The Village of University Park was founded under the name of Park Forest South in 1967. This was a planned community such as its neighbor Park Forest. In 1984, the Village changed its name to University Park to better identify itself to the link of Governor State University and its large Industrial Park on the west side of town. The residents are proud of their community and have dedicated to the distinctive values it has set for itself.

The Village is host to some 6,700 residents with some 2,400 households. This community is located some 35 miles south of downtown Chicago. This plan community was designed for its “quality of life” – tree lined streets and neighborhood parks for families to grow. Situated in northeastern Will County and surrounded by forest preserves, the Village has all the advantages of country/suburban living with easy access to the City. The Village residents can commute to Chicago loop by adjacent Interstate 57. It accessibility is evident by every direction, south of Interstate 80/94 and west of Interstate 65.

University Park provides to its residents an excellent Police and Fire Department for round the clock service and protection. The Fire Department has just recently purchased a new Fire Apparatus for Fire Protection.

The Village owns its own cable television studio, WUPC-TV 4, “Home of The Young Broadcasters”. The studio is an important link in the communication network for the community. It provides the residents information as to departmental service and other vital information. It regular broadcasts the Village Board Meetings, School Board Meetings as well as some of its own productions. This is a vital part of this community, offering video production training and a source of communication activities for pre-teens, teenagers, and adults alike.

University Park boasts of impressive Industrial Park – Governors Gateway. This is home to some 60 manufacturing and service businesses. The Village has expanded it industrial/commercial basis to now more than double its size. The Village hosts a variety of business including:

Federal Signal Corporation
Applied Systems
National Tube Supply
Bluelinx Corporation
ComEd
Vitran Logistics
Quality Hinges, Inc.
Hydrite Chemicals
Labelblank Corporation
McIntyre Group
Ware-Pak
Atra Steel
Aqua Illinois

These are but a few of the growing business that have been attracted to University Park’s Industrial Park.

This budding community is also proud to have an abundance of Parks and Recreation facilities such as Pine Lake, Hickory Aquatic Center, Edward W. Palmer, Sr. Park, and Craig Park where Heritage Playground is located. University Park is surrounded by over 1,000 acres of parks and forest preserves, featuring wooded hiking trails and bike paths