$259,053Average Value$175Average Price per Sq Ft45Homes For Sale
Where youth and diversity collide
About 16,000 people call Garfield Park home, with over 30% of them being under the age of 18. The very young and highly diverse neighborhood focuses on recreation, community and affordability and is a great place for young professionals and families to settle down. However, a suburban way of life doesn't have to come at the cost of convenience since the neighborhood is close to employers downtown, shopping centers and the highway. According to Byrant Mitchell, a Realtor with Bellabay Realty with over 19 years of experience, "The center point of Garfield Park is that it's centralized and has beautiful historic homes." 120-year-old parks and an active neighborhood association unite locals to create an engaging environment and work towards a collective vision of what Garfield Park can be.
President Gerald R. Ford’s childhood home is located in Garfield Park.
Hand-painted murals with unique designs can be found throughout Garfield Park.
1/2
Disc golf, bike parks and every sport
Plaster Creek Family Park is next to the train tracks and highway bordering the western end of the neighborhood. Walking trails loop around soccer and baseball fields, and tennis and basketball courts sit beside the park's flower garden. Bikers of all levels can check out Grand Rapids Bike Park, where skinny trails, obstacles and bowls to drop in put balancing skills to the test. The neighborhood's namesake, Garfield Park, sits right in the center of the area and is a major draw for homebuyers when choosing where to settle down. "It's hard to get a home in Garfield Park, so most people purchase in the neighborhoods along the perimeter but then travel in the parks. There are all types of activities there," Mitchell says. A splash pad keeps the littlest residents cool in the summer months, and a full disc golf course is on-site for those wanting to work on their game. Established in 1906, the gathering space has expanded to include soccer, tennis, basketball and baseball facilities.
Grand Rapids Bike Park offers trails and jumps for Garfield Park bikers.
Garfield Park features disc golf and open space for activities.
1/2
Historic homes with little lawns
Division Ave intersects the neighborhood and fittingly divides the housing stock into two distinct clusters. While both halves have an assortment of bungalows, ranch-style homes and Dutch Colonial Revivals, the houses on the western end sit closer together and hug the gridded streets with front steps leading right to sidewalks. The homes also offer lower prices and can be found for as low as $100,000, while the homes in the east can reach upwards of $450,000. Queen Anne Victorians from the 1800s and Tudor Revivals add to the historic variety, sharing streets with American Foursquares painted with contrasting trims. "There was a pride of workmanship and craftsmanship that meant something when they were built," says Ingrid Nelson, a Realtor and team lead of the Ingrid Nelson Group for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. Private driveways lead to detached garages and plenty of room for firepits and yard games in tree-shaded backyards. The area is large – one of the largest neighborhoods in the city boundaries of Grand Rapids – so houses become available reasonably frequently. However, they don't last on the market for long and sell in under two weeks.
Garfield Park includes several Queen Anne Victorian homes.
Tudor Revival houses are common in Garfield Park.
1/2
Ethnically focused cuisine and a summer treat
Over 10 Mexican and Latin restaurants line Division Ave and Rodriguez Supermarket provides the neighborhood with fresh produce, pantry staples and specialty Latin products. Saigon Market has Asian groceries, but for a familiar national grocer, residents can drive 1 mile west to Aldi. Though small, Alger Heights Shopping Center packs a punch when it comes to noteworthy food. Artful appetizers and locally brewed beers are at Brass Ring Brewing. Sunday brunch is bustling with locals trying to snag a table and enjoy creative takes on classic dishes. The summer months stay mild, but ice cream lovers still line up around the block outside Heights Cream. They have floats and shakes, but a classic soft serve never fails, especially when topped with chunks of cookie dough or fresh strawberries.
Garfield Park’s Brass Ring Brewing offers outdoor seating and cold beers for summer days.
Sip Coffee & Cocktails offers patio drinks for Garfield Park residents.
1/2
Working together with the neighborhood association
The Garfield Park Neighborhood Association runs a helpful website and produces a newsletter to keep residents informed and updated on what is happening in and around the community. The organization sponsors an annual meeting where residents come together over dinner and have a chance to get involved in strategic plans for the upcoming year. The association also works hard to improve safety. It has multiple channels for reporting crime, graffiti and concerns about neighborhood well-being. Garfield Park has an overall CAP Index score of 6 out of 10. Robbery and motor vehicle theft rate highest with an 8 out of 10, while all other categories rate a 6 or 7.
Garfield Park Neighborhoods Association hosts dinners and events to bring residents together.
Garfield Park features colonial homes and a variety of other styles.
1/2
Bypassing the highway with through streets and bike lanes
U.S. Route 131 forms much of the neighborhood's western border, providing residents with quick and easy interstate access. However, one of the neighborhood's best features is that "It's close enough to downtown to bypass the highway," Mitchell says. "The freeways in Western Michigan are terrible with traffic, and it's currently 'construction season.'" Buses conveniently stop in the middle of the neighborhood for those wanting to forgo their cars, and the city is updating many roads to include designated bike lanes. Many hospitals are downtown, about 4 miles north, and the nearest airport, Gerald R. Ford International Airport, is 9 miles southeast.
Bilingual learning next to home
Spanish-speaking students in Garfield Park have bilingual learning options, which are a short walk away from home at Burton Elementary and Burton Middle School. Both rated a C-minus by Niche, the schools share a building, making drop-off simple for families with children of multiple ages. Ottawa Hills is one of the high schools that offers specialized programs in the district. Ninth through twelfth graders can participate in C-rated school's hospitality or media production classes.
Burton Elementary and Middle School serves Garfield Park students in Grand Rapids.
Ottawa Hills High School is a public school serving Garfield Parks students.
1/2
Written By
Heather Haggerty
Photography Contributed By
Jonathan Fairfield
Video By
Francisco de la Vera
Was this overview helpful?
Agents Specializing in this Area
Keith King
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Michigan Real Estate (Main)
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
Are you familiar with the Garfield Park neighborhood?
to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Garfield Park
US
Homicide
6
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
6
4
Robbery
7
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
6
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Garfield Park Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Garfield Park, Grand Rapids sell after 14 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Garfield Park, Grand Rapids over the last 12 months is $253,450, up 10% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to this beautifully maintained brick home in the heart of Grand Rapids' sought-after Alger Heights neighborhood! Situated on a corner lot with a driveway off College Ave this home is a classic charm with modern comfort, featuring original hardwood floors and inviting character throughout. An abundance of natural lighting enhances the spacious living room with a cozy wood-burning fireplace
Cheryl MorehouseBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices Michigan Real Estate (South)
Own your future in Grand Rapids with this brand-new, modern home! Thoughtfully designed for comfort, style, and efficiency, this move-in-ready home features quality craftsmanship and designer finishes. Choose from five unique models to fit your lifestyle. Offered through the Dwelling Place Community Land Trust (DPCLT), this opportunity makes homeownership more accessible and affordable. Visit
Beautifully updated 3 bedroom, 3 bath home with an additional lot featuring a 1 bedroom, 1 bath apartment—perfect for guests or a private office. The main floor shines with all new flooring, a spacious living room with fireplace, open dining area, and a brand-new kitchen designed for modern living. A guest room or office plus a half bath complete the first floor. Upstairs, discover three bedrooms
Property Id: 1500231Welcome to your new home in Grand Rapids! This charming 2 bed, 1 bath unit features modern appliances such as a washer (shared), dryer (shared), microwave, and refrigerator. Enjoy the convenience of off-street parking, on-site laundry, and a fenced yard. Located near parks and wired for internet, this cozy unit is perfect for anyone looking for a comfortable and
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.
