Lifestyles

Wood Dale actively pursues a high quality of life for its residents and maintains areas of interest for visitors and tourists. In comparison to other suburbs, Wood Dale is highly rated in the categories of education, housing, health and safety. The city council works hand-in-hand with the Park District, the Library, the School District and the Historical Society to insure a continuing policy of providing the very finest possible array of amenities and activities. The overall attitude is one that will foster growth and opportunity for years to come.

Wood Dale is suburban living at its best. While continued development provides excellent opportunities, two golf courses, several forest preserves, and many neighborhood parks provide established open spaces. The Wood Dale Park District offers a fitness studio, and a full range of activities and classes throughout the year, as well as a modern and spacious water park. The Historical Society operates a museum on one of Wood Dale’s original farm sites and hosts a variety of activities during the year. We have a first class Library and a large variety of churches. Wood Dale is home to many civic organizations including Wood Dale Lions Club, the Lioness Club, Knights of Columbus, The American Legion, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Wood Dale Baseball, and Wood Dale Football. A homeowners association and a garden club serve interested residents.

The city of Wood Dale operates under the Council/Manager form of government. A Mayor, City Clerk and City Treasurer are elected at-large, while eight Aldermen are elected from four wards. The Mayor and City Council hire a full-time City Manager who is responsible for day-to-day operations. The Zoning Board of Appeals and Plan Commission assist the City Council. The city takes great pride in its effort to continue to make Wood Dale a great place to live by following a comprehensive plan and utilizing strategic planning.

The city is responsible for residential waste collection/recycling, water treatment and distribution, and for sewage collection and treatment. The city water source is Lake Michigan. The Fire Protection District has two stations with fulltime fire fighters and paramedics. The Police Department works to make Wood Dale a safe place to live and work by forming partnerships with its residents and businesses. The department is comprised of 33 sworn officers and is synonymous with both high performance and innovative programs.