Palos Park, Illinois

Palos Park is a station on Metra's SouthWest Service in Palos Park, Illinois. The station is 19.8 miles (31.9 km) away from Chicago Union Station, the northern terminus of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Palos Park is in zone E. As of 2018, Palos Park is the 112th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 424 weekday boardings.As of January 16, 2023, Palos Park is served by all 30 trains (15 in each direction) on weekdays. Saturday service is currently suspended.

Palos Township is one of 29 townships in Cook County, Illinois. As of the 2020 census, its population was 56,836, with its most populous municipality being Palos Hills (pop. 17,484). The vast majority of the township's population resides in its eastern half; the half west of La Grange Road consists of the Palos Forest Preserves, a section of the Cook County Forest Preserves. In 1850 the small town of Trenton, Illinois changed its name to Palos; this recommendation was made by M.S. Powell, the local postmaster, whose ancestor supposedly sailed with Christopher Columbus from Palos de la Frontera. When it incorporated as a village in 1914, Palos officially became Palos Park. Nearby communities incorporated later: Hickory Hills, in 1951, and Palos Hills, in 1958. All three municipalities lie completely or substantially within Palos Township. Palos Heights, partially in Worth Township, incorporated in 1959. Township offices are located at 10802 S. Roberts Road in Palos Hills. The municipalities of Worth and Bridgeview also lie partially in the township. Palos Township's approximate borders are Harlem Avenue (Illinois Route 43) on the east, 135th Street on the south, Will-Cook Road extended to the DuPage County line on the west, and 87th Street on the north; in the northwest, the township border follows the Des Plaines River from 87th Street to DuPage County's southeast corner. The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, designated a National Historic District in 2011, passes through the township just south of the river, and the Cal-Sag Channel roughly bisects the township from east to west.

Moraine Valley Community College is a public community college in Palos Hills, Illinois. Established in 1967, it is surrounded by the Cook County Forest Preserves. The college also operates satellite centers in Blue Island and Tinley Park, Illinois.

Swallow Cliff Woods is an 800-acre nature preserve located near Palos Park, Illinois, in the Palos Forest Preserves. It was built in 1930 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and operated by the Cook County Forest Preserve District. One of the highlights is a 100 foot bluff with 125 limestone stairs of varying heights. The stairs lead up to what was once a toboggan slide. Although the slide closed in 2004, the steps remain and are popular all year round for outdoor exercise; sledding is still allowed if you bring your own sled.Hikers can still enjoy over 800 acres with 8 miles of trails.

Palos Heights is a station on Metra's SouthWest Service in Palos Heights, Illinois. The station is 18.6 miles (29.9 km) away from Chicago Union Station, the northern terminus of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Palos Heights is in zone D. As of 2018, Palos Heights is the 160th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 232 weekday boardings.As of January 16, 2023, Palos Heights is served by 28 trains (14 in each direction) on weekdays. Saturday service is currently suspended.

Palos Hills is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a southwest suburb of Chicago. The city was established in 1958 and had reached a population of 18,530 in the 2020 census. It is the home of Moraine Valley Community College as well as Amos Alonzo Stagg High School.

Palos Heights is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a southwest suburb of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 12,068.

Orland Park 143rd Street is one of three stations on Metra's SouthWest Service in Orland Park, Illinois. The station is 23 miles (37 km) away from Chicago Union Station, the northern terminus of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, 143rd Street is in zone E. As of 2018, Orland Park 143rd Street is the 86th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 591 weekday boardings.As of January 16, 2023, Orland Park 143rd Street is served by all 30 trains (15 in each direction) on weekdays. One of the outbound trains that stops at the station makes a flag stop. Saturday service is currently suspended. The station faced major reconstruction and reopened on April 27, 2007. From this station southward the SouthWest Service operates on one track only. This station has been recognized as being a major piece in Orland Park's downtown.

The John Humphrey House is a historic home in Orland Park, Illinois. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. The second permanent house built in Orland Park, it was home to Illinois Senator John Humphrey.

Twin Tower Sanctuary (Old Sanctuary of the United Methodist Church) is a historic Methodist church building at 9967 W. 144th Street in Orland Park, Illinois. The church was completed in 1898, six years after Orland Park was founded, to serve the city's large Methodist population. Architect William Arthur Bennet, who later became well known for his Prairie School works, designed the church in the Queen Anne style. The north side of the church is flanked by the two hexagonal towers that give the church its name. The interior of the church has a Sullivanesque patterned tin ceiling; according to Louis Sullivan scholar Tim Samuelson, it is the best-preserved example of a Sullivanesque tin ceiling in the country.The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 16, 1988.

Orland Square (also referred to as Orland Square Mall) is a shopping mall located in Orland Park, Illinois. It is the largest mall in the Chicago Southland, the south and southwest suburbs of Chicago, covering an area of 1,229,884 sq ft (114,260.0 m2). It opened on March 15, 1976 and received major renovations in 1995. The mall features JCPenney, Macy's and Von Maur. The mall has been a hub for commercial activity and development, driving dramatic growth in the surrounding area for the past 20 years. It serves as a major retail destination for the communities of Frankfort, Homer Glen, Mokena, New Lenox, Oak Forest, Orland Hills, Orland Park, and Tinley Park.

Worth is a station on Metra's SouthWest Service in Worth, Illinois. The station is 17.8 miles (28.6 km) away from Chicago Union Station, the northern terminus of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Worth is in zone D. As of 2018, Worth is the 119th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 406 weekday boardings.As of January 16, 2023, Worth is served by 28 trains (14 in each direction) on weekdays. Saturday service is currently suspended. Worth consists of two side platforms which serve the SouthWest Service's two tracks. There is an unattended waiting room on the inbound platform which is open from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Parking is available on both side of the tracks, east of Harlem Avenue (IL 43).