National Geographic Green Guide to Smart Cities : Arlington
Heights What have been the Village’s biggest environmental
challenges? Please tell us things that are unique to Arlington
Heights, environmentally, socially, geographically,
historically. Geographically Arlington Heights is the largest
suburb of Chicago in Cook County with a population of nearly
77,000 contained in a 16.40 square mile area. With Cook County
being the second most populous in the nation, the Village’s
major environmental challenge is traffic congestion and
providing innovative environmental programs that influence our
community’s impact on the area’s environmental health. It is the
home to the Arlington Park Racecourse which is a unique feature
of the community and has been in existence since 1927. The
Racecourse, owned and operated by Churchill Downs, holds the
Arlington Million and also was a host of the famous Breeder’s
Cup. Unique geographic characteristics of Arlington Heights
include its proximity to Illinois Tollway, I-90, arter