Lawrence

Houses ranging from a handful of 19th century Italianates to quaint cottages built between the early and mid-20th century fill Lawrence’s Barker neighborhood. The generational charm of these homes appeals to many, and the community works diligently to maintain its distinct character. “They take a lot of pride in how their yards look,” says Chris Black, owner of the One Heart Farm & Nursery, a neighborhood institution since the early 1900s. “They’re constantly doing different projects, upkeep and renovations.” Black supplies the community with the perennials, annuals and hanging flower baskets many here use to spruce up their houses and gardens. Throughout the week, the close-knit community enjoys activities ranging from stops at its artisan bakery to mingling over free coffee at the Sunrise Project, a nonprofit with a volunteer-maintained greenhouse and garden. “It’s just a very livable place because you can shop in your own neighborhood for a lot of things you would need day to day,” says Lisa Harris-Frydman, president of the Barker Neighborhood Association. “We’re also rich in culture and arts here. The hardware store has two huge murals on their building just to beautify the neighborhood. It’s a wonderful thing. And we have a lot of front porches, so people are always outside and visiting.” Houses near groups of mature oaks line Barker’s streets. Although sidewalks don’t exist in certain parts of the neighborhood, their absence hardly prevents leisurely strolls or walks to destinations like the University of Kansas. The neighborhood has an above average Walk Score and a Very Bikeable Bike Score. Colorful clapboard and single-story cottages make up much of the housing across Barker, and their footprints typically range between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet. “They’re good, comfortable, solid houses,” says Thomas Howe, an associate broker with McGrew Real Estate, who’s made 10 sales in Barker.Some of the houses come with distinct features like saltbox style, gambrel and half-hipped roofs. A few Craftsman bungalows and ranch-style houses also exist, and some homes blend these styles with other builds. Harris-Frydman, for instance, affectionately calls her house a “bungaloid.” The house has the columns and woodwork commonly seen with bungalows, but has a full second story — bungalows are distinctly one or one and a half stories. A few foursquares and Italianates from the 1800s add to the mix of housing. Trimmed plantings in front of the houses further enhance their character. Houses run roughly between $200,000 and $500,000, depending on size and age. Located in the heart of the neighborhood is the 1900 Barker - Bakery and Cafe, the owner of which is a multiple James Beard award semi-finalist. A go-to for locally made breads and a variety of coffees, the cafe is also known for pastries ranging from scones and chocolate chip cookies to almond croissants. Down the street from the bakery is the Taqueria La Pasadita, a staple for authentic Mexican street food. The Taqueria’s menu includes soft shell corn tortilla tacos and tortas. Guests can pair their meal with one of the many Jarritos sodas lining the restaurant’s wooden shelves. Those looking to mingle with other residents over coffee and snacks can stop by the Sunrise Project on the weekends. Each Sunday afternoon, the nonprofit hosts a free community cafe — although donations are welcomed. Visitors can also grab a book, play some board games or use the Wi-Fi to do some work on their laptops. More than a neighborhood stop for tools and landscaping equipment, the Cottin’s Hardware & Rental hosts the community’s weekly farmers market. Every Thursday, many flock to the store’s parking lot to browse a range of items that include farm fresh produce, plantings, local grass fed beef and homemade barbecue sauce. The market moves inside the store during the winters. The store, which runs under the True Value brand, also allows dog owners to bring their pets inside while shopping. “They have just gone out of their way to create a community,” Harris-Frydman says. The business neighbors a Dillons, which provides a grocery shopping option. Barker sits within reach of a few small green spaces. North of the neighborhood is Burroughs Creek Park. A favorite of children in the community, the park features colorful and creatively designed climbing sets and a recently added splash pad. A few stone blocks add to the park’s decor, and one has a fish carved into its side. Further adding to the park’s creative design is a picnic pavilion with wood columns attached to panels of old street signs. The Burroughs Creek Trail — which forms a roughly 3-mile path with the Haskell Rail Trail — allows for bike rides and jogs across East Lawrence and connects Barker to sites like the Haskell Indian Nations University campus to the south. Chief Jim McSwain Park offers another green space with a playground and basketball court. Younger students here can start at either New York or Cordley elementary schools, which receive a B-minus and B-plus respectively from ratings site Niche. They can then go on to Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, which receives a B from Niche. Liberty Memorial has a STEAM initiative and offers courses in subjects like coding, app creation and flight and space. Students then go on to Lawrence High School, which receives an A-minus from Niche. The high school’s extra curricular activities include improv and film clubs. The school’s alumni includes Brian McClendon, who’s credited with being the creator of groundbreaking digital tool, Google Earth. In partnership with Harris-Frydman and her husband, the Vintage Church on the far northwestern corner of the neighborhood hosts a series of concerts throughout the year. While they don’t occur every month, the church will sometimes put on as many as three shows in a month. “It depends on who’s coming through town,” Harris-Frydman says. The acts are typically smaller bands that are starting out and on the road to other shows in larger cities like Kansas City and St. Louis. “It’s a perfect partnership,” Harris-Frydman says about the collaboration with the church. The Sunrise Project’s lineup of events includes Talent Time on the first Sunday of each month. The nonprofit invites goers to take part in expressive activities like sharing artwork, reading a poem or singing a song they wrote. Barker lies about 4 miles south of Interstate 70, which provides a direct route to Kansas City to the east and state capital Topeka to the west. Lawrence sits about 27 miles and 40 miles, respectively, from Topeka and Kansas City. Located about 3 miles north of the neighborhood, the Lawrence Memorial Hospital provides the nearest major medical facility. While the city operates its own airport, many here travel to the Kansas City International Airport for out-of-state flights. Barker has CAP Index crime score of four out of 10, which puts it on par with the national average.

