BusinessWeek names Tinley Park, Ill., 'Best Place in America to Raise Kids'



Tinley Park, Illinois. November 20, 2009 -- Tinley Park, Illinois, has been named the Best Place in America to Raise Kids by BusinessWeek magazine, a prestigious national honor announced Tuesday on the publication's Web site.

Of the 800 communities across the nation analyzed by the magazine, Tinley Park garnered the highest scores in factors important to families with children. "Of course, we've known for years that our Village is a great place for families—a wonderful town in which to live, work, play and raise children—but it's exciting that our Village is recognized now by a national and highly respected magazine that specializes in understanding what makes a place highly livable and special," said Mayor Ed Zabrocki.

This is the fourth year that the publication has researched towns across the country, analyzing such factors as school performance, affordability, safety, cost of living, air quality, job growth, racial diversity and accessibility to local parks, ball fields, zoos, recreation centers, museums and theaters.

The researchers gave Tinley Park the highest scores for its "top-rated schools, low crime, beautiful parks, relatively affordable houses, and easy access to jobs," according to the announcement posted on the magazine's Web site at http://tinyurl.com/yjg2nql. The announcement also noted Tinley Park's "family-friendly atmosphere."

"Honors like this one are always appreciated," said Mayor Zabrocki, "but we don't just rest on our laurels. We're always looking for new ways to continue enhancing the quality of life for our residents."

Tinley Park award

The Village of Tinley Park, located approximately 25 miles southwest of Chicago with approximately 60,000 residents, has been the recipient of numerous awards in recent years from professional organizations, honoring such things as its economic development program, crime prevention efforts, public art projects and public building architecture.

The selections were limited to towns that have at least 45,000 residents and a median income of between $40,000 and $125,000. Affordability, safety and school test scores were given the greatest weight. Based on top scores, an overall national winner is determined.

VILLAGE OF TINLEY PARK
News Release Date: November 20, 2009
Contact: Mayor Ed Zabrocki, 708-444-5000, ezabrocki@tinleypark.org
BusinessWeek contact: Prashant Gopal, 212-512-2667, prashant_gopal@businessweek.com Tinley Park Web site: www.tinleypark.org