt h a nd c om mu nit y c o m m u n i t y s e rv i c e s

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 nonemergency service requests, including reporting potholes or missed garbage collection, or processing water bill payments.

7 7. E d u c at i o n

An Elgin student could conceivably attend school locally from pre-K all the way through a doctoral program without leaving the city. Elgin is primarily served by School District U-46, the state’s second-largest school district. U-46’s award-winning dual-language program enables more than 10,000 students to develop bilingualism and biliteracy skills in U-46 classrooms. Elgin Community College offers 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.