The diversity of the city of Chicago continues as you move south from the business district known as the Loop. Neighborhoods are continuously evolving, while still retaining their historical foundations.
The South Loop is such a dynamic mix of attractions and histories that the neighborhood tends to be seen as many different things to many different people. Much of its eastern edge is encompassed by the Museum Campus, an impressive collection of cultural treasures that includes the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium and Shedd Aquarium. This campus sits on scenic lakefront parklands that are an extension of Grant Park. With 319 acres of green space and recreational fields, Grant Park is known as "Chicago's front yard" to locals and also plays host to major city events such as Taste of Chicago, Chicago Blues Festival and Lollapalooza.
Jutting out further into Lake Michigan is Northerly Island, a peninsula sought out by nature lovers, while along the southern edge the sports fans know Soldier Field as the stadium for the beloved Chicago Bears football team. Meeting attendees are most familiar with McCormick Place, the largest convention center in the country, which is also in the immediate area.
The South Side is the largest of the three Sides of Chicago that radiate from downtown — the others being the North Side and the West Side. The city's "sides" have historically been divided by the Chicago River and its branches. The area has a rich history which began around the 1840s and continued through World War II. With its factories, steel mills and meat-packing plants, the South Side saw a sustained period of immigration who settled in neighborhoods adjacent to these industrial zones.
Private sector redevelopment is occurring rapidly. Neighborhood rehabilitation can also be seen in parts of Washington Park, Woodlawn and Bronzeville, as well as in Bridgeport and McKinley Park. Historic Pullman's redevelopment is another example of a work in progress. Chinatown is located on the South Side and has seen a surge in growth. It has become an increasingly popular destination for both tourists and locals alike and is a cornerstone of the city's Chinese community.
Oak Lawn is a suburb of Chicago, located southwest of the city. It shares borders with the city in two areas but is surrounded mostly by other suburbs. Oak Lawn is home to Advocate Christ Medical Center, a 749-bed, premier teaching institution with more than 1,300 affiliated physicians. It is a leading referral hospital in the Midwest and one of the busiest Level I trauma centers in Illinois.
Recently, Advocate Aurora Health and Trinity United Church of Christ announced the opening of Advocate Medical Group at Imani Village. This new physicians' office, located at 901 E. 95th Street, in Chicago, expands access to high-quality health care on the South Side and anchors the soon-to-come, mixed-use residential and commercial village to be constructed near Chicago's Pullman neighborhood. Imani Village will be a sustainable eco-friendly mixed use "green" intergenerational community with a village environment, committed to lifelong education, health and economic development. Advocate Trinity Hospital, located nearby, continues to meet the inpatient needs of the south side population.
Clinic Locations (Illinois): Beverly, Bronzeville, Burbank, Evergreen, Frankfort, Hazel Crest, Mount Greenwood, Oak Lawn, Olympia Fields, Orland Park, Palos, Pullman, South Holland, Tinley Park
Walgreens Locations (Illinois): Berwyn, Bronzeville, Calumet City, Joliet, Lockport, Lyons, Mokena, Oak Lawn, Oak Park, Orland Park
Hospital Locations (Illinois): Chicago, Hazel Crest, Oak Lawn
