Erie

Founded in 1925, Glenwood’s black and gold street signs, towering oak trees and eclectic mix of 20th-century homes reflect a sense of community nearly 100 years in the making. “If you want mature trees, landscaping and homes with character, charm and uniqueness, this is the place to be,” says Fred Amendola, a Realtor with the Fred Amendola Team at Keller Williams Realty and a lifelong resident of Erie County. The suburban community sits below lush green spaces such as Glenwood Park and J.C. Martin Golf Course, both developed by residents in the Glenwood Association. The neighborhood association remains active today, and the residential enclave is centrally located less than 2 miles south of downtown Erie. Trees provide shade to Glenwood’s residential streets, although the neighborhood does not have sidewalks. Most homes were built from the 1920s through the 1950s and are set back from the street by cobblestone walkways or small staircases leading up to the front stoop. Homebuyers will find a mix of ranch-style homes and Colonial Revivals sitting alongside charming Tudor-style homes with arched doorways and timber framing. “There’s some old charm in the architecture and the brick exteriors that you’re not going to find anywhere else in the city,” Amendola says. Manicured lawns average just under a quarter acre, and many properties feature spacious decks or porches with plenty of room for entertaining. Prices typically range from $215,000 for a three-bedroom ranch-style to $500,000 for a five-bedroom Tudor or Colonial Revival with up to an acre of land. The Glenwood Association must approve the addition of fences, walls or hedges, and residents are required to pay dues. Glenwood Park is less than a mile north of the neighborhood and features a playground, paved walkway and several covered pavilions with picnic tables and grills. The park is also home to the Erie Zoo, which is open seasonally from March to November and houses over 400 animals from around the world. Residents can see croaking frogs, roaring lions and jumping kangaroos before walking through the zoo’s botanical gardens. Also located within the zoo is the Flo Fabrizio Ice Center, which offers drop-in hockey sessions and private skating lessons for all ages. Twice a year, the Glenwood Craft Show transforms the ice rink into a lively flea market where local vendors sell everything from handcrafted jewelry to homemade candles. Next to Glenwood Park is the J.C. Martin Golf Course, a public 9-hole course with lush fairways backing up to the neighborhood. Just north is the Glenwood Park YMCA, where membership includes access to unlimited fitness classes, an indoor pool and free babysitting services. The neighborhood is also about 6 miles from the entrance to Presque Isle State Park, a sandy peninsula that stretches into the waters of Lake Erie and is known for its beaches, public boat launches and birdwatching. The Glenwood Association hosts neighborhood events throughout the year. Each July, neighbors take turns hosting a backyard get-together complete with live music, homemade food and a bounce house. A horse-drawn carriage parades through Glenwood each December, spreading holiday cheer to residents who gather to take a ride around the neighborhood and chat over warm drinks and crackling firepits. Students may attend the Erie City School District, which earns a C-plus from Niche and has an average student-teacher ratio of 13-to-1. Kids may begin their education at Grover Cleveland Elementary School before moving on to Strong Vincent Middle School and Erie High School, all of which score a C from Niche. The high school offers several Career and Technical Education programs that provide teens with hands-on experience in fields like computer programming, early childhood education and engineering. Nearby private school options include Mercyhurst Preparatory School, which serves ninth through 12th grade. The prep school partners with Mercyhurst University to offer an Accelerated Scholars Program in which teens can earn up to a semester’s worth of college credit at a discounted rate. U.S. Route 19 — locally known as Peach Street — is less than a mile northwest of Glenwood and is lined by restaurants and shopping centers. The Breakfast Place is known for its homemade Greek sauce, a ground beef mixture native to western Pennsylvania and served on top of omelets, burgers and french fries. Vinyl barstools sit behind the bar at Andy’s Ale House & Grill, a neighborhood haunt with pool tables, dart boards and over 100 beers on draft. Erie Curry House is a go-to for homestyle Nepalese and Indian dishes, while the Liberty Center shopping complex includes local favorites like Werner Books & Coffee. For groceries, the shopping center includes Tops Friendly Markets. Glenwood is tucked between U.S. Route 19 and Pennsylvania Route 97. The waterfront attractions of downtown Erie are less than a 2-mile drive away via US 19, and PA 97 leads about 3 miles south to Interstate 90. Residents also have access to the Erie VA Medical Center, which is less than 2 miles away along PA 97. The Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority, abbreviated as the EMTA, provides bus service to the community with several stops along Cherry Street. Locals refer to the bus as “the e,” and Route 1 connects residents to downtown Erie and the Glenwood YMCA, among other destinations. The Erie International Airport is less than a 10-mile drive away, and American Airlines is currently the only airline serving ERI with daily service to Charlotte, North Carolina.

