Oak Park might be the place you want to go for a peaceful Sunday before another grueling work week.
Oak Park’s Arts District was ranked as the 35th best place in the nation for a “perfectly slow Sunday” by Calgary, a real estate platform.
Camille Wilson White, the executive director of the Oak Park Area Arts Council, said she was appreciative that the village was included on the list.
“I think it’s pretty cool to be among some of those towns that I know about and are that high up,” Wilson White said. “To be included in that bunch, it’s quite an honor that people think highly of Oak Park. I think it’s fabulous.”
Over 3,000 people responded to a survey, according to a release from Calgary, seeking information on which towns and neighborhoods are best suited for their ideal version of how to spend their Sunday, whether it’s browsing bookstores, sipping coffee or just walking around the neighborhood.
The survey suggested that the “perfect Sunday” is less about having major and eventful plans, but rather about escaping the pace of the rest of the workweek.
The Arts District’s “softer, more neighborhood-oriented version of Chicago-area living” was responsible for its ranking.
“The atmosphere feels intellectual and community-driven without becoming overly polished,”according to Calgary’s description of the district. “It’s the kind of neighborhood where weekends still revolve around being local – staying close to home, running into familiar faces, and stretching simple routines into half day rituals.”
Oak Park is one of three Illinois destinations that were named on the list.
Galena’s Historic District was ranked 66 for its relaxed environment and disconnection from the modern hurried atmosphere, according to the publication.
“It’s increasingly the kind of place Midwesterners fantasize about escaping to when they picture a slower and more picturesque version of everyday life. the statement said.
Though Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood is a bit larger than Oak Park and Galena, it was ranked 134 for its variety of options that residents can indulge in on a Sunday whether its visiting bakeries, searching through vintage shops or stopping by cafes rather than running errands and preparing for the work week.
Calgary defined the North Side neighborhood as a neighborhood that ‘feels welcoming without trying too hard to be trendy, which is part of its appeal. It’s the kind of place where daily routines become part of the lifestyle people are actually buying into.”
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Calgary ranked Old Village in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina as the best place for a perfectly slow Sunday because “the neighborhood’s cottages, waterfront views, shrimp boats, cafés, porches, and shaded streets create a Sunday atmosphere that feels deeply tied to the water and the community around it.”
According to Calgary, 21% of responders top answer when defining an ideal slow Sunday was reading or relaxing at home. Approximately 17% said they would sit outside with coffee and 14% said they’d simply enjoy walking through a quiet neighborhood.
Some of the important factors when determining what makes a town feel “slow Sunday friendly,” according to the 24% of respondents, was quiet streets and low traffic.
With that, also listed were a fair amount of factors that would disturb residents on an expected slow Sunday.
Noise and congestion was voted by 21% of respondents as one of the biggest “slow Sunday” killers, according to Calgary. Other factors included in that were feeling unsafe walking around, lack of green space and overdevelopment.