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Since its incorporation in 1880, the Village of Mokena has transformed into a prosperous community of more than 20,000 residents – a number estimated to reach nearly 24,000 by 2013. While Mokena continues to experience an influx in well-planned residential, commercial and industrial growth and development, village leaders work hard to maintain its values as a friendly and connected community – as noted in its motto, “Planned Progress…Pleasant Living.” Suburban living really is at its finest in Mokena, which offers a quiet lifestyle complete with access to highquality public services and conveniences akin to a larger city. Residents and employers are equally drawn in by Mokena’s exceptional education, recreation, shopping and healthcare outlets, as well as its prime location and access to a major transportation nexus. There is no doubt the Village of Mokena has a bright future – come discover for yourself the ingredients that make this community one of the finest in the southwest suburbs. Mokena, a thriving southwest suburban community, is fortunate to possess an enviable location in the midst of an extensive transportation infrastructure. The community is nestled within the northeastern portion of Will County, just 27 miles outside of the Loop. The bustling La Grange Road corridor (U.S. Route 45) winds its way north-south along Mokena’s eastern border, providing an efficient connection to U.S. Route 30 to the south and Interstate 80 to the north. Both Route 30 and Interstate 80 offer a link to Interstate 57 to the east, while I-80 serves as the southwest suburbs’ first point of connection to Interstate 355, located just west of town. Many commuters bypass the traffic of the region’s busy thoroughfares by taking advantage of the services of Metra rail. The public transit outlet operates two stations in Mokena – Mokena/Front Street and Mokena/ Hickory Creek –both of which are situated along the Metra Rock Island District rail line. Riders reach downtown Chicago’s LaSalle Station within one hour. The closest commercial airports include Chicago’s Midway International Airport (20 miles from Mokena) and O’Hare International Airport (30 miles from Mokena). With its highly rated schools, outstanding healthcare community, unmatched recreational opportunities and more, it’s no wonder Mokena has been experiencing an influx in residential growth over recent years. Meeting the needs of this growing community is a large selection of quality and affordable homes suitable for every stage of life. From single professionals and growing families to empty nesters and retirees, there is something for everyone in Mokena. House hunters are afforded a great mix of older homes in well-established neighborhoods and modern developments at Old Mill Pond, The Bridges of Mokena and Foxborough Estates. There are also beautiful townhome options and real estate opportunities in the expanding downtown district. Here one will find various mixed-use structures comprised of shops and businesses on the first floor and residential condos on top. In addition, affordable rental units and properties cater to those who are not yet in the market to own. As one of the fastest-growing communities in the Chicagoland area, Mokena faces various challenges surrounding its imminent growth; however, the village continues to manage its growth and development successfully, ensuring it retains its unique, small-town values that so many have come to cherish in the southwest suburbs. The Mokena Community Park District is the area’s leading recreational resource. It maintains more than 20 parks and facilities in the area, including Yunker Farm, the Oaks Recreation & Fitness Center, the PDGAcertified Oaks Disc Golf Course (noted among the best in the nation), a skatepark and the up-and-coming Fox Ridge Park. This 10-acre site earned a $400,000 Open Space Land Acquisition & Development (OSLAD) grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in May 2011. This grant will help to develop a ball field, a multi-grid athletic field, an ADA-accessible playground, picnic areas and many other amenities at Fox Ridge Park. The programming afforded through the Mokena Community Park District is just as impressive as its parks and facilities. Throughout the year, residents of all ages, interests and abilities participate in more than 300 activities, ranging from arts & crafts classes and athletics to summer camps and dance and music programs. The park district also hosts an assortment of community wide events, notably Concerts and Free Movies in the Park, a 5K run/walk, the annual Flea Market at Main Park and various holiday gatherings. