Grandwood Park, Illinois

Grandwood Park is a census-designated place (CDP) in Warren Township, Lake County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 5,297.

History
Before the industrial revolution had made its way to the western Great Lakes, the land remained in the hands of the Potawatomi until the 1833 Treaty of Chicago. Small farm families dotted the land for several decades until 1873, of which a train station was built along the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in the neighboring village (once an unincorporated area) of Gurnee. This over time caused an increase in the local population.

One of the earliest accounts of an individual living in the immediate community was a farmer in 1941. This farmer is credited for constructing a dam that barred the Des Plaines River tributary, Mill Creek, and consequently formed Grandwood Lake that same year.

Development of the area began in the early 1960s and it started to receive fire and police support from neigboring Gurnee. The Grandwood Park Civic Association was established in 1962.

The Grandwood Park Park District was established in 1965. It acts as a municipal governing agency providing parks, recreation facilities, and events/programs for residents.

Flood of July, 2017
After heavy rains in Grandwood Park and surrounding areas of Warren Township, in July, 2017, the dam barring Mill Creek to Grandwood Lake partially failed. Flooding averaging a foot in depth consumed adjoining Lake Park and nearby residences. For two weeks following the incident a variety of fish were found swimming on the park grounds and in yards, notably grass carp. Road closures were lifted on the 25th of July.

It was decided that same season that a new dam would ultimately be necessary. It would have to wait until 2019 when the lake was drained and a new concrete and steel dam was built. Original estimates for the project were between $900,000 and $1.7 million. The official number was never released. During a Board of Commissioners session on February 8, 2023 it was proposed that an electric light should be added to Lake Park in order to illuminate the dam. The estimated cost is $2,150.

Post - 2020
In 2020 the original bridge built across Mill Creek along N Hutchins Road in 1969, along with the culvert, were dismantled and rebuilt. Traffic was rerouted for nearly four months until the bridge was comepleted on June 18. The estimate price of the project was $1.46 million.

Public Transport
Pace Bus - Route 565 runs along Grand Avenue between the Waukegan Metra Station and the College of Lake County in Grayslake. Seven stops are offered alongside the neighborhood.

Geography
The community is in north-central Lake County, in the northwestern part of Warren Township. It is bordered to the north by the village of Old Mill Creek, to the west by Lindenhurst, and to the south and east by Gurnee. U.S. Route 45 runs along the west side of the CDP, leading south 9 mi to Mundelein and north 12 mi to Bristol, Wisconsin. Illinois Route 132 forms the southern boundary of the CDP; it leads east 4 mi to Gurnee and northwest 3 mi to Lindenhurst. Exit 8 on Interstate 94 is 2 mi east of Grandwood Park on Route 132, 44 mi north of downtown Chicago.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Grandwood Park CDP has a total area of 4.2 sqkm, of which 0.05 sqkm, or 1.22%, are water. Grandwood Lake is a small impoundment on Mill Creek in the center of the community.

Major streets

 * Grand Avenue
 * US-45
 * Stearns School Road
 * Hutchins Road
 * Grandwood Drive

Marine Life
As it is fed by Mill Creek, the shallow waters of Grandwood Lake harbor a variety of different freshwater fish. This includes an abundancy of many types of panfish such as Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Redear Sunfish, Warmouth, and Yellow Perch. Sport fish such as Largemouth Bass and the occasional Northern Pike. In addition to some ray-finned fish such as Yellow Bullhead and Grass Carp.

Although it is not officialy stated, it is suggested that Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass, Squalius cephalus, as well as Black Crappie and White Crappie can be found in the lake. No Walleye or Muskellunge have been reported.

Bird Life
The small marsh-like environment surrounding Grandwood Lake is home to variety of song and water birds. The trees along the edge of the lake are often frequented by the American Robin, the House Sparrow, and a large number of woodpecker species such as the Downy woodpecker. The Red-Winged Blackbird can also be seen perching in patches of bulrush at the lake's edge.

During the mating season some large water birds can be seen feeding from the lake. Which can include but is not limited to the Snowy Egret, the Great Blue Heron, and the Green Heron.

Canada Geese can be found in Grandwood Park and surrounding areas year round.

2000 Census
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,521 people, 1,572 households, and 1,229 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,798.3 PD/sqmi. There were 1,602 housing units at an average density of 991.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.86% White, 4.14% African American, 0.11% Native American, 4.49% Asian, 2.10% from other races, and 2.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.57% of the population.

There were 1,572 households, out of which 46.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.8% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 32.3% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 36.8% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $71,674, and the median income for a family was $78,624. Males had a median income of $57,961 versus $34,471 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $30,912. About 3.3% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Grandwood Park is served by the Warren-Newport Public Library District.