Another Western Springs, But It's Far Away

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Make sure to drive on the left side of the road in Western Springs – the one on the other side of the globe.

Yes, there is another Western Springs – in New Zealand. It is a wealthy suburb of the country's largest city, Auckland.

The population of Western Springs, Illinois, is 13,000, more than four times larger than its New Zealand counterpart.

Our Western Springs is known for its historic Water Tower, while the other town is dominated by Western Springs Park, which includes a stadium, zoo and museum.

In January, Claudia Royston, a lifelong resident of Western Springs, Illinois, wrote in Patch about her 2023 trip to the other Western Springs. She said she just had to see it.

Royston said Western Springs Park's main attraction is the springs that once supplied Auckland with water.

"Their springs are actually underground rivers that 'run through ancient valleys created by the eruptions and lava flows of the surrounding volcanic field,'" Royston wrote.

Royston, a tour operator who runs Global Gourmands, is planning a group tour to New Zealand in November. More information is available on the firm's website.

Royston grew up in Western Springs' Old Town neighborhood and later moved to the Field Park area.

In May, Patch wrote a story about Rugeley, England, which is Western Springs' sister city. Each has a street named after the other town.

Meola Road is one of the major streets in Western Springs, New Zealand. (Google Maps)