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy the activities offered at Hickory Creek Forest Preserve, part of the Forest Preserve District of Will County. Spanning the communities of Mokena, New Lenox and Frankfort, the preserve offers access to several popular trails, including the Hickory Creek Byway’s 2.8-mile West Branch and 1.8-mile East Branch, as well as the 21.5-mile Old Plank Road Trail. The preserve also presents opportunities for picnicking, camping, canoeing and environmental education. Those who prefer to spend a day on the greens are furnished with several area golf courses, which feature wellmaintained grounds and hazards to provide a challenge to the most seasoned of players. Among the popular choices in the region include the Sanctuary Golf Course in New Lenox, the Prestwick Country Club in Frankfort and the Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park, to name a few. ● ● ● General Membership Luncheon First Wednesday of February, April, October and November at 11:30 a.m. General Membership Dinner First Wednesday of March, May, September and December at 5:30 p.m. General Membership Breakfast First week of August, held before the Annual Mokena Mayor’s Charity Golf Outing ● Business After Hours ● Business Education Series Second Tuesday of each month at Rasmussen College ● Community Business Expo & Health Fair ● Golf Outing Held every June at the Sanctuary Golf Course ● 4th of July Parade Held annually on the 4th of July ● Food and Wine Fest Held annually in October ● Christmas Fest Held annually in November The retail scene discovered in Mokena has been expanding over the years, with new developments blending beautifully with the community’s well-established shopping spots. Much of the area’s retail is concentrated along major corridors on La Grange Road, 191st Street, U.S. Route 30 and Wolf Road, which host such wellknown shopping centers as the Mokena Town Square Shopping Center, Old Mill Pond, The Promenade, Mokena Corners and one of the newest and biggest additions, the Mokena Marketplace. Downtown Mokena has seen much in the way of revitalization in recent times, featuring new sidewalks, landscaping, streetscaping, public plazas and other decorative accents. This central district offers many service-oriented businesses and continues to work on attracting further retailers to its new and existing commercial developments. One of the more popular downtown attractions is the French Market on Front Street, a seasonal marketplace held every Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., from May through October. Sheltered by European-style canopies reminiscent of a Parisian market, shoppers enjoy perusing fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, arts & crafts, gourmet foods, baked goods and more. The retail scene of Mokena is growing, and the dining options in the area are just as impressive, with restaurants serving up a wide assortment of menus to satisfy every appetite. Start the day off right at one of the community’s many delicious breakfast diners offering everything from pancakes and eggs to waffles and omelets. Laid-back eateries and cafes are great for a light lunch, while local pubs and bar & grills are ideal for pre-dinner appetizers or late-night snacks with friends. There are also a number of mouthwatering pizzerias, steakhouses, fine dining establishments, fast-food facilities and restaurants serving delectable global fare. Access to first-class education at all levels is a significant draw for families and employers interested in relocating to Mokena. There are numerous early childhood education and daycare centers that cater to working parents and provide a great learning base for children. The majority of students entering primary school attend Mokena School District 159, while Frankfort School District 157-C, New Lenox School District 122 and Summit Hill School District 161 serve small portions of Mokena. All three primary school districts feed into Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210. There are also alternatives to the K-8 public school options in the Mokena area. Locally, students enroll at St. Mary’s Catholic School and the Noonan Elementary Academy. Graduating high school seniors and adults looking to enhance their skill sets are afforded a number of higher learning opportunities in the southwest suburbs. Within 20 miles of Mokena, residents have access to several colleges, universities and technical schools, including the Rasmussen College’s Mokena-Tinley Park campus, ITT Technical Institute, Moraine Valley Community College, Governors State University, Lewis University, the University of St. Francis, Prairie State College and South Suburban College. Supporting the entire learning community in Mokena is the Mokena Community Public Library. The library maintains a collection of more than 85,000 books and 300 periodicals, along with subscriptions to 18 area newspapers and a number of literacy and history/genealogy products. Internet access, online research databases and a year-round catalog of library programming are also part of the library offerings. More information is available online at www.mokena.lib.il.us. Situated at the