When General Electric established its locomotive plant in Erie County in 1910, they envisioned Lawrence Park as a Garden City where factory workers and their families could live among tree-lined streets and lush community parks. World-famous city planner and Philadelphia native John Nolen was tasked with developing the community, ultimately abandoning the Garden City concept in favor of brick rowhouses that could accommodate the influx of workers moving to the area during World War I. Although it's now owned by Wabtec, the plant remains standing today and employs about 2,000 people, making it the third-largest employer in Erie County. “There are still a lot of people who live here and work at the plant. You just walk down the street and walk right into the plant,” says Jim Van Dyne, Vice President of the Lawrence Park Historical Society. While the plant is no longer what it once was, one thing in Lawrence Park remains the same: a sense of community. “My sister was driving through here once, and some plywood flew out of her truck onto the road. She stopped to pick it up, and all these people stopped their cars and got out to help her,” Van Dyne says. “These people give. They help out and open their arms to strangers.” The township also offers a central location along the southern shore of Lake Erie, just 5 miles from downtown Erie. The Lawrence Park Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and protects the township’s original neighborhoods. Its first streets — including Rankine, Silliman, and Smithson Avenue — were named after prominent scientists and shaded by 1,000 trees planted by General Electric. “Part of the design was that every street had a signature tree. One had elms, one had maples, one had sycamores,” Van Dyne says. The district contains a mix of Cape Cod, Colonial Revival and American Foursquare houses built throughout the early 20th century. A bit further west are blocks of Philadelphia-style rowhomes with covered front porches and narrow, fenced-in backyards. Smaller neighborhoods that developed around these streets include the Lake Cliff subdivision, which borders Lake Erie and features ranch-style and Cape Cod homes built around the mid-1900s. Prices in the township range from about $85,000 for a three-bedroom rowhome to $250,000 for a four-bedroom Colonial Revival. There are also several houses of worship in the historic district, including the Lawrence Park United Methodist Church and The Church of St. Mark the Evangelist. Pocket parks are scattered throughout Lawrence Park, including a greenbelt that separates residential streets from the Wabtec plant. Curtis Park has a playground and swing set, while Elbow Tree Park features miles of wooded nature trails for dog walkers and runners to explore. At Beute Park, the grassy lawn comes alive each summer as neighbors set up their lawn chairs and lay out their picnic blankets for the Gazebo Concerts series. Several green spaces line the shores of Lake Erie. The Lawrence Park Golf Club features a private 18-hole course with scenic vistas of the lakefront, and the Lawrence Park Fishing Club provides anglers with access to Four Mile Creek. Next to the Lake Cliff subdivision is the Lakeside Recreational Area, home to the Lakeside Boat Launch and a sandy beachfront known for its dazzling sunsets. The Iroquois Avenue Branch Library features a full calendar of events, including family story times and adult craft nights. The township is also less than 2 miles north of Eastway Lanes, an old-fashioned bowling alley with competitive leagues for all ages. The Fourth of July is an all-day affair in Lawrence Park. The festivities begin with a bike parade through the neighborhood, but the main event is the annual Fourth of July Parade that travels down Main Street. Neighbors line the street to watch as the Iroquois marching band, Lawrence Park Historical Society and other local groups make their way through downtown, passing out candy along the way. The day ends with a dazzling fireworks show over the Iroquois High School football field. The township has several beloved local restaurants, many of which sit along Main Street in downtown Lawrence Park. A vibrant sign for the Lawrence Park Dinor might draw attention with its apparent misspelling, but residents know that’s just how diner is spelled around Erie. The diner is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is known for its signature Greek sauce, a ground beef mixture served on top of omelets, hot dogs and french fries. Down the street is Dabrowski’s Restaurant & Deli, which has been a go-to for