Thatcher Woods Forest Preserve, Maywood, IL

Thatcher Woods Forest Preserve spans more than 600 acres along the Des Plaines River in Maywood, providing residents with immediate access to 3.5 miles of crushed-limestone trails that connect to the larger Des Plaines River Trail system. The preserve features picnic groves equipped with tables and grills, two playgrounds, a sledding hill, and the Thatcher Woods Nature Center, which offers seasonal programs on local ecology. Flat, wide paths accommodate walking, jogging, and cycling, while the river corridor supports fishing and seasonal paddling. Mature oak and hickory stands create continuous canopy cover along most routes, and open meadows provide unobstructed views of the waterway. The preserve’s main parking area at Thirteenth Avenue sits less than a mile from the Eisenhower Expressway and Metra’s Union Pacific West Line, allowing commuters quick access to downtown Chicago while still living steps from extensive outdoor recreation.

Location

City Maywood

State Illinois

Averages

Taxes $11,278

House $467,780

Townhouse –

Condo $309,000