Bartlett Lake Estates in neighborhod profile

Known for its excellent quality of life and bounty of recreation, Bartlett offers a suburban lifestyle with a hometown feel.

Rhoda and Charlie Voegeli both grew up in the area and always liked the feel of Bartlett and all the amenities it offered. Fourteen years ago, the couple moved to the Bartlett Lake Estates neighborhood, drawn to the specific subdivision because of its large yards and larger homes.

"Our house is very homey, and the kitchen is a great gathering place when we have company," Rhoda Voegeli said. "It's such a comfortable space and a nice layout for entertaining.

"Bartlett is a great town. We like to go for walks along the bike paths, and we especially like the new bike path across County Farm Road. The (Bartlett) Community Center is really nice, and we use it for the music programs, dance classes and pool for my daughter," Voegeli said.

Neighborhood amenities include several beautiful parks and playgrounds and Beaver Pond, an 11-acre stocked fishing pond with a pier and a milelong walking and biking path.

Voegeli says the neighborhood has a nice, friendly feeling where neighbors talk when they're out in the yard or shoveling snow, and they also enjoy neighborhood get-togethers.

Situated north of Stearns Road and east of Route 59, Bartlett Lake Estates offers custom ranch and two-story homes on half- to one-acre homesites. Developed by Campanelli, the subdivision features a variety of designs by that developer and several other builders, said Mary Olson, broker and associate with RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest.

"The location and large lots, where residents have city water and sewer, are the two biggest draws to the subdivision," Olson said. "Usually with such large lots, you don't get city water and sewer."

Homes typically offer four bedrooms, two or three baths, a finished basement and two- or three-car garage. A lot of people have in-ground swimming pools because of the large lots. And many homeowners are renovating their homes with new kitchens and adding sun rooms and gazebos, Olson said.

"Everyone is making their home look newer."

The subdivision is within walking distance of the Bartlett miniature golf course, near shopping and amenities along Route 59 and with easy access to downtown and the train station.

For recreation, sports are big in Bartlett with leagues and organizations for every imaginable sport, and the Bartlett Little League is the largest in the nation.

One of the finest golf courses in the area, the village-owned Bartlett Hills Golf Course, is a popular destination for golfers from miles around, while the nearby Villa Olivia Country Club features golf, skiing and banquet facilities.

Forest preserves and parks provide a variety of recreation for those who love the outdoors. The Bartlett Trail welcomes hikers, joggers and cyclists to its trails that wind in and out of the forest preserves and through town.

Also, the 120.5-acre Apple Orchard Community Park in the heart of the village features an aquatic center, skate park, tennis courts, sports fields, ice skating and a nature area.

The Bartlett Community Center is a park district facility that features a health and fitness club, racquetball courts, dance studio and more.

Bartlett features a charming downtown with period streetlights and paved walkways, as well as many newer restaurants and retail establishments that are bringing new life to the village and drawing more people to the downtown area.