Village of Riverside

The Village of Riverside’s mission is to provide quality municipal services to their residents and visitors in a fiscally responsible manner consistent with the Village’s historic tradition and community atmosphere.

In 1868, a group of businessmen decided to purchase a piece of land for residential development. They had in mind a place where the residents would find a retreat from urban chaos and enjoy nature. The group formed The Riverside Improvement Company, purchased parts of a horse farm 10 miles west of Chicago, and hired the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, already famous for their design of the New York City’s Central Park. The roads in the Plan would follow the Des Plaines River and natural flow lines of the area’s existing topography. More than 40% of the land would be dedicated to open green space, so-called “commons” and triangular green areas where roads met, and natural areas along the river. The design was completed in 1869 and it combined the natural surroundings with a high degree of then modern conveniences: gas, water services, and paved streets. The design of Riverside, recognized as a pioneer of modern urban planning, was honored in 1970 with the registration as a Historic Landmark in the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the private and public buildings in Riverside are architectural gems, but it is the fragile landscape of the Village that sets it apart from other registered landmarks. Residents and public officials of Riverside are called upon to help protect this invaluable land upon which we live and work.