Designed in 1869 by legendary landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and his partner Calvert Vaux, Riverside is one of America’s most important planned communities. Instead of the traditional street grid, Olmsted created gently curving roads that follow the natural landscape, complemented by sweeping parkways, open green spaces, and the Des Plaines River.

 

The result is a village unlike almost anywhere else in Chicagoland and a community whose historic plan remains remarkably intact more than 150 years later.

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Riverside’s architectural and landscape heritage can be seen throughout the village. The Riverside Historic District is a National Historic Landmark, while notable buildings include the Riverside Water Tower, designed by William Le Baron Jenney, and homes representing generations of significant American architecture. The village’s winding streets, historic bridges, mature tree canopy, and riverfront scenery make simply exploring Riverside part of the experience.

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At the center of the village, the compact downtown surrounding the Riverside Metra station offers restaurants, cafés, and locally owned businesses within a remarkably picturesque setting. Nearby, Swan Pond, the Des Plaines River, and interconnected green spaces reflect Olmsted’s original vision of bringing nature into everyday life. With direct Metra service to downtown Chicago, Riverside offers something increasingly rare: nationally significant design, extraordinary natural beauty, and a peaceful village atmosphere just minutes from the city.