Western Springs is known for it’s iconic Water Tower in the center of town, an area called the Tower Green and the name Western Springs was actually named after the underground springs that were located on the south side of town. The convenient Burlington Northern train line (BNSF) that runs in front of the water tower brings everyone to the city for work and fun adventures and to other suburbs all the way to Aurora. Western Springs has been recognized as one of the Safest Cities in Illinois,one of the Best Cities for Young Families, and rated 10/10 on GreatSchools.org. There are great family-friendly things to do in Western Springs!
This article is sponsored by Robert Hutchison, a resident of Western Springs and wonderful Realtor for the western suburbs. As an actively engaged, lifelong resident of the western suburbs, he offers buyers expert area knowledge and empowers them to find just the right fit for their needs. Robert, also known as Hutch, has earned the Accredited Buyer’s Representative, Real Estate Negotiation Expert, and Certified Negotiation Expert designations in order to better serve his clients – both buyers and sellers.
Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Western Springs
Live in Western Springs? We put together a great list of resources for residents, including where to get take out food, nearby urgent care options, dry cleaning, places of worship and more!
Activities in Western Springs
Hop on the train (here’s the BNSF train schedule) for a fun trip to downtown Western Springs. Stop by Oberweis for ice cream, Kirschbaum’s Bakery for cookies or other treats, The Fruit Store for a smoothie, or Tropical Sno for hawiian ice, then head to Spring Rock Park to play! On the way back, you can pick up something for dinner at Casey’s Market.
Have you heard about the exciting local zip lining and ropes courses? Go Ape is actually in Western Springs… in the forest preserve’s Bemis Woods. You can read our extensive review of the Treetop Adventure and get the details for the Treetop Junior course.
Western Springs is also filled with playgrounds! The largest is Spring Rock Park, complete with multiple playgrounds, bathrooms, tennis, basketball and sand volleyball courts, soccer and baseball fields, batting cages, in-line skating rink, outdoor fitness equipment, and a large picnic area. There are also 11 other parks to enjoy in the village!
The Recreation Center provides various activities and events for residents (and towns that co-op with Western Springs for programming). The Western Springs Business Association also heads up major events in town, including Gathering on the Green in the summer, Fall Festival, and Winter Wonderland (formerly the Christmas Walk). Various businesses support families in the area; you can view all of the businesses on the Western Springs Business Association’s website.
Last but not least, Kidlist is headquartered in Western Springs! Don’t forget to tag us (@kidlist #mykidlist) when you are out and about enjoying activities with your family!
Entertainment in Western Springs
Did you know that Western Springs has a theater that has both kids and adult performances from various genres? You can check out the current season of shows on the Theatre of Western Springs website. In addition to performances to enjoy, the Children’s Theatre of Western Springs also offers classes and camps for kids of all ages.
The Village Club is a membership-based social club, which hosts numerous events throughout the year, many of which are family-friendly. A select number of events also have member and non-member admission pricing.
Restaurants in Western Springs
There is also great dining in Western Springs, including Davanti Enoteca and Hillgrove Tap with fairly large outdoor seating areas, Solstice and Salerno’s Pizzeria & R.Bar with some outdoor seating available, and the acclaimed and Zagat-rated Vie.
Western Springs Library
Thomas Ford Library is a wonderful library in Western Springs with the entire downstairs devoted to kids with books, videos, audiobooks, activities, story times, and a play area. The librarians are helpful and kind. They even have a Sneezle Pack program where they will put together a personalized bag of all kinds of entertainment for your sick children. The library is also just went through interior renovations that added a dedicated teen area and updated the kids programming area among other improvements.
Play Areas in Western Springs
Play spaces can sometimes be in unexpected locations. A little known fact about Western Springs is that there is a Children’s Museum on the third floor of the Historical Society (in the Water Tower) that has an old typewriter, train table, play house, chalkboards and more. It is open every Saturday from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm and admission is free, however it is not wheelchair accessible.
Western Springs Farmers Market
The Village of Western Springs has a French Market from May through the end of October on Sundays from 9 am to 1 pm in front of the Water Tower. It offers a variety of produce, meats, seafood, breads, pastries, chocolates, cheese, wine, artisan-made goods, and flowers from local and regional vendors. A kid favorite is to meet friends to run, ride bikes, and play hide-and-seek around the Tower Green before or after shopping at the market.
