Residential living and career development in Gary’s university park
South of the city of Gary’s central areas, locals live and study in Glen Park, the oldest neighborhood in the Indiana city. As the home of the Indiana University Northwest campus, the area’s also gained the name University Park in recent years. But residents still largely know the area by the name it’s had since before the city of Gary itself was established. “There’s a lot of renovation and revitalization going on in Glen Park, and the local university has been bringing a lot of growth to the area, especially with recent expansion,” says Jennifer Parham, the managing broker at Lighthouse Realty. Parham has more than 15 years of experience and was born and raised in Gary.
Glen Park is a prominent residential enclave that is home to Indiana University Northwest.
The Kennedy Public Library has a stunning garden with benches for reading.
Home to Indiana University Northwest, Glen Park is also known as University Park.
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Varied houses from the 20th century, from fixer-uppers to prime selections
Glen Park’s home market consists mainly of small bungalows and ranch-style homes, with a few Cape Cod houses available. Investment properties and fixer-uppers are plentiful, and buyers can find a large selection of renovation-ready homes for $75,000 or less. From $75,000 to the $160,000 mark, locals can find turnkey ranch homes in the area’s various styles, with many dating back to the mid-20th century and featuring extensive internal updates. Values generally top out at about $230,000 for the area’s largest homes, most of which offer contemporary stylings inside to contrast the nostalgic façades.
Glen Park residents decorate their manicured front lawns with spruces.
There are many Cape Cods in Glen Park.
Homes sell from $75,000 to $230,000 in Glen Park.
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Connected to the Little Calumet River
Just north of the Indiana University Northwest campus, the Little Calumet River Prairie and Wetlands nature preserve is maintained by the university and is home to more than 200 plant species. The area connects to the Little Calumet River Levee Trail, a 13-mile multi-use path that residents can take a walk on, bike down or use for fishing trips. The river itself runs through the center of the preserve and has a launch for boats and kayaks near Jefferson Street.
With access to many gorgeous natural areas, Glen Park is an attractive place to look for a home.
The Little Calumet River Prairie and Wetlands is home to more than 200 plant species.
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Public, private and higher education options for Gary students
Glen Park’s student population is primarily served by the Gary Community School Corporation, which has seen several financial and leadership challenges. Efforts to improve conditions have included implementing programs such as the Gary Area Career Center, a facility where middle- and high-school level students at local schools can get hands-on experience with technical fields such as aviation, barbering, criminal justice and more. Young learners attend Glen Park Academy for Excellence in Learning from kindergarten through fifth grade. The school has a student-teacher ratio of 32:1 and holds a D-minus grade on Niche. Bailly STEM Academy offers classes from sixth to eighth grade and holds a D grade. West Side Leadership Academy offers high school-level classes and dual-credit options for college-bound students. The school earns a C-minus on Niche. Private school options include Andrean High School, a Roman Catholic school with an A grade. On the north side of Glen Park, undergraduate students and adult learners attend classes at Indiana University Northwest and Ivy Tech Community College. Residents can attend either school to earn career certificates, online degrees and other credentials for professional development. Locals in Glen Park can also find a number of churches nearby, though houses of worship for other faiths are further away.
Glen Park Academy For Excellence in Learning serves grades K-5.
Bailly Preparatory School has 383 students.
Westside Leadership Academy has a a student-teacher ratio of 21 to 1.
Andean High School is a private school option with an overall A rating according to Niche.
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Convenient commutes to Merillville, downtown Gary and Chicago
“Most of the neighborhood’s residents commute to either downtown Gary or Merrillville for work,” Parham says. Glen Park sits about 4 miles from both areas, with downtown Gary to the north and Merillville to the south. The neighborhood connects to the Interstate 94 highway on its northern side and to Interstate 65 on the east end. Broadway acts as the neighborhood’s central north-south thoroughfare. The Gary Public Transportation Corporation offers stops for the Broadway Metro Express rapid bus line along Broadway, along with connections to Route L4 throughout the neighborhood and Route L1 on the northwest side. The nearest hospital, Methodist Hospitals Midlake Campus, is about 4 miles north from the center of the neighborhood. Most flights out of the greater Chicago area depart from Chicago Midway International Airport, 35 miles north of the neighborhood, and from Chicago O’Hare International Airport, 56 miles northwest.
Situated 7 Miles South of Lake Michigan and 35 miles Southeast of Downtown Chicago
Many bus routes connect Glen Park residents to the rest of Gary.
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Groceries, soul food and familiar dining
For grocery shopping and picking up everyday essentials, locals can find an Aldi store on the neighborhood’s west side, along with a Dollar General and two Family Dollar locations within the neighborhood and a Save a Lot store to the south. Nephew’s Steak & Hoagy is a locally beloved spot for sandwiches and burgers, while Big Daddy’s BBQ is a reliable counter-serve restaurant with rib tips, jerk chicken tacos and fried catfish. Locals can also pick up meals from chain eateries such as Beggars Pizza, Subway, McDonald’s and Dunkin’. Additional shopping and dining options are available in downtown Gary to the north.
Big Daddy's Barbeque has a lengthy BBQ menu that includes ribs and brisket in Glen Park.
Big Daddy's Barbecue is a favorite spot for lunch in Glen Park.
Residents shop for their groceries at Aldi in Glen Park.
Aldi has affordable pricing on a large inventory of healthy food options in Glen Park.
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Important things to know
Glen Park holds high CAP Index scores for certain types of crime compared to the national averages, particularly for homicide and assault with weapons. In recent years, Gary’s local government has worked to mitigate violent crime through initiatives such as the Gary for Life policy strategy, modeled after similar rehabilitation efforts in New Orleans, and the Community Violence Intervention Program. Locals have organized anti-violence rallies and other efforts, with a 13% decrease in reported homicides between 2022 and 2023.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
James Beecher,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Robinson Lake Park
Three Rivers County Park
Fishing
Lake
Picnic Area
Ironwood Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Picnic Area
Pittman Square Park
Basketball
Playground
Rosser Park
Fishing
Lake
Playground
Spring Park
Parking Lot
Transit
Airport
Chicago Midway International
55 min drive
Bus
45th & Georgia
Bus
33rd & Broadway
Bus
35th & Georgia
Bus
45th & Harrison
Bus
35th & Harrison
Bus
Morningside (45th Ave) Northbound
Bus
49th & Harrison
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Glen Park
US
Homicide
7
4
Sexual Assault
4
4
Assault with Weapon
6
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Glen Park Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Glen Park, Gary sell after 51 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Glen Park, Gary over the last 12 months is $90,000, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
James Beecher,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has Equal Renters and Owners
Demographics
Total Population
23,139
Median Age
37
Population Density
6 ppl/acre
Population under 18
27.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$34,989
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$45,166
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
85.9%
College Graduates
12.9%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
4.9%
% Population in Labor Force
51.8%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
41''
Average Winter Low Temperature
16°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
42''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
38/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
41/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
