job in zion please help with info (Chicago, Waukegan: real estate, crime)

[formerburb]

Hello

I recieved a job offer in zion but I am not currently in the area. Can anyone please help with a few specifics.

I want to know mainly where would/should I live? Can anyone give details about good/bad areas? If you can give street specifics that would be great. Such as do/don't live north/south of xxxx street.

Is Zion a safe place to walk around at night?

Is it family friendly? We have a small family.

I read about crime, gangs and drugs. Are they really pretty bad or average amongst the size of city that zion is?

Are the parks and beach areas safe and nice? Can we attend them without fear of crime?

Is the city bike-able?

Is there public transportation as in a Bus system? I know there is a metra line.

Is there a library? Is it nice?

Any info would be great. Thanks for the help.

[IbeDavid]

Originally Posted by formerburb

Hello

I recieved a job offer in zion but I am not currently in the area. Can anyone please help with a few specifics.

I want to know mainly where would/should I live? Can anyone give details about good/bad areas? If you can give street specifics that would be great. Such as do/don't live north/south of xxxx street.

Is Zion a safe place to walk around at night?

Is it family friendly? We have a small family.

I read about crime, gangs and drugs. Are they really pretty bad or average amongst the size of city that zion is?

Are the parks and beach areas safe and nice? Can we attend them without fear of crime?

Is the city bike-able?

Is there public transportation as in a Bus system? I know there is a metra line.

Is there a library? Is it nice?

Any info would be great. Thanks for the help.

REPLY: I dated a nice lady for 3 years who lived in Zion so ill answer what questions i can ; The Zion State Park Beach is safe , good for family activities, and went thru a very major renovation some time back. Another very nice one is Winthrop Harbor Marina and Beach just a few miles up the road . Take Sheridan Rd. north from Zion. Yes, you can bike Zion fairly easily . They have a few pretty nice Parks with water , ducks, etc.. Theres a small Library but i havent been in it. Sadly, Zion has a problem with crime and gangs ... and the minority races are the majorities in Zion --- I wouldnt walk around Zion at night unless its on Sheridan Road which is the main road going thru the town . Your best bet for living in Zion is east of Sheridan Road
which is very close to Lake Michigan and youll get great Lake cooling in the summer and you wont have to use your a/c much at all. Id suggest the small town of Winthrop Harbor over living in Zion , or, the far north area of Waukegan . Zion has an awesome Summer celebration carnival downtown with one of the best Classic Car Shows around . Hope that gives you a thumbnail sketch of Zion.

[IbeDavid]

P.S. Ive seen Buses running thru Zion. I think its Pace Bus Co.

[kmwheel]

Hi,

I live in Antioch which is a short commute to Zion (maybe 20-25 minutes). I like Zion a lot and I have quite a few friends who live there, but I would choose Antioch over Zion in a heartbeat. My kids can play outside with no worries, we've got great amenities for families, and you don't have to worry "as much" about crime. I'm not saying that crime doesn't happen here, but I don't think that we have as many issues with gangs or gang related activity here. Housing in Zion is cheaper, but you really do get what you pay for (especially school-wise).

Zion public library is VERY nice. They have activities going on for kids all the time, and we often make the trip to meet up with our friends to enjoy them.

Check out Zion before you move, and take the time to check out Antioch as well. Good luck with your move!

[chet everett]

My impression of the Zion "gang thing" is that it is kids lacking supervision/direction. More serious than wannabe's, but no real organized dope dealing, pimping or other hard core crime. It is really really nice to be on top of the state park and the Lake, but the town obviously did not plan for the deindustrialization of the Great Lakes the way Chicago itself has. If the real estate bubble had not burst I would have bet on a big redevelopment for Zion, but given the tightness of money for big projects things could be in a holding pattern/very slight decline for quite a while. If "green power" gets hot you can count on the nuclear site being a lightning rod of critics -- the site up there is one of ComEd/Exelon's oldest. They might have some stored fuel rods but it is very safe.