authentic Polish food since 1983. Irish Cousins provides a place for neighbors to gather long after sunset, including live music every Friday and karaoke nights on Wednesdays and Saturdays. At the end of Main Street is an old-fashioned Dairy Queen with a walk-up window. “It’s just like it was in the 1950s. On a warm summer night, half of Lawrence Park is out there buying ice cream and chit-chatting,” Van Dyne says. For groceries, Giant Eagle Supermarket is less than a 2-mile drive from Lawrence Park. Students may attend the Iroquois School District, which earns a C-plus from Niche and has an average student-teacher ratio of 12-to-1. Iroquois Elementary School scores a B and serves kindergarten through sixth grade, and the school works with the local United Way of Erie County to support low-income families. Older kids can attend Iroquois Junior/Senior High School, which earns a C and contains two separate wings for junior high and senior high school students. The high school partners with Erie County Technical School to offer a Career and Technical Education Program with pathways in technical training, construction, human services, manufacturing and transportation. Pennsylvania Route 5, locally known as East Lake Road, bisects the township and connects residents to the city of Erie. The thoroughfare leads about 5 miles west to downtown and 10 miles west to Erie International Airport. The EMTA provides local bus service to the community, with stops along the township’s main streets. Residents refer to the bus as “the e,” and it travels downtown among other destinations.

As one of the sixteen original townships of Erie County, Millcreek embraces the feel of an established suburb in its tree-lined subdivisions, top-rated schools and nearly 30 different parks and green spaces. “The schools are probably the number one draw of why folks might move to Millcreek,” says Fred Amendola, a Realtor with the Fred Amendola Team at Keller Williams Realty and a lifelong resident of Erie County. That said, Millcreek offers something that no other township does: direct access to Presque Isle State Park. The sandy peninsula branches off northwestern Millcreek, curving into the waters of Lake Erie and attracting over 4 million visitors a year with its beaches, marina and fishing piers. As the largest township in western Pennsylvania, Millcreek covers nearly 30 square miles and is home to over 54,000 residents who have access to both the natural attractions of Presque Isle and the cultural hub of downtown Erie. “Millcreek is a big township; it starts at the lake and wraps around the city,” Amendola says. “It’s really unique because of its size. If you want a community with sidewalks and neighbors, there’s that. But if you prefer to have some privacy, there are properties out there with some acreage as well.” Peninsula Drive connects Millcreek to the 3,200-acre peninsula that is Presque Isle State Park. Seven miles of sandy beaches offer the only surf swimming in Pennsylvania, although residents can only swim at guarded beaches from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. The park also has four public boat launches, and the Presque Isle Marina has just under 500 slips. Anglers can head to the boat landings and cast their lines into Lake Erie or Presque Isle Bay, where perch and bass are the most common catches. Over 11 miles of multi-use trails crisscross the peninsula’s sandy coastline, attracting hikers, bikers and cross-country skiers throughout the seasons. At the tip of the peninsula is Gull Point, a resting spot for birds migrating along the Atlantic Flyway. Over 339 species of birds have been identified on Presque Isle, and residents can spot bald eagles or osprey from the Gull Point Observation Deck. Further south at the base of Presque Isle is Waldameer Park & Water World, an amusement park with over 75 roller coasters and water slides open seasonally from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend. Residents also have access to abundant green spaces off the peninsula, with over 640 acres of parkland scattered throughout Millcreek. Asbury Woods features 234 acres of wetlands and oak-maple forests, and over 5 miles of nature trails weave through the nature preserve. The Asbury Woods Nature Center hosts programs and events for all ages, including live concerts and seasonal festivities. “In the fall, they’ll tap trees and talk about how maple syrup is made. Around Christmas, everything is lit up there,” Amendola says. Smaller green spaces are scattered throughout Millcreek, and Zuck Park features a playground, two