crossroads of commerce and industry, Mokena is a bright spot for businesses drawn to the merits of operating in the southwest suburbs. New developments have sprouted up throughout town over the last few years, offering new and relocating businesses prime locations along major commercial and industrial corridors. The expansive Mokena Marketplace houses major tenants like JC Penney and PetSmart, which have helped generate a significant amount of sales tax revenue and job creation in town. Other commercial sites emerging in the community include The Promenade, The Boulevard, Meridian Center, Old Mill Pond, Mokena Corners and Downtown Mokena. The village has invested a lot in revitalizing its downtown district, recently finishing up various aesthetic projects. Downtown Mokena offers many service-oriented businesses and continues to work on attracting new retailers by offering some of the lowest municipal property taxes in the county, no local utility taxes and a valuable Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. In addition to these emerging commercial sites are numerous industrial parks in the region. Mokena’s latest addition is the 260-acre Corporate Corridors North development, which currently offers approximately two million square feet of planned light industrial and commercial development. Further sites and facilities designed to meet the demands for business and light industrial space include the Mokena Industrial Park, Mokena Professional Centre I & II, LaGrange Ridge Business Park, Mokena Crossings, the Olivieri Business Park, Corporate Corridors, Spring Lake Corporate Center and Silo Creek Business Park. Area businesses are well-supported by various local resources dedicated to ensuring the success and economic vitality of businesses and the community. The Mokena Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce and Village of Mokena Community and Economic Development Department are just some of those resources offering a list of advantageous services and programs. Mokena’s excellent location places it in close proximity to several major hospital campuses and a range of outstanding healthcare resources. These providers come together to provide some of the highest quality healthcare services and programs in the nation. Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in nearby Joliet is a modern healthcare facility providing a range of advanced medical services and programs comparable to those in a university-based hospital. The medical center has earned many recognitions over the years, including HealthGrades’ Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence (for four consecutive years), the Emergency Medicine Excellence Award 2011 and a five-star-rated, award-winning Women’s Health program. It also ranks highly in the areas of cardiac, stroke, critical and gastrointestinal care, to name a few. Silver Cross Hospital is also distinguished for its excellence, recently earning recognition as a 100 Top Hospital by Thomson Reuters Healthcare for the seventh straight year (the only hospital in Illinois to do so). Silver Cross Hospital continues to build on its commitment to excellence with the opening of its new replacement hospital in New Lenox on February 26, 2012. The new campus sits on 76 acres and features the main 289-bed hospital building, along with the Silver Cross Health Center, the Silver Cross Medical Services Building, the Silver Cross Center for Women’s Health and the University of Chicago Cancer Center at Silver Cross. The Mokena community is also well-served by several other surrounding hospitals and healthcare networks. St. James Hospital and Health Centers operates two main hospital campuses in Olympia Fields and Chicago Heights, as well as the St. James Community Health Center of Mokena, which provides internal medicine, pediatrics, open MRI, diagnostic imaging, physical therapy and diabetes services. The Heart Care Centers of Illinois (HCCI) not only operates its administrative center in town, but also offers the HCCI Mokena Clinic – a center providing diagnostic testing, cardiac catheterization, minimally invasive therapy options and much more. Other medical sites within close reach of Mokena include Advocate Health Care, with four hospitals and numerous health centers in the region, Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights and an assortment of specialty clinics, multi-specialty doctor groups and private physician practices. Mokena is furnished with a forward-thinking group of leaders who are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in this growing south suburban community. The village’s policy-making branch is comprised of the Village President (Mayor) and a six-person Board of Trustees, all of whom are elected at-large to staggered, four-year terms. Village leadership also includes the Village Clerk and the Village Administrator. Board meetings are held the second and fourth Mondays each month at 7 pm