Country Lakes, Longwood blend into one community
The adjacent communities of Country Lakes and Longwood share not only an elementary school and a golf course, but a similar sense of community values and resident satisfaction.
• Country Lakes and Longwood
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"(I moved here because) my husband lived here. It's nice. My first impression was that it's very family-oriented. Lots of sidewalks and lots of kids. I love my neighbors!"
Christine McGlynn, Longwood resident, 10 years
"I was living in downtown Chicago but needed more room for kids as we started our family. We have really good neighbors."
Bernardo Cruz, Longwood resident, five years
"We had lived down the road, but Country Lakes Apartments seemed like a safer neighborhood. We have the golf-course view. It's absolutely wonderful."
Kim Ramirez, Country Lakes resident, seven years
Bound by Diehl Road to the north, Route 59 to the east, North Aurora Road to the south, and Frontenac Road to the west, the two neighborhoods seem to blend into one continuous community in which neighbors genuinely like each other.
"Our neighbors have been wonderful, and our children have had lots of friends," said Gloria Caruso, a Longwood resident for 38 years. "Our family grew up here. It's a neighborhood where people know each other."
With some homes more than 40 years old, both communities feature spacious homes and mature trees. Many residents moving from Chicago said the space and vegetation appealed to them.
"When we saw Longwood, my husband liked the trees," said Karen Pflaumer, who came seeking a home in Naperville but unsure of which community to choose, more than 20 years ago.
• Both single-family homes and Country Lakes Apartments occupy the Country Lakes subdivision, which is spread over 0.924 square miles, according to www.city-data.com.
• The Longwood Homeowners Association serves Longwood under the direction of President Sherry See.
• As of mid-March, five properties were available for sale in Longwood, according to www.activerain.com.
• Country Lakes has a population of 2,695, according to www.city-data.com
1. Country Lakes Golf Club: A championship par-73 course, the club is spread over 125 acres with two lakes. According to www.golflink.com, the course, designed by Ralph Campbell, opened in 1975 and features 6,656 yards from the longest tee. The public community golf course has 18 holes, a driving range and a course rating of 71.9.
To get there: The club is accessible from North Aurora Road, where, from Route 59, you turn north (right) on Fairway Drive and continue until the road winds on the left.
2. Longwood Elementary School: Part of Indian Prairie School District 204, Longwood Elementary serves students from Longwood, Country Lakes Estates and other communities for grades K-5. Its 2008 enrollment was 476. The Lion is its mascot, and the appropriately named "Something to Roar About" newsletter, published by the PTA, informs students and parents of activities, deadlines and menus for the students. The public magnet school tested above the national average in 2008 for the Illinois Standards Achievement Test for both math and English, according to www.trulia.com. Trulia also notes a student to teacher ratio of 10-1.
To get there: Take Route 59 south past Diehl Road to Bruce Lane, and make a right. Proceed past four cross streets until you reach the school on the right at 30W240 Bruce Lane in Naperville.
3. Metra Route 59 stop: The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Metra line runs from Aurora to Chicago with a stop convenient for Country Lakes and Longwood residents at Route 59 in Naperville. The line is Metra's busiest, setting a new record in 2006 with 15.8 million rides.
To get there: From Route 59 and Diehl, proceed south on Route 59 until you reach North Aurora Road. Make a right on there and proceed until you reach Fairway Drive, where you turn south (left) into the parking lot area for the Metra line to Chicago.
