Life Amplified

Train Stations and Village Plazas

Oak Park Avenue Station
Oak Park Avenue Metra train station
Located in the heart of Tinley Park’s historic district, the 3,600-square-foot Metra train station at 6700 South Street was honored in 2007 by the  American Institute of Architects as one of the 150 Great Places of Illinois.

The station has more than 700 parking spaces for commuters and is fully handicapped-accessible. With exterior stone, a slate roof and wood rafters, the station truly is a sight to behold. But perhaps its most impressive feature is a three-story clock tower with an observation deck that offers views of Tinley Park and the adjacent Zabrocki Plaza.

The indoor cafe provides food services to commuters, who can either grab a bite to eat inside the station or, when the weather is nice, outside in the outdoor seating/dining area. The indoor cafe features large windows and provides a full view of the train tracks and promenade area, as well as custom furnishings and free Wi-Fi access.

The station is open from 5:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. The station is closed on Sundays. For more information, call (708) 532-4331 or visit Metra webpage.

Zabrocki Plaza
Zabrocki Plaza in Tinley ParkZabrocki Plaza, named in honor of former Tinley Park Mayor Edward J. Zabrocki, sits at 17375 S. Oak Park Ave., adjacent to the Oak Park Avenue Metra train station.
 
Zabrocki Plaza features multiple park benches, an attractive brick walkway and beautiful landscaping, including flowers in the spring and summer months. 

Zabrocki Plaza is home to many events in downtown Tinley Park, including Music in the Plaza, National Night Out, the Community Tree-Lighting Ceremony and the Downtown Tinley Farmers Market, which runs weekly from June through September.

For more information on Zabrocki Plaza, call (708) 444-5000.


80th Avenue Station
80th Avenue Metra train stationIf you want to ride the rails, a great place to begin or conclude your journey is at the 5,400-square-foot Metra train station at 18001 S. 80th Avenue in Tinley Park.

As the fourth-busiest railroad depot in the entire Metra system, the  80th Avenue station sees a substantial amount of commuter traffic every day. To meet this demand, the station features more than 2,100 parking spaces as well as a pedestrian underpass connecting the south and north parking lots so commuters can quickly and safely pass from one side of the tracks to the other.

In addition to providing bicycle facilities and “kiss-and-ride” drop-off lanes for commuter convenience, the station further serves the needs of travelers by offering three trackside warming shelters for waiting commuters and by being fully handicapped-accessible.

Commuters approaching the 80th Avenue train station for the first time will be impressed by its 50-foot-high clock tower, exterior stone and brick construction with slate roof and copper trim, and attractive landscaping featuring native plantings that eliminate irrigation and reduce long-term maintenance. The building itself even utilizes a state-of-the-art geothermal heating and cooling system, which reduces energy requirements by more than 30 percent.

But perhaps the most striking exterior feature of the 80th Avenue train station is the General Patrick E. Rea Veterans Plaza, which is located on the pathway leading from the south parking lot to the entrance and honors veterans from each branch of the military.

The first thing commuters may notice when walking inside the 80th Avenue train station is its great hall, which features a Tiffany-style chandelier and a 25-foot vaulted ceiling supported by a Douglas Fir truss system. Commuters have access to an Internet café with free Wi-Fi, as well as a full-service kitchen. Decorative lighting, booth seating, two restrooms, a fireplace and an old-fashioned ice cream soda fountain complete the scene.

The station’s waiting room is open daily from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a ticket agent present on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

For more information on the 80th Avenue Metra train station, call (708) 614-8562 or visit the station's Metra webpage. You can also read an Illinois Municipal Review feature story about the 80th Avenue station.

Veterans Plaza
Tinley Park Veterans PlazaThe General Patrick E. Rea Veterans Plaza honors veterans from each branch of the military and sits adjacent to the south entrance of the 80th Avenue Metra train station, 18001 S. 80th Ave., Tinley Park.

The plaza consists of 523 brick pavers honoring the memories of individual service people; seven pavers in honor of specific groups; and five benches purchased by local veterans’ organizations.

The plaza is named in honor of Retired Brigadier General Patrick E. Rea, also former Village Clerk for Tinley Park. Rea, a Tinley Park native, has a long and distinguished career of professional achievements and dedicated public service. He was commissioned from the University of Illinois ROTC in 1963 and was deployed to Vietnam shortly thereafter. He began his corporate and governmental career in the late 1960s, becoming a Village of Tinley Park commissioner in 1968 while serving in the active and reserve forces of the United States Army.

Rea served as an Assistant Division Commander and Acting Commander of the 85th Division, commanding at every level from platoon to brigade throughout his 30 years of military service.

Having served throughout the United States, Asia and Europe, Rea received the 2004 Secretary of Defense Medal of Outstanding Public Service Award.

Rea became a Village Trustee in 1971 and served as Village Clerk from 2009 to 2017, during which time his leadership and foresight enabled the Village to maintain economic diversity and a sound fiscal position during the largest growth period in the Village’s history. He has been an advocate and supporter of veterans and is credited with the creation of the Village’s Veteran’s Commission in 1974.