Tall Grass: Roots in city's farm history
Naperville's Tall Grass community, just south of 95th Street and west of Route 59, is appropriately named with roots in south Naperville's history of farms and prairies. Behind a lining of some of these historic and beautiful grasses are the homes of Tall Grass, which took root in 1998 by MAF Developments, a subsidiary of the then Mid-America Bank.
• Tall Grass neighborhood
"What I like about Tall Grass is, first and foremost, the people. Moving into this subdivision last September, and having three kids, (I received) a lot of support from the neighbors."
Liz O'Hara, new resident
I grew up in Naperville in the late '60s. Then, Tall Grass was just a big field. Now, it is a wonderful, diverse community. Most everybody here comes from somewhere else."
Lenore Savoie, 10-year resident this November
According to Tall Grass Homeowners Association president Sheri Holt, about 1,100 homes are nestled in the Tall Grass neighborhood.
Besides being close to the new Naperville Crossings shopping center, Tall Grass boasts its own amenities, from a heated outdoor pool with a zero-depth children's area to four lighted tennis courts. The neighborhood is managed by Baum Property Services.
There are roughly 187,020 gallons of water in the Tall Grass pool, which includes a 15-foot-high water slide with two loops, according to Tall Grass Association Board liaison Jim Shehee.
The family-oriented community includes two schools, Fry Elementary School, 3204 Tall Grass, and Scullen Middle School, 2815 Mistflower Lane, both of which received the Illinois State Board of Education 2008 Academic Excellence Award.
1. Fry Elementary School: The kindergarten through fith-grade facility, at 3204 Tall Grass, is named for the Fry family, who came to the Naperville area by wagon in 1854. Fry features the fox as its mascot and black and silver as its colors. Fry opened in August 2001, with the first day of classes Aug. 23, 2001.
2. Tennis courts: A total of four courts are set adjacent to the clubhouse and swimming pool, two of which were added in 2006, according to Tall Grass board member Jim Shehee. The courts are now lit so that residents can continue their games into the evening.
3. Pedestrian bridge: The gateway over Route 59 connects Tall Grass with destinations east, including the YMCA, Neuqua Valley High School and the public library. The bridge was completed in July 2008, according to Nadja Lalvani, community relations manager for Naperville.
