Easily accessible borough 13 miles from Pittsburgh
Two interstates cut through the winding streets and sprawling forests of the Franklin Park borough, providing easy access to Pittsburgh, 13 miles away. “Franklin Park is located very near the highway, so it’s easy to get to the airport and the city of Pittsburgh,” says Linda Honeywill, associate broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Preferred Realty. “Accessibility is wonderful there, and it has a top-rated school district.” The North Allegheny School District is one of the crowning jewels of the once rural neighborhood. Created in 1948, when five school districts signed an agreement to operate as one, the North Allegheny School District expanded, rebuilt and renovated to provide residents with 12 schools serving children from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Estates and ranch-style homes starting at $300,000
Previous residents of Franklin Park lived in a rural setting, occupying homes on large lots spaced far apart from their neighbors. Now, homes circle cul-de-sacs with generous yard space that rolls into the next property with no fence serving as a divider. Homes are set back from the street, obscuring vast backyards where the occasional in-ground pool can be found. Thin sidewalks run next to manicured lawns with carefully placed trees and small, trimmed hedges. Wide roadways meander through town, passing beside homes in the Colonial Revival, ranch and, occasionally, Tudor styles with red brick and vinyl siding. Townhouses and condominiums sell from $270,000 to $650,000. Single-family homes sell from $300,000 to $600,000, while large estates sell from $700,000 to over $2 million.
North Allegheny district rated best for athletics
Children can attend the North Allegheny School District, which receives an A-plus from Niche and is noted for its athletics programs. Franklin Elementary earns an A-plus. Ingomar Middle also gets an A-plus. North Allegheny Senior High School earns an A-plus too and allows students to study aerospace science and has an early college program.
I-79 and I-279
The area can become loud, with Interstates 79 and 279 cutting through the borough's heart. “We have communities nearby,” says Honeywill. “But residents see it as more of a convenience than an obstacle.” Residents are car dependent and can journey throughout Pennsylvania with access to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The Pittsburgh International Airport is 19 miles away. The 12 McKnight bus operated by Pittsburgh Regional Transit takes Franklin Park residents to 9th Street and Penn Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh every 10-15 minutes from McCandles Park and Ride lot. The CAP Index Crime Score is a 1 out of 10 score, lower than the national average of 4.
Easy errands along Route 19
Franklin residents frequent Pittsburgh for dining and entertainment, but the local Franklin Inn Mexican Restaurant is a neighborhood favorite. “It is actually a fabulous Mexican restaurant, quite good,” says Honeywill. “You should see it during Cinco de Mayo.” Residents coming home from a long day or needing a pick-me-up before work stop at Sheetz for gas, drinks and snacks. Locals run errands at shopping centers along Route 19 or peruse the over 150 shops at Ross Park Mall. Homegrown groceries are purchased at the Soergel Orchards family farm.
Skating rinks in the winter and swimming pools in the summer
Green spaces are enjoyed during all four seasons. In the winter, locals open skate at North Park Ice Rink and in the fall, they watch the leaves change color at Blueberry Hill Park, where adults can sit under the gazebo while the little ones climb the play structure. Spring is spent on the green at nine-hole Clover Hill Golf Course, while the hot summer days are cool at Brook Park Swim Club, a members-only 27-yard pool.
Borough of Franklin Park hosts community events
The Borough of Franklin Park holds events year-round and has a Facebook page to keep residents informed. For over 35 years, Franklin Park's Festival in the Park has sustained the spirit of community in June with a parade courtesy of the Franklin Park Volunteer Fire Company and a gathering in Blueberry Hill Park that features fireworks, inflatables, games, magic shows and a beer garden. Houses of worship in the area include Saints John & Paul Catholic Church, Orchard Hill Church, Franklin Park Baptist Church and others.
