The Villa Park Chamber of Commerce is pleased to bring you their 2016-2017 Community Profile & Membership Directory. This informative guide is made possible through the support of our members and the businesses and organizations who advertise here.

We have a great business community here in Villa Park who is interested in serving this community and building lifelong relationships. That’s who we are! By working together, we can support further economic development in Villa Park which, in essence, builds the community as a whole. Vital businesses in Villa Park means more job opportunities for residents … which means more money going back into the local economy making Villa Park the best it can be!

You can do your part by living up to our motto of “Shop Villa Park First” and patronizing our member businesses that made this directory possible. By doing so, you are helping to grow our local economy and adding to the prosperity and vitality of our community.

Thank you to my fellow board members, our Executive Director Alesia Bailey, members, countless volunteers and, of course, YOU for your continuing support of our Chamber, our members and our village. We are here to serve you, so never hesitate to ask.

Jon Zaley
Villa Park Chamber of Commerce, President

Odeum Expo Center
Business Development & Marketing Director

The Chamber of Commerce was incorporated on April 12, 1948 due to the efforts of Lott Hare, Emil Johnson, Emil Novak, and William Worley.

These founding members were local businessmen who felt strongly about promoting the advantages that Villa Park businesses could offer. They stated their mission, which is still in use today: Shop Villa Park First!

The Villa Park Chamber of Commerce is organized for the purpose of advancing the commercial, industrial and civic interests of the village of Villa Park and its vicinity.

The Villa Park Chamber of Commerce moved into the former Chicago-Aurora-Elgin Railway Ardmore Avenue Train Station on January 1, 1985. The train station was built in 1910 using boulders from the construction of the Chicago-Aurora Elgin Railway.

The former station, located at 10 West Park Boulevard was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 21, 1980, and was recognized in 2004 by the Villa Park Historical Preservation Commission as having significant historic value to the Village of Villa Park, the State of Illinois, and the entire Country.

Dear Residents & Business Owners in Villa Park:

Over the last several years, our local economy, like so many other municipalities, has endured a num- ber of challenges. Yet, what has never wavered is the loyalty and commitment Villa Park residents have for
our local businesses.

Today, as our local economy slowly but surely recovers and rebuilds, it’s more important now than ever before to remember what our Villa Park Chamber of Commerce leadership reinforces everyday – Shop Villa Park First – whenever we set out on our shopping excursions.

Additionally, a few years ago, the Village of Villa Park launched the Live Local, Shop Local campaign to encourage residents to purchase goods and services locally. No doubt, Villa Park has what you’re looking for – groceries and baked goodies for your family dinners, fuel for your vehicles, clothing for your children, gardening supplies to help maintain your property, etc. – so why not support Villa Park businesses first?

One valuable resource that promotes our businesses and keeps them front and center is the Villa Park Chamber of Commerce 2016-2017 Community Profile & Membership Directory. This reference guide provides information on
a variety of businesses and services in Villa Park, as well
as a number of resident resources.

These resources include Villa Park Chamber of Commerce contacts and details, Village information, from Village Hall to the Fire and Police Departments, Parks & Recreation and Public Works, Library and Public/Private School resources, Healthcare services, DuPage County information and much, much more!

Many hours went into developing the 2016-2017 Community Profile & Membership Directory. A very special thanks to Alesia Bailey, Executive Director of the Villa Park Chamber of Commerce, and the Villa Park Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, for providing this guide, free of charge, to our community.

Please continue to Shop Villa Park First, use the directory and take some extra time to explore all that Villa Park has to offer our community!

Warm regards,

Deborah Bullwinkel
Village of Villa Park, President
Phone: (630) 592-6052
Email: PresidentBullwinkel@invillapark.com

Picturesque neighborhoods, modern schools which strive for academic excellence, a park and recreation department with abundant recreation facilities, comprehensive library services, and a vast network of bike trails, make Villa Park an enjoyable place to live, work, and  raise a family.

Located in DuPage County – just 19 miles west of Chicago’s Loop – Villa Park’s history includes a combination of hard work, community spirit and preservation. Known as the Garden Village, the conveniently located Midwest community of 22,000 has direct access to downtown Chicago, major highways, airports. Villa Park is bounded by the Village of Addison on the north, Lombard on the west, Oakbrook Terrace on the south and Elmhurst on the east.

Villa Park has four major shopping corridors and several historic business districts.

History

Villa Park boasts a proud history dating back to the early 1800s, when German immigrants purchased fertile farming land, and settled in the area. Villa Park’s deep roots are visible throughout the community today. Some of the original farmstead homes built in the pre-Civil War era still dot the community The first school house was built in 1857 at the corner of St. Charles and Westmore-Meyers Road to serve children of area families.

