North Lawndale to Brookfield Zoo route suggestions

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Permalink Reply by Jared on July 28, 2012 at 10:42am

Oak Park Ave to Riverside Drive to Forest Ave to Washington in Brookfield.  Sorry its vague, not sure what to take through Lawndale and Cicero.

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Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on July 28, 2012 at 2:34pm

http://goo.gl/maps/TQ5NG

This is a purely automated solution from Google maps, so no guarantees.  But it zigzags you down to 26th in Cicero before heading southwest on Riverside.

Though a more straightforward route may be 16th west to Wesley Ave in Berwyn (a little one-way street between East Ave & Oak Park Ave) to Riverside Drive.  Again, I have no actual experience in that area, but Google Streets makes those roads look fairly quiet.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 28, 2012 at 3:14pm

I'm familiar with those areas.  Not sure of all current street conditions, but that's a very workable route.

Thunder Snow said:

http://goo.gl/maps/TQ5NG

This is a purely automated solution from Google maps, so no guarantees.  But it zigzags you down to 26th in Cicero before heading southwest on Riverside.

Though a more straightforward route may be 16th west to Wesley Ave in Berwyn (a little one-way street between East Ave & Oak Park Ave) to Riverside Drive.  Again, I have no actual experience in that area, but Google Streets makes those roads look fairly quiet.

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Permalink Reply by Tim Heckman on July 28, 2012 at 5:54pm

Agreed. Riverside Drive through Berwyn/Riverside is one of my favorite routes. Both East Avenue and Wesley are easy riding from 16th to Cermak.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 28, 2012 at 9:25pm

Riverside Drive is very scenic.  Note that it becomes Longcommon once you cross Harlem into Riverside. If you've never been through Riverside, be prepared for beautiful scenery and confusing intersections.  The street will run on a fairly consistent diagonal to the southeast.  Watch for the water tower.  That's your landmark for the right turn on Forest towards Brookfield.  If you cross the railroad tracks and see the Riverside Metra station to your right, you've passed Forest.

Note - if you need a water/refreshment stop in Riverside, just south of the tracks, there's a park with a drinking fountain.  Across the street from the park (to the east), there's a good little coffeehouse that also has excellent lemonade and some tasty baked goods.  You're not far from the zoo at that point.
 

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Permalink Reply by Paul Fitz, Scrabblor on July 29, 2012 at 10:30am

thanks everyone!

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Permalink Reply by Crafty Cycling Chick on July 30, 2012 at 4:54pm

Below are directions from Garfield Park Conservatory Green Line to Brookfield Zoo that my friend Joseph wrote for a zoo ride. He has TWO FREE zoo passes if you're interested which can be picked up from me 1/2-mile from the zoo. xowillow

 

Garfield Park Conservatory Green Line (Lake & Central Park)

 

-south on Central Park to Washington (check out the beautiful Fieldhouse on your right)

 

-carefully turn right at Washington (always accidents here, cars and bikes)

 

-go west on Washington (bike lanes; some rough neighborhoods. I have seen lots of cops and lots of activity, but NEVER had any personal trouble)

 

-continue west on Washington to Oak Park Ave.

 

-turn left at Oak Park Ave. and go south (grab a burger and a brew at the Avenue Ale House)

 

-keep heading south on Oak Park (if interested, at Roosevelt, there is a cool monster movie shop. South side of Roosevelt, just east of Oak Park)

 

-south on Oak Park to just past 22nd street

 

-turn right at the little veteran's park at Oak Park and Riverside Dr. Have a cool drink of water and look at some flowers.

 

-go southwest on Riverside Dr past some really cool bungalows.

 

-if the bungalows are of interest then you can take little detour at Home Ave. and go south to Proska Park. Nice houses, nice neighborhood.

 

-if you are itching to get to the giraffes stay on Riverside Dr. Be careful at 26th, Riverside crosses at a funny angle. Stay on Riverside Dr. (listen for the screechy parrots, they are usually chatty and they live in the big blue spruce on the left)

 

-cross the tracks and pass the Berwyn Library. Cross Harlem

 

-after crossing Harlem, Riverside Dr. becomes Longcommon Rd. You are now in Riverside. It is scary. The streets are designed to trap you. You must not get lost, or you will never leave. The locals will capture you and eat you. No, just kidding , but it is a tricky layout. The houses are nice to see. Anyway stay on Longcommon till you get to Delaplaine. There is a little park at Delaplaine, turn right before you reach the park, keeping it on your left. Stay on Delaplaine till you get to Des Plaines Ave. You will be near a lighted intersection of 31st and Des Plaines. You can go west on 31st for a bit less than a mile all the way to the North entrance of the zoo. Riding on 31st does not bother willow, but I do not like it. There is another option.

 

-instead of going west on 31st when you come out of Delaplaine at Des Plaines, you can go left on Des Plaines and go south.

 

- keep going south a few blocks to where the street you are on forks in front of a church. Stay to the right of the church. That will put you on Kimbark. Go south on Kimbark one more block to Forest. Turn right on Forest and head west. At 1st Ave you will see a big High School. Cross 1st Ave and go past the school, and turn right at the first driveway. This is th south entrance for the zoo. OK. Not to confuse you, but if you went to check out Proska Park, you can get to the zoo from there too. Just stay on Home all the way to the tracks. It is metra, so depending on the day and time you may catch a train at the Harlem station. Or you can turn right at Stanley and go to Harlem

 

-at Harlem do a little dog leg. Go right from Stanley to Harlem. North slightly on Harlem , Left onto Burlington. Burlington follows the train into the town of Riverside. At the intersection where you see the train station and the big tower, go through and continue west, you will then be on Forest and see the above directions to get to the south zoo entrance.

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