Wildflower: A small, walkable community
Bounded by Aurora and Ogden avenues and Fort Hill Drive, the Wildflower community has only six streets (technically speaking, two lanes, three circles and one drive). Perhaps its small size makes Wildflower such a close-knit community.
• Wildflower neighborhood
"I like it (in Wildflower). There are a lot of different types of people, a lot of diversity. We have a Burger King and Dominick's close by. We always walk."
Brian Denton, 15, resident
"We just moved here in October for my husband's job. We knew Naperville was a great town. We could have chosen anywhere in Chicagoland, but it has so much to offer for the kids. Also, (Wildflower) has a running trail 1-mile around."
Christin Kacedan, with daughter Bridget
On a recent Monday, neighbors said "hello" from their yards, where one young girl made chalk drawings and another mother set up her stroller to go for a walk.
"Here, there's a lot more people out and walking outside," said Anmol Bajwa, 15, as he walked home from school with a friend.
• The schools near Wildflower belong to Indian Prairie School District 204. Younger children attend nearby Cowlishaw Elementary, middle school students attend Hill Middle School, and high-schoolers Waubonsie Valley High School.
• The neighborhood is about 15 years old.
• Pace Bus 685 serves residents of Wildflower.
• The median age for a resident of the 60540 zip code is 37.08, according to Homes.Point2.com.
• Illinois is home to more than 175 species of prairie wildflowers, according to www.illinoiswildflowers.info.
• Wildflower has a total of six streets.
• 259 homes make up Wildflower.
Wildflower Park: Just more than 26 acres make up the park, part of the Naperville Park District, and a 1-mile trail encircles it, making it a popular destination for runners and walkers alike. On the north end of the neighborhood, Wildflower Park's other two key amenities are the pond and a playground.
How to get there: At 2122 Aurora Ave., the park is just south of Aurora Avenue and east of Route 59.
Cowlishaw Elementary: Cowlishaw, a kindergarten through fifth-grade school, has about 650 students. It was named in 1997 for Mary Lou Cowlishaw, a University of Illinois and Northwestern University graduate and retired teacher.
How to get there: Take Ogden Avenue South onto Fort Hill Drive. Turn east (left) onto Sanctuary Lane — 1212 Sanctuary Lane.
Westridge Court Shopping Center: The center draws shoppers from Naperville and Aurora alike, but it is especially close for residents of Wildflower. With a Borders that holds occasional book signings and book release parties, cosmetics and clothing retailers and more, Westridge Court is a convenient destination for shopping and entertainment.
How to get there: The center is just north of Wildflower. Take Aurora Avenue East from Ogden Avenue and the shopping center is on the right, just east of Route 59.