The arrival of the Chicago Aurora, & Elgin Railway, a double-track electric system, marked the beginning of a population explosion and the development of two new subdivisions-Villa Park (1908) and Ardmore in (1910). In 1914, the two communities merged and the Village of Ardmore was incorporated. Villa Park residents contested the name and in 1917 the town officially became known as Villa Park. The area attracted many Chicago builders, bankers and brokers seeking country lifestyles.

Commerce took root with the 1917 opening of the Wander Company factory, the makers of Ovaltine. During both World Wars, Ovaltine was used to aid soldiers in recuperating from combat fatigue. The company grew to become Villa Park’s largest industry and benefactor, especially during the Depression years.

Chicago residents soon discovered Villa Park’s small town charm and began building bungalows or ordering Sears homes.

Villa Park boasts a wide spectrum of housing options from smaller family homes appealing to first-time buyers to the larger move up homes. Today many of the homes and commercial buildings in Villa Park are architecturally unique.

Villa Park Historical Museum
220 S. Villa Ave. (at the Prairie Path)
Villa Park, IL 60181 • (630) 941-0223
www.vphistoricalsociety.com

Hours: 1-5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday & Sunday

Closed Mondays
(Closed late December to mid-April)

Located in a former CA& E train station built in 1929, the Villa Park Historical Museum also serves as the Official Visitor Center for Villa Park. The Station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A case inside the museum displays advertisements and brochures from local businesses.

View Villa Park historical displays, railroad memorabilia, keepsakes from the closed Ovaltine Factory, and artifacts donated by residents depicting life in Villa Park. The Villa Park Historical Preservation Commission has created a Resource Center available for community use with a collection including information on Sears mail order homes, architectural home styles, and more.

Browse train memorabilia and novelty items for a unique selection of gifts at the Whistlestop Gift Shop and Grandma’s Attic. Window displays change seasonally.

Villa Park has a Village Board/Manager form of government that consists of a Village President and six Trustees. The seven-member board is responsible for the appointment of a Village Manager, approval of the annual budget and adoption of ordinances. The Board meets at 7:30 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays in  the Village Hall.

Village Board meetings are broadcast live on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. on Comcast Channel 6, U-verse
99 and runs daily at 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. until the next board meeting at which time it is switched to the current meeting.

The Village Manager is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the Village. The Village Clerk is responsible for keeping the village records and recording the minutes of the Village Board Meetings.

Village Hall
20 S. Ardmore Ave., Villa Park, IL 60181
(630) 834-8500, www.invillapark.com

Village President
Deborah Bullwinkel
PresidentBullwinkel@invillapark.com

Trustees

Chris Aiello
trusteeaiello@invillapark.com

Albert Bulthuis
trusteebulthuis@invillapark.com

Nick Cuzzone
trusteecuzone@invillapark.com

Donald Kase
trusteekase@invillapark.com

Robert Taglia
trusteetaglia@invillapark.com

Bob Wagner
trusteewagner@invillapark.com

Village Clerk

Hosanna Korynecky
clerkkorynecky@invillapark.com

Village Departments

Village Managers Office
(630) 592-6052

Responsible for the day-to-day activities of the Village

Rich Keehner, Jr., Village Manager

Community & Economic
(630) 433-4300

Development Department

Responsible for Economic Development, Planning & Zoning, and Property Maintenance

Jan Fiola, Economic Development Director
Patrick Grill, Community Development Director

Finance Department
(630) 834-8500

Responsible over the fiscal operations of the Village

Kevin Wachtel, Finance Director

Public Works Department
(630) 834-8505

Responsible for snow & ice control, storm event response, roadway maintenance, tree trimming, water main repairs, wastewater treatment plant control, construction of public infrastructure, permitting & Certificate of Occupancy

Vydas Juskelis, Public Works Director

Villa Park Parks & Recreation

Community Recreation Building
(630) 834-8525

320 E. Wildwood Ave., Villa Park, IL 60181

Iowa Community Center
(630) 834-8970

338 N. Iowa Ave.. Villa Park, IL 60181

Greg Gola, Director Parks & Recreation

Fire Department
Station #1
Non-Emergency (630) 833-5350
1440 S. Ardmore Ave. • Villa Park, IL 60181

Ronald J. Rakosnik, Fire Chief
Steve Stapleton, Deputy Fire Chief

Station #2
Non-Emergency (630) 833-5343
102 W. Plymouth Ave. • Villa Park, IL 60181

Police Department
Non-Emergency (630) 834-7447
40 S. Ardmore Ave. • Villa Park, IL 60181

Robert Pavelchik, Police Chief
Michael Lay, Deputy Chief of Police
911 Emergency, 24-hour officer response
Non-Elected Boards & Commissions

• Cable TV Commission
• Community Pride Commission
• Economic Development Commission
• Environmental Concerns Commission
• Fire & Police Commission
• Historical Preservation Commission
• Liquor Control Commission
• Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission
• Planning & Zoning Commission
• Police Pension Board
• Senior Concerns Commission
• Sugar Creek Golf Course Administration Board
• Summerfest Commission
• Traffic & Safety Commission

