AUSTIN
One of Chicago’s largest community areas, both in terms of population and area, Austin was originally neighboring Cicero Township’s seat of government before it was annexed by Chicago in 1899. The former town hall was modeled after Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and survives today as one of Austin’s most well-known landmarks. The neighborhood is also home to the Jensen-designed Columbus Park, which features a waterfall, lagoons, golf course and Prairie-style refectory.
Austin's crown jewel was Columbus Park (1920). Designed in a prairie mode by renowned landscape architect Jensen, the park featured a lagoon, a golf course, athletic fields and a swimming pool, as well as winding paths and an imposing refectory overlooking the lagoon. Assaulted by expressway construction in the 1960's, the park was extensively restored in 1992.
The Austin neighborhood has a total population of 74932 residents. There are a total of 20198 households. The average household income is $46,416 and the median household income is $39,225. The median home sales
price is $220,000.
Austin Town Hall Park:
It is located in the Austin community, Austin Town Hall Park and Cultural
Center totals [3.17] acres. It houses a field house and features an indoor
swimming pool, 2 kitchens, a gymnasium, performance theater/auditorium and
fitness Center. Majestic in design, the center was once the Town Hall of the
Village of Cicero, Illinois. Outside the park offers a basketball court and
children’s playground. Many of these spaces are available for rental for theatre productions or
community meetings.
Park-goers can play basketball at the facility. On the cultural side, Austin
Town Hall Park is also a Cultural Center that offers a variety of dance, music
and theatre classes. After school programs are offered throughout the school
year, and in the summer youth attend the Park District’s popular six-week day
camp. Specialty camps are offered in the fall and spring as well, offering
recreational opportunities during winter and spring break camps.
In addition to programs, Austin Town Hall Park hosts fun special events
throughout the year for the whole family, such as gym showcases and Earth Day
celebrations.
Austin Public Library:
Austin-Irving Branch opened December 8, 2001, replacing a much smaller
storefront facility. In April 1970, Austin-Irving Branch became the sixty-fifth
branch of the Chicago Public Library, opening in a storefront located at 6110
West Irving Park Road. Previously, the area was serviced by a mobile unit.
Links Of Interest
Community
Investment Corporation (CIC)
Greater
Chicago Housing and Community Development
Official City of Chicago
Austin Community Map
Energy Information Administration (historical energy prices and
forecasts)
Chicago Landmarks
Four Houses by Architect Frederick
Schock
Hitchcock House
Laramie State Bank
Building
Walser House
Chicago Park District
Austin Town Hall
Park (5610 W Lake St)
Austin Park (5951 W Lake St)
Austin Foster Playlot Park (6020 W Foster Ave)
Clark Park (4615 W. Jackson Blvd)
Columbus
Park (500 S Central Ave)
Cottonwood Playlot Park (5056 W West End Ave)
Davis Park (5427 W. Division St)
Hazelnut Playlot Park (5949 W Huron St)
Hubbard Playlot Park (4952-58 W. Hubbard St)
Kinzie Parkway Park (5200 W Kinzie St)
LaFollette Park (1333 N Laramie Ave)
Levin Park (5458 W Kinzie Pkwy)
Moore Park (5058 Adams St)
Ohio Playlot Park (4712 W Ohio St)
Six Mile Playlot Park (240 N Waller Ave)
Sweet Clover Playlot Park (650 W. Leamington)
Austin Community Organizations and Service Providers.
Austin Chamber Of Commerce (email:
[email protected])
Austin African American Business Networking
Association (email: [email protected])
Austin Weekly News,
local newspaper
Encyclopedia of Chicago entry on
Austin
Directory of Community
Organizations Serving Austin, Chicago
Eyes On Austin
Off The Street Club
Westside Health
Authority
Austin Area Social Services
Habilitative Systems,
Inc.
Students In Temporary Living Situations
(.pdf)
Loretto Hospital
Addiction Center
Near North Health
Service Corporation
The Community Energy
Cooperative
Youth Outreach Services,
Inc.
Austin YMCA
CPS-Students In Temporary Living
Situations
Austin Libraries
Chicago Public Library -
Austin Branch (5615 W Race Ave)
Chicago Public Library -
North Austin Branch (5724 W North Ave)
Chicago Public Library -
North Pulaski