in Village Hall. Faith and worship have always been a big part of community life in Mokena. More than 150 years ago, the area’s earliest leaders placed high importance on worship, establishing several houses of worship in the community – most of which maintain a presence in the area. Today, these longstanding congregations have been joined by many modern religious institutions – together forming a strong and welcoming spiritual community. Mokena is also proud of its large group of active residents who regularly participate in area nonprofit clubs and organizations. Mokena hosts branches of the Jaycees, Lions Club, Woman’s Club and VFW, along with a medley of locally established organizations. Volunteer opportunities are also available through several village committees and commissions. These groups work hard to foster strong community ties, provide leadership and offer aid to those in need. ABEFHLRW Animal Services Automotive - Sales Automotive - Service Business Education Financial Health Landscaping Local Union Real Estate Recreation Restaurants Retail/Shopping Waste Management Animal Services Mokena Animal Clinic, Ltd. Julie Jerdina 9455 W. 191st Street Mokena IL, 60448 708-479-2811 Fax: mokenaanimalclinic@ameritech.net www.mokenaanimalclinic.com Automotive - Sales CollegeCarsChicago.com Zack Almattary 8520 W. 193rd St. Mokena IL, 60448 815-806-8686 Fax: zack_almattary@yahoo.com www.collegecarschicago.com Automotive - Service Gamboa's Automotive Bob Gamboa 19200 S. Wolf Rd. Mokena IL, 60448 708-479-6043 708-478-2050 Fax: gamboasr@comcast.net Business ELFCO Sam Upreti 9860 Clearvue Ct. Mokena IL, 60448 708-560-2158 708-478-4499 Fax: samupreti@elfco.com www.elfco.com Business Running With The Big Dogs Teri Brown 19307 Stonehenge Dr. Mokena IL, 60448 708-738-9815 Fax: teribrown01@aol.com Education Mokena Community Public Library District Dawn Ellingham 11327 W. 195th St. Mokena IL, 60448 708-479-9663 708-479-1690 Fax: dellingham@mokena.lib.il.us www.mokena.lib.il.us Education Rasmussen College Matt Lachey 1400 W. Normantown Rd. Romeoville IL, 60446 630-366-2985 815-306-2601 Fax: matthew.lachey@rasmussen.edu www.rasmussen.edu Financial Harris Bank Renee Stagno 8400 W. 159th St. Orland Park IL, 60462 708-873-1685 708-873-1643 Fax: renee.stagno@harrisbank.com www.harrisbank.com Financial Bridgeview Bank Group - Randall Goss Laura Slagter 7940 S. Harlem Ave. Bridgeview IL, 60455 708-728-7932 708-728-7838 Fax: laura.slagter@bridgeviewbank.com www.bridgeviewbank.com Financial First National Bank Jesse Hunt 19860 S. LaGrnage Rd. Mokena IL, 60448 708-478-3300 Fax: jhunt@fnbiweb.com www.fnbiweb.com Health General Dentistry - Stephen E. Jarvie, DDS Stephen E. Jarvie, DDS 9990 W. 190th St., Suite D Mokena IL, 60448 708-479-9797 708-479-4571 Fax: drjarvie@drjarvie.com www.drjarvie.com Health Provena St. Joseph Medical Center Jan Ciccarelli 333 N. Madison St. Joliet IL, 60435 815-725-7133 815-773-7794 Fax: jan.ciccarelli@provena.org www.provena.org/stjoes Health Duane E. Wolff, D.D.S., P.C. / Samantha L. Palazon, D.D.S. Shawn Kurth 19160 88th Ave. Mokena IL, 60448 708-479-7733 Fax: wolffdental1@comcast.net www.wolffdental.com Health Shay Health Care Services John Hayes 5730 W. 159th St. Oak Forest IL, 60452 708-535-4302 708-535-7520 Fax: jhayesjr@shayhealthcare.com www.shayhealthcare.com Health Shay Health Care Services, Inc. John Hayes 5730 W. 159th St. Oak Forest IL, 60452 708-535-4302 708-535-7520 Fax: jhayesjr@shayhealthcare.com www.shayhealthcare.com Landscaping Area Landscape Supply, Inc. Nicole Becker 18851 S. Wolf Mokena IL, 60448 708-479-8400 708-479-8499 Fax: arealandscapesupply@hotmail.com www.arealandscapesupply.com Local Union Pipe Fitters' Training Center Local Union 597 Kevin Lakomiak 10850 W. 187th St. Mokena IL, 60448 708-326-9240 708-326-9241 Fax: training@pftf597.org www.pftf597.org Real Estate Teresa S. Udovich - Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell Teresa Udovich 9645 Lincolnway Lane, Suite 102 Frankfort IL, 60423 630-476-4242 630-469-0780 Fax: tudovich@hotmail.com www.teresaudovich.com Recreation Lincolnway Special Recreation Association Lana Graser 21800 S. LaGrange Rd. Frankfort IL, 60423 815-464-2811 Fax: lgraser@lwsra.org www.lwsra.org Restaurants Fleckenstein's Bakery Bob Fleckenstein 19225 S. LaGrange Rd. Mokena IL, 60448 708-479-5256 Fax: bob@fleckensteins.com www.fleckensteins.com Restaurants Mr. Benny's Steak and Lobster House Joy Leonardo 19200 Everett Ln. Mokena IL, 60448 708-478-5800 708-478-0167 www.mrbennyssteakhouse.com Retail/Shopping The Avon Store Vicky Earley 7212 W. Benton Dr. Frankfort IL, 60423 815-464-0352 Fax: avonsalesnow4u@aol.com www.frankfortbeautycenter.com Waste Management NuWay Disposal Dan Loerop P.O. Box 9 Mokena IL, 60448 708-798-1004 708-798-7193 Fax: dloerop@homewooddisposal.com www.nuwaydisposal.com Copyright © 2011 VillageProfile.com, Inc.® 33 N. Geneva St. Elgin, IL 60120 (800) 600 - 0134 www.villageprofile.com