Villa Park Chamber of Commerce
(630)941-9133 • www.villaparkchamber.org

Villa Park Village Hall
(630) 834-8500 • www.invillapark.com

Villa Park Parks & Recreation
Community Rec Center • (630) 834-8525

Iowa Community Center • (630) 834-8970

Senior Citizens Service Center
(630)-834-8525 • www.vprd.org

Villa Park Police & Fire

Police Department
(630) 834-7447 • Non-Emergency

Fire Department – Station #1
(630) 834-5350 • Non-Emergency

Fire Department – Station #2
(630) 833-5343 • Non-Emergency

Villa Park Public Library
(630) 834-1164 • www.vppl.info

Villa Park Historical Museum
(630) 941-0223 • www.vphistoricalsociety.com

Water

Salt Creek Sanitary District
(630) 832-3637 • www.saltcreeksd.com

Refuse Disposal

Roy Strom • (630) 469-5005

Local Newspapers

Daily Herald • (847) 427-4300
www.dailyherald.com

The Villa Park Argus • (630) 368-1144
www.mysuburbanlife.com

The Villa Park Independent • (630) 834-8244
www.theindependentnewspapers.com

The Villa Park Review • (630) 627-7011
www.lombardian.info

Villa Park residents enjoy the wonderful amenities of 18 parks including newly renovated grounds at the Iowa Community Center which feature a state-of-the-art skate park, accessible playground, bags and bocce courts, a children’s education garden, native plant area and a gazebo-type shelter.

Villa Park Parks & Recreation operates two outdoor aquatic facilities, Jefferson Pool, 341 N. Harvard and Lufkin Pool, 1000 S. Ardmore, giving residents wonderful aquatic opportunities. In addition, year round classes, programs and events for all ages from early childhood to seniors are available. One all ages event is Life Size Candy Land, which in 2010 received honors as the Outstanding Special Event from the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association and the Illinois Association of Park Districts.

Children and teens participate in arts, educational, aquatic, sports classes and camps. Adults and seniors have a wide variety of choices from van and theater trips to league sports and classes for all interests. Seniors also enjoy monthly get-togethers and a daily drop-in program for cards and socialization. Oktoberfest is a popular family festival held every fall that draws several thousand visitors to Villa Park.

Several free family events are offered annually and include a Family Fishing Derby, Big Rigs and Kids and Movies in the Gym and Movies in the Park. The majority of these activities and events take place at one of two village facilities: the Iowa Community Center, 338 N. Iowa and the Community Recreation Building, 320 E. Wildwood.

“Be sure to take advantage of our top notch programs, great special events and upgraded facilities/parks,” says Greg Gola, director of Parks and Recreation. “Stop by the Iowa Community Center to play baggo, or bring the little ones and enjoy the new playground, complete with a soft, astro turf base. Don’t forget to bring your bags because the games are already in place waiting for you to play.”

In addition to recreation activities, Villa Park Parks & Recreation offers preschool and child care programs, licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services on site at the Iowa Community Center.

From adult literature and reference materials to digital media, DVDs, specialized databases, programs, entertainment, and technology, top-shelf public library services are close at hand.

In addition to expansive collections of books, periodicals, and media, the Villa Park Public Library offers patrons access to a number of computers with Internet access, free Wi-Fi, and much more.

Meeting the informational, educational, cultural and recreational needs of the citizens of Villa Park since opening its doors in 1928 with just 400 books, the Villa Park Public Library has grown from a tiny one-room facility to encompass 22,800 square feet in its current building.

In the beginning, Women’s Club members began a door-to-door campaign, pulling little red wagons down the street to collect books from neighbors for the new library. Today’s library houses much more than books, with offerings embracing the digital age of technology to include e-books, digital reference pages and databases, web-based resources, Wi-Fi and wireless printing capabilities, and a computer center.

MATERIALS

• Books • DVD movies • Music CDs
• Audiobooks on CD or Playaway • Video games
• Daily newspapers, magazines • iPads & tablets

COMPUTERS & INTERNET

• Computer center • Free Wi-Fi
• Downloadable eBooks, audiobooks, videos & more
• Computer classes • Fax, copier & scan service
• Richard & Rae Srch Digital Media Lab

PROGRAMS & EVENTS

• Adult, family and youth programs that promote literacy and encourage life-long learning

SPACE

• Mary Alice Ohrman program, meeting room, conference room, group collaboration room, and study rooms

COMMUNITY SERVICES

• Voter registration • Notary public
• Delivery/pick-up of materials for homebound patrons

VILLA PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY

305 S. Ardmore Ave. • Villa Park, IL 60181
Phone: (630) 834-1164 • Fax: (630) 834-0489
Youth Services: (630) 834-1176 • www.vppl.info
Hours: Monday through Thursday – 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday & Saturday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday – 1 to 5 p.m., Labor Day through Memorial Day
(Closed summer Sundays)