The nation's only surviving Greenbelt Town
Greenhills, an official National Historic Landmark since 2017, was developed by the United States Government during the Great Depression. It was one of only three so-called "Greenbelt Towns" located throughout the country, a New Deal attempt to combat the nation's housing shortage. Greenhills is the only surviving example of its kind and features a mix of 1930s era townhouses and parks surrounded by Winton Woods' 2,500 acres. Nearby, about 15 miles south of this suburb's shaded streets, is Cincinnati. "A lot of people call it Mayberry," says Diana Harrison-Koller, treasurer for the Greenhills Historical Society. "It's a very small community. We're only 1 square mile in size and originally, it was designed so you didn't have to leave the community except for work and it's still kind of that way." Today, Greenhills is home to nearly 4,000 residents, many of whom are third and fourth-generation descendants of the village's original pioneers.
New Deal-era townhouses, mid-century homes and modern upgrades
The majority of the homes available in Greenhills are townhouse styles built in 1938 during the height of the Greenbelt Project. Here, prospective buyers will find brick and wood-paneled exteriors, detached single-car garages and street parking. Prices range from around $100,000 to $200,000. "We've got the original section of the village, which is part of the national historic landmark built by the government," says Harrison-Koller. "Then we've got homes built in the '50s that are one- or two-bedrooms. And right now, the village is undergoing redevelopment, trying to bring back homes reminiscent of the original style, but more modern." These mid-century style single-family homes range between $200,000 and $330,000 while the more recent builds, like contemporary townhouses can sell for close to $400,000. Greenhills has a CAP Index Crime Score of 3 out of 10, which is lower than the national average of 4.
A neighborhood park and recreational opportunities in Winton Woods
Spanning close to 5 acres, residents can walk to the tennis courts and T-ball fields in Greenhills' Palma Park. There's also a playground for younger children. This neighborhood is also dedicated to preserving its oldest trees—many of which were planted during the Great Depression—through the community's Heritage Tree Program. The program's advisory board works to carefully restore sidewalks without damaging the tree's aging roots and is also planning for the addition of new trees in the coming years. A public swimming pool is open for residents through Labor Day and they can also enjoy direct access to Winton Woods. Local Keller Williams Realtor Brian Jackson, who grew up in the area, says the 2,500-acre Winton Woods forested area is popular for catch-and-release fishing, hiking and—especially for out-of-towners—camping. Nearby, residents will also find golf courses like Meadow Links and The Mill nearby and there's even a small splash pad for children beside Winton Lake.
Annual celebrations at Parky's Farm and 'Light up Greenhills' in the Village Commons
Spanning around 100 acres within Winton Woods is Parky's Farm, a popular destination for local Girl Scout troops and school field trips. Goats, pigs, cows and llamas live on the grounds and visitors can also enjoy pony and wagon rides. During the winter season, the park is decorated with string lights for its "Holidays on the Farm" event, which includes reindeer, food trucks, live music and open campfires. The Village of Greenhills also hosts additional events throughout the year, like the Harvest Festival in October, which features tethered hot air balloon rides and food trucks, Veterans Day celebrations in the Village Common and a popular event called Light up Greenhills. "They have Santa come in for the kids on a fire truck," says Harrison-Koller. "They have carriage rides, a bonfire, cookies and hot chocolate. Everybody loves it."
Top-rated music education in the Winton Woods City School District
Greenhills is served by the Winton Woods City School District, which is also one of the area's leading employers. Students can attend the Early Childhood Central Campus through kindergarten before moving on to the Primary School South Campus for first and second grades; the school earns a B-plus grade from Niche. Next are Winton Woods Elementary, which receives a C grade, Winton Woods Intermediate, which also earns a C and the C-minus-rated Winton Woods Middle. Winton Woods High School North Campus earns a C-plus from Niche and students can take part in band, orchestra, choir or theater through the school's Fine Arts department. For the better part of a decade, the district was voted as one of the best communities for music education in the country by the National Association of Music Merchants.
WPA murals and public library activities
At the Greenhills Community Building, visitors will find murals dating back to the time of President Franklin Roosevelt and his Works Progression Administration. "It started as an all-age school, but it included everything the community needed as far as education, sports and they showed movies," says Harrison-Koller, speaking about the building's history. "It also housed churches." Today, the building serves as the headquarters for the historical society and is home to a small neighborhood museum, open by appointment only. The public library, located next door, hosts activities like book club meetings, family story time sessions and a film club.
Greenhills Shopping Center and retail options along Winton Road
Retail in the neighborhood is limited to the Greenhills Shopping Center, where options include French Toast Heaven for casual brunches, Greenhills Sandwich Shop Mediterranean Grill for chicken shawarma or falafel to go and a Dollar General for basic grocery items and household necessities. There are also select items available at the AmeriStop FoodMart. Farther south outside the neighborhood, Winton Road is lined with fast food chains and doctors' offices, and the Kroger in Brentwood Plaza is ideal for larger grocery runs. Locally sourced produce is sold at the Citrus Tree, a small farm stand that opened off Corbett Road in 2016.
Metro public transit and Interstates 75 and 71 to Cincinnati
Those who commute to work in Cincinnati—where major employers include Kroger, Procter & Gamble and Cincinnati Children's—can opt to travel via Metro, the city's public bus system. Route 20 stops in Greenhills and runs south along Winton Road. Commuters with personal vehicles can take Interstate 75 or I-71 to get into the city, and the 17-mile trip can take upwards of 30 minutes, depending on traffic. The Butler County Regional Airport is 7 miles away, and most commercial jets operate out of the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport. Medical care is accessible at Mercy Health-Fairfield Hospital, less than 4 miles north.
Photography Contributed By
Michael Beaver
