Life in Orland Park
Originally founded in 1834 by Henry Taylor and a group of other settlers, the village of Orland Park offers a great opportunity to raise a family, own a home, and enjoy the benefits of a strong community.
Today, Orland Park has a population of about 58,703 and spans approximately 22.167 miles across Will and Cook counties. It is home to three stops on Metra’s southwest service, making it easy for residents to visit or commute to the city of Chicago by train.
Housing and Schools in Orland Park
Most homes in Orland Park were built between 1980-1999. The majority are detached homes owned by single families with upper middle-class incomes. For these homeowners, a roof replacement is more than just an expense — it’s an investment that can add value to their home. While the basic roof structure on these homes is likely strong enough to hold up for many years, some may need to replace their shingles in the near future.
A small but significant portion of Orland Park homes are low-density suburban homes built between 1960 and 1979. These homes are typically owned or rented by families with declining incomes. Due to the age of this housing stock and the burden of maintenance, it’s important for homes like this to have roofing that’s properly installed and maintained. A new high-quality roof can protect a home for many years. However, a poor-quality roofing job can leave older homes especially susceptible to decay from water, heat, and impact damage.
Orland Park has 4 major school districts. Carl Sandburg High School, one of the most prominent schools in the city, has won multiple different state championships in speech, debate, and several other sports. Victor J. Andrew High School and Amos Alonzo Stagg High School have served the community for many years as well. Orland Park is also home to a campus of Robert Morris University, as well as a satellite campus of St. Xavier University.
Things to Do In Orland Park
By far the most popular attractions in Orland Park have to do with sports and recreation. With over 60 different parks across the city, as well as the many recreation centers, golf courses, and nature trails, Orland Park residents have ample opportunity to play, exercise, and explore. The city invests a lot of time and money in planning annual community events such as the Orland Park Turkey Trot, a 5k run that takes place on Thanksgiving morning.
The city also has a well-preserved appreciation for history. Here are a few of the most notable places to visit:
- Centennial Park / Aquatic Center – A 192-acre park complete with a pool, water slides, a kids recreation area, and multiple outdoor volleyball courts.
- Winter Wonderland Ice Rink – A free outdoor ice rink located in Centennial Park with a warming center where you can rent ice skates.
- Sportsplex – An indoor recreation center with three full-size basketball courts, a rock wall, an indoor soccer field, an indoor track, and a variety of exercise equipment. They also offer paid classes and personal trainers.
- Lake Sedgewick – One of the two main bodies of water within the city, the lake offers a large natural area complete with hiking trails, boating and fishing access, and kayak rentals.
- Orland Park History Museum – A free museum showcasing unique artifacts and the history of the Orland Park area in the context of both state and national history.
- Stellwagen Farm – A 60-acre farm and historical site that was occupied by several Native American tribes (including the Potawatomi) for hundreds of years.
Orland Park Weather
Orland Park doesn’t have much of a history of extreme weather. In most cases, it mimics a typical midwestern climate.
The warm season in Orland Park mostly overlaps with the rainy season, beginning in May and ending in September. Within this season, July is the warmest month with an average high of 83°F and average low of 66°F. During this season, it might only feel really humid about 45% of the time.
On the other hand, the cold season typically starts in December and ends in March. In this season, January is usually the coldest month with an average low of 19°F and average high of 32°F. However, February has the highest average snowfall rate at 4.1 inches. Wind speeds are much higher during this season as well, with an average speed of 12.9 miles per hour. This combination of heavy snowfall and high winds poses a risk for a number of different roof damage problems. If not properly maintained, this winter weather may bend or crack shingles, create ice dams, or leave roofs vulnerable to water damage. Because of this, it’s especially important for homeowners to perform regular roof maintenance during this season.
Orland Park gets slightly more precipitation per year than the national average. This means that the weather is partly cloudy for most of the year. The rainy season typically begins mid-May and ends in September. At times, Orland Park may also have more hail than surrounding cities, so it can be difficult to tell if your roof has been affected. To be sure, homeowners in this area should have their roofs inspected for hail and impact damage on a regular basis (especially after a storm).
