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Park Forest Real Estate and Community Information
Building developers Nathan Manilow, Carroll F. Sweet and Philip M. Klutznick held a press conference in the Palmer House in Chicago on October 28, 1946 to announce the planned development of a new self-governing community in Chicago's south suburbs. This project, soon to be referred to as Park Forest, was to be developed by American Community Builders. The Village of Park Forest was designed by Elbert Peets in the tradition of planned communities around the nation to provide housing for veterans returning from World War II. Park Forest was honored in 1954 as an "All-America City" for its citizens' help in the creation of Rich Township High School, on Sauk Trail. It was awarded this same honor again in 1976 for open housing and racial integration and initiatives. A village landmark was the Park Forest Plaza, an outdoor regional shopping center of over 50 stores and restaurants which included Sears, Marshall Fields and Goldblatt's.
In 1956, William Whyte, an editor at Fortune magazine, published a book called The Organization Man that defined the nature of corporate life for a generation. The book described how America (whose people, he said, had "led in the public worship of individualism") had recently turned into a nation of employees who "take the vows of organization life" and who had become "the dominant members of our society". Park Forest was one of the communities that figured most prominently in Whyte's study of the home life of "the organization man," and should be read by anyone seeking an insight into early Park Forest. Although officially desegregated from its inception, Park Forest's first African-American family took residence there in 1959. That summer, managers at the village swimming pool turned away two white local boys and their black friend.
Park Forest is known for the "Scenic Ten," a 10 mile race held annually that attracts runners from around the globe.
On March 26, 2003, a meteor exploded over the Midwest, showering Park Forest with dozens of meteorite fragments.
Demographics : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Forest,_Illinois
