As the saying goes, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” Irving Park has a long history of doing just that.

Residents started their own park district and amateur baseball team and struck a deal with the railroad to build a station. The park district ultimately merged with the city and the Irving Park White Sox are no longer there. The station still stands today.

Irving Park’s rich history is evident in its parks, manicured neighborhoods, and historic homes. Independence Park is one of the neighborhood’s first and one of the city’s finest parks, and is home to parades, sports events, and concerts.

There are beautifully-restored homes and others waiting to be renovated to their previous grandeur. The majority are single-family homes, some converted to duplexes, and apartments, providing plenty of options to fit different lifestyles and budgets.

An active historical society has preserved the neighborhood’s history and architecture, with some homes dating back as early as the 1870s, including old Victorian mansions and classic Chicago-style two-flats. The Villa District, a pocket of the neighborhood, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Several restaurants offer a variety of cuisines and opportunities for a night out. There are a handful of theaters and live music lounges, but make no mistake, the neighborhood is not just a happening scene, it’s home.

The CTA Blue Line and the Metra Union Pacific Northwest Line have stops here. A number of CTA buses also serve the area and the Kennedy Expressway runs parallel to the Metra station.