Directions and Maps
Austin Gardens
100 block North Forest
Oak Park, IL
Austin Gardens sits one block north of Lake Street and 3 blocks west of Oak Park Avenue, with theatre gate access at Forest Avenue in Oak Park. If you use GPS or a map service such as Mapquest or Google Maps, the address 167 North Forest will point you to our entrance gate.
BY CAR:
Take the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) to Harlem Avenue (Illinois 430), exit north and continue to Lake Street. Turn east and continue three blocks to Forest Avenue. Proceed north one block to the Park (on the west side of the street). Parking is available in the village parking garage. See “Parking” below for detailed parking suggestions.
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
The most direct and convenient access is to take either the Metra / Union Pacific West line to the Oak Park Station, or CTA Green Line “L” to the Harlem/Marion station. Walk north on Marion to Lake Street. Turn east and walk two blocks to Forest Avenue. Turn north, walk one block and the park is on your left.
Parking
You can park in the Village parking garage across the street from Austin Gardens on Forest Avenue. Do not park in the 19th Century Club lot, or you may get a ticket. There is a limited amount of free parking north of Austin Gardens on Forest Avenue, plus there are plenty of metered spaces all around the park on Ontario and Marion.
Note: parking in the Village parking lot across the street from the park is no longer free at night or on Saturdays. It is free all day Sundays Additional free parking (after 6pm) is available in village lots on North Boulevard, and in the Grace Epoiscopal Church parking lot just east of Forest Aveune on Lake Street.
Cancellations due to rain or heat
In case of heavy rain or excessive heat on performance days, we will issue rain checks. Decisions on weather cancellations will be made as close to performance time as possible, and staff will be on hand at the park to give you assistance.
Check the weather forecast here.
Seating
We have General Admission seating. There are no permanant seats in the park. You can:
- sit in the grass
- sit on our bleachers
- bring a blanket
- bring your own camp chairs, beach chairs, etc.
Plastic chairs are available for rent at $2 per chair.
The Madison Street Theatre
1010 W. Madison Street, Oak Park IL
where we perform our fall and spring shows.
1010 W. Madison Street, Oak Park IL.
The Madison Street Theatre is on Madison Street in Oak Park, just east of Harlem Avenue. Click here to view map (opens in new window)
BY CAR:
Take the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) to Harlem Avenue (Illinois 430), exit north and continue to Madison Street. Turn east and continue three blocks to just before Home Avenue. The theatre is on the north side of the street. Street parking is available on Madison St. and surrounding residential streets.
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
The Madison Street Theatre is half a mile south of the Metra Oak Park and Green Line Harlem stops. You can walk south on Harlem Ave. or Home Ave. to Madison St. or take one of the Pace buses that runs south on Harlem from the Green Line/Metra stops (#307 or #305). The #320 and #391 buses run on Madison Street, and the #311 bus runs on Oak Park Ave. In addition, Green Line Wheels runs a free shuttle bus on Oak Park Ave. during rush hour. You can take the shuttle from the Green Line Oak Park stop to Madison St. and walk a little less than half a mile west to the theatre.
