Oak Park sits on the banks of the Arkansas River, making up the most northern part of Fort Smith. Buildings in the neighborhood range from modest homes and family-owned restaurants to industrial centers for companies such as Gerber Products and Bachoco USA. U.S. Route 64, also called Midland Boulevard, connects the neighborhood to the rest of the city.
Grassy lawns extend to the streets, decorated with oak and maple trees. Many yards are decorated with colorful gardens or lawn ornaments, and several are fenced in. Paved and gravel driveways sometimes lead to carports. “Most people would associate the area with starter homes or where grandma used to live,” says Sarah Newton, Realtor with the Griffin Company of Weichert Realtors. Houses are usually less than 1,600 square feet. Bungalows, ranch styles and modest cottages make up the older properties, built between the 1940s and '50s. These typically cost $75,000 to $150,000, although many need renovations. New Traditional properties built as recently as 2024 can range from $150,000 to $225,000. Many residents rent, paying around $1,000 to $1,500 every month.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) considers part of Oak Park a special flood hazard area. While most impacted areas are industrial, some houses can be affected. Residents are encouraged to purchase flood insurance, mandatory for anyone with a federally backed mortgage. FEMA also says the area has a relatively moderate risk of tornadoes. Most standard homeowner’s insurance covers wind and storm damage.
The Fort Smith School District serves Oak Park. Students are zoned for Harry C. Morrison Elementary School and Dora Kimmons Junior High School, both of which are graded C-plus on Niche. Like all high schools in Arkansas, B-rated Northside High School introduced a new graduation requirement for the Class of 2027 and beyond: students are required to complete 75 hours of community service. The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, about 3 miles away, offers high schoolers general-education requirements or career and technical education courses.
Oak Park is a car-dependent community. U.S. Route 64 runs along the neighborhood’s edge, eventually intersecting with Garrison Avenue, the city’s major thoroughfare. There is a bus route along North 6th Street. Baptist Health – Fort Smith is the closest emergency room, about 3 miles away. Fort Smith Regional Airport is a 7-mile drive. It only offers flights to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
Mom-and-pop shops surround Oak Park. Pupuseria La Patrona serves pupusas and other Salvadorian dishes. Newton recommends Fried Rice on Midland Boulevard. “People will drive across town to eat their fried rice,” she says. Downtown Fort Smith is about 4 miles away. Folks can browse the shelves at Bookish: An Indie Bookstore before enjoying some New Orleans-inspired food from AJ’s Oyster House. Harps Food Store is also about a 4-mile drive. Closer to home, residents shop at La Hacienda Market or the Midland Market, an Asian grocer. Twin City Produce sells fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the year, and Newton says that their prices trend lower. Walmart and Lowe’s are about 5 miles away, while Target is an 8-mile drive.
Fort Smith Park is in the northeastern corner of the neighborhood, at a bend in the Arkansas River. Residents can let their dogs off leash in a small, fenced area, while kids can play soccer or basketball. The park has a boat ramp, and anglers can reel in largemouth bass and catfish. Riverfront Drive connects this park to John Bell Jr. Park, named after the disability activist and painter with cerebral palsy who was born in Fort Smith. Bell Park is best known for its inclusive playground. Farther down the road, people can visit the U.S. Marshals Museum. One of the more popular exhibits is The Campfire at the center of the museum. Benches surround the figures of four marshals from different eras seated by a fire. A recording plays discussions of their greatest achievements.
The Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair is held less than 1 mile from Oak Park every September. While it has all the fixings of a standard fair, including carnival rides and music, Newton says one thing makes it stand out: the livestock. “You’re going to come out and see horses and big steers and pigs – the full-blown ‘Charlotte’s Web’ crew,” she says. Attendees can chow down on traditional fair food such as funnel cakes and turkey legs or try fun dishes like Hawaiian soba noodles and elote, commonly called Mexican Street Corn. “Here, you can get legit elote where you get the full-blown corn on the cob, smoked,” Newton says. “You pull the husk down, and they pour on the mayonnaise and shredded parmesan.” While the fair pulls in people from across Arkansas and Oklahoma, there are plenty of events that draw in more of a local crowd. The Fall Festival is a celebration of community that shuts down Garrison Avenue so people can walk from store to store. The Fort Smith Historic Site hosts re-enactments of Judge Isaac C. Parker’s court cases, and the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum opens its art classes to the public.
Jim Stanley
Coldwell Banker Premier Realty
(479) 324-4294
242 Total Sales
1 in Oak Park
$90,000 Price
Andrew Rowe
Exit Realty Harper Carlton Group
(501) 430-3349
35 Total Sales
2 in Oak Park
$90,000 Price Range
Marcia Walbe
Fathom Realty
(479) 334-0366
165 Total Sales
1 in Oak Park
$130,000 Price
Aaron Bettencourt
Keller Williams Platinum Realty
(479) 974-8487
73 Total Sales
2 in Oak Park
$120K - $164K Price Range
Carrie Gibson
McGraw REALTORS
(479) 755-9147
68 Total Sales
1 in Oak Park
$210,000 Price
Patricia Branson
Chuck Fawcett Realty, Inc.
(479) 551-5219
82 Total Sales
2 in Oak Park
$115K - $195K Price Range
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Oak Park | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 4 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 7 | 4 |
| Robbery | 8 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 7 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
On average, homes in Oak Park, Fort Smith sell after 61 days on the market compared to the national average of 56 days. The median sale price for homes in Oak Park, Fort Smith over the last 12 months is $158,700, up 44% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
|
Median List Price
$157,450
|
Median Sale Price
$158,700
|
|
Median Single Family Sale Price
$155,000
|
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$106,000
|
|
Median Change From 1st List Price
4%
|
Last 12 months Home Sales
32
|
|
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
44%
|
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$108
|
|
Number of Homes
1,071
|
Number of Homes for Sale
6
|
|
Median Year Built
1958
|
Months of Supply
2.30
|
|
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,226
Significantly below the national average
1,933
|
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
10,454
|
$925 per month
|
Number of Homes for Rent
3
|
Median Rent
$1,250
|
|
Median Single Family Home Rent
$1,250
|
Median 3 Bedroom Single Family Home Rent
$1,250
|
|
Total Population
3,772
|
Median Age
32
|
|
Population under 18
32.6%
Above the national average
23.8%
|
Population over 65
11.1%
Below the national average
19.1%
|
|
Median Household Income
$37,638
Significantly below the national average
$79,597
|
Average Household Income
$42,204
|
|
High School Graduates
59.6%
Significantly below the national average
89%
|
College Graduates
4.6%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
|
|
Advanced Degrees
2.4%
|
% Population in Labor Force
59.8%
|
Bikeability
Walkability
Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