tennis courts and a softball field. The town also has two semi-private golf courses: Whispering Woods Golf Club and Erie Golf Club. Both 18-hole golf courses are open to the public, and membership comes with access to additional amenities. The Millcreek Fourth of July Parade has been a local tradition since 1965, and the beloved event has grown into one of the biggest parades in Erie County. Thousands of people line up along West 12th Street to watch as firetrucks, horse-drawn carriages and local marching bands make their way through Millcreek, passing out candy along the way. Presque Isle State Park also has a packed calendar of events, including Discover Presque Isle, a week-long festival with yoga classes, boat tours and an art festival featuring local vendors and food trucks on the beach. The Millcreek Township School District earns an A-minus from Niche and has an average student-teacher ratio of 15-to-1. Students may begin their education at the A-minus-rated Chestnut Hill Elementary School before moving on to James S. Wilson Middle School, which scores a B-plus. McDowell Intermediate High School and McDowell Senior High School share a campus, and the combined high school earns a B-plus from Niche. The McDowell Internship Program allows 11th and 12th-grade students to explore different career fields through job shadowing. Teens can also apply to the McDowell Honors College, which requires students to complete a rigorous course of study and a minimum of 20 hours of community service. Mercyhurst University is approximately 10 miles away, and the private liberal arts university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Most homes in Millcreek were built from the 1950s through the late 1990s. Residential subdivisions are tucked between major thoroughfares, and single-family homes sit on manicured lawns that average just over a quarter-acre. Colonial Revivals, ranch-style and bi-level homes with brick or vinyl exteriors are the norm. New traditional homes built from the early 2000s through the 2020s tend to be more expensive, and single-family homes in Millcreek typically cost between $150,000 for a three-bedroom ranch-style home and $750,000 for newer construction. Millcreek also has several condo communities, and condo prices range from about $160,000 to $330,000. “Home values tend to be higher in Millcreek, but taxes are a third-less than elsewhere in Erie County,” Amendola says. Many subdivisions have HOAs, and residents may be required to pay dues. With major thoroughfares running through Millcreek, residents can access various restaurants and shopping centers. Local favorites include the Gem City Dinor, known not only for its unique regional spelling, but also for its all-day breakfast specials and wooden booths. Just across the street from the diner is Odis 12 Sports Bar & Grille, serving up over 150 flavors of wings and home of the Erie’s Community’s Choice Awards for best chicken wings each year since 2012. Over on U.S. Route 20, U Pick 6 Public House features an outdoor beer garden and brick pizza oven. Pepperoni balls are a staple in the Gem City, and Art’s Bakery has been serving up the stuffed dough balls since 1950. The Millcreek Mall is located just off I-79 and features over 170 shops and restaurants, including department stores like Macy’s. For groceries, Wegmans sits along U.S. Route 20 and is just one of several supermarkets in the township. Several major thoroughfares pass through Millcreek, including Interstate 79, Pennsylvania Route 5 and U.S Routes 19 and 20. Downtown Erie is less than a 10-mile drive east via U.S. Route 20, and I-79 provides access to Interstate 90. The Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority (EMTA), known locally as “the e,” provides bus service to the community. Local bus service includes the free Presque Isle Express, which runs from June to August and stops along PA 5 on its way from downtown Erie to Presque Isle State Park. Erie International Airport (ERI) sits in the northwestern corner of Millcreek, and American Airlines is currently the only airline serving ERI with daily service to Charlotte, North Carolina. Residents are about 5 miles from Millcreek Community Hospital, a leading provider of behavioral health care in the Erie region. The hospital also received Primary Stroke Center Certification from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care. About a mile north is the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, locally known as LECOM. The private medical school boasts the country's only osteopathic academic health center.