Forging friendships in Buttonwood
"Really active" doesn't quite cover it.
The residents of Buttonwood meet and exceed the above description by Tom Wronski, resident of four years and leader of the Buttonwood Dads. The Dads are a group of parents who have been forging friendships among Buttonwood residents for two years now, purely on a volunteer basis.
"We like the proximity to downtown Chicago. We’re close to the train station, and a bus goes directly there. We really like our neighbors and the Buttonwood Dads.”
Maria Smith, resident 9 years
Everybody pretty much knows everybody. What we love about Naperville is that it has a homey, small-town feel, even though it is so large.”
Aimee Harenburg, Buttonwood resident for a year and a lifelong Naperville resident
Let's not forget the annual Road Rally, a tradition dating back roughly 20 years, in which residents go on a treasure hunt over all of Naperville and end up at a restaurant to celebrate, as they did this September.
"This (neighborhood) is special," Wronski said.
The 200 houses of Buttonwood, built in the early to mid-1980s, are home to people of all ages, Wronski said.
"A lot of the original owners still own houses," said resident Aimee Harenburg. "People take care of their yards. There is no association, but the neighborhood looks fine."
Convenience is another top answer residents give about why they chose to live in Buttonwood.
"We're close enough to walk to the Riverwalk, Ribfest, fireworks," Harenburg said. "But we don't get a lot of traffic."
Wronski added, "It's really easy to get to Centennial Beach, Naper Settlement and downtown."
Wronski said the nearby May Watts Elementary is another very attractive feature for residents of Buttonwood.
"We just rave about it," he said.
Good to know:
• The streets of Buttonwood are named for different varieties of trees, including Sequoia Road, Joshua Court and Buttonwood Circle.
• The area of Buttonwood is 0.17 square miles, according to www.city-data.com
• Buttonwood has a population of approximately 700 people, according to www.city-data.com.
1. May Watts Elementary, part of Indian Prairie School District 204, serves students in grades K through 5. The school is named for the naturalist and Naperville resident May T. Watts, who was instrumental in the creation of the Illinois Prairie Path. Watts also served on the staff of The Morton Arboretum. Watts Elementary had a 2008 enrollment of 508 students, with an attendance rate of 96.3 percent, according to the Illinois School Report Card. Watts students scored higher than both the district and the state for overall performance on all state tests, also according to the ISRC.
How to get there: May Watts Elementary School is accessible by taking Naperville Plainfield Road south from Oswego Road. Make a right on Sequoia and continue to Whispering Hills Drive. Turn left and the school will be at 800 S. Whispering Hills Drive.
2. The site of many social and athletic activities in Buttonwood, Buttonwood Park is centrally located in the neighborhood and equipped with a modern playground. The park spans 3.47 acres, according to the Naperville Park District Web site.
How to get there: Take Naperville Plainfield Road south from Oswego Road and make a right on Sequoia Road. Buttonwood Park is at 803 Buttonwood Circle, at the intersection of Sequoia Road and Buttonwood Circle.
3. May Watts Park, set near May Watts Elementary and also named for the naturalist and artist, spans 28.68 acres, according to the Naperville Park District Web site. Its features, along with a scenic pond, include one youth softball field, one small multi-use field and a sled hill.
How to get there: May Watts Park can be reached by taking Naperville Plainfield Road south from Oswego Road. Make a right on Sequoia Road until you reach River Road and make a left. Make a right at Oakton Lane and continue to the park.