A wishing tree leans over East 12th Street, a narrow roadway tucked behind groups of houses in Lawrence’s Brook Creek neighborhood. Numerous tags hang from the twigs and strings tied around the trunk, with a couple of the colorful slips bearing messages about food and staying “wild.” The road leads down to Brook Creek Park, a green space close to acres of woodlands. “That area has a lot of green space. It has the walking trail, and recently added was a water play park,” says Victoria Perdue, leader of Keller Williams Integrity’s Complete Home Advisors team, who’s made a few sales in the neighborhood. The splash pad is at Burroughs Creek Park, one of several recreational sites in the neighborhood. Weekly activities here range from bike rides across east Lawrence on the Burroughs Creek Trail to afternoons working on tricks at the skate park south of the East Lawrence Recreation Center. The neighborhood further stands out with a small group of new and industrially-themed houses. “We do have beautiful large trees. Both cemeteries are a delight to walk in and real close to about everyone. We have a lot of double lots, so that makes for nice, open space,” says Fred Sack, president of the Brook Creek Neighborhood Association. “We have a lot of nice amenities, and you can get in pretty cheap over here.” Homes here sit atop raised lots behind young and mature trees. A few walking paths allow for strolls under the shade of the natural canopy. Cut-through alleys exist in parts of the neighborhood, and some homeowners have converted a few into yards with gardens. Brook Creek has many clapboard and traditional ranch-style houses. The neighborhood also has many Craftsman cottages, particularly along the alleys. Studio 804, a renowned architecture program at the University of Kansas, designed a few houses for the neighborhood. These projects stand out with modern features like prominent metal and glass exteriors. One of the contemporary builds is a flat-roofed and rectangular-shaped house with all-glass siding that reflects the surrounding scenery. Although the neighborhood has become a little more cramped over the years, a few residents like Sack enjoy double lots and land footprints that can reach up to 1 acre. With a recent average sale price that is $140,000 below that of Lawrence, many seek Brook Creek to enter the housing market. Most houses here are between 1,000 and 2,200 square feet and were built between the mid-20th century and the 2000s. Depending on size and age, price points for those houses run between $175,000 and $300,000. The handful of new contemporaries run roughly between 300 thousand dollars and 600 thousand dollars. Many in the neighborhood live within arm’s reach of several parks and recreational spaces. The 7-acre Brook Creek Park is a convenient spot for parents looking to keep their children active. The green space comes with a playground complete with a swing set and a court for teens looking to meetup for pickup basketball games. Visitors can also walk over to the 43-acre preserve and forested area next to the main part of the park. Right outside of the neighborhood’s bounds is Burroughs Creek Park, an outdoor destination for this part of the city. The park provides a colorful and creatively designed playground equipment and access to the Burroughs Creek Trail, which combines with the Haskell Rail Trail to form a roughly 3-mile path across east Lawrence. Many children also enjoy having fun in the park’s recently added splash pad. Located in the heart of the neighborhood, the East Lawrence Recreation Center in Edgewood Park is free to all who live in Douglas County. The facility’s gym can host anything from basketball games to evening dance classes. Aspiring gymnasts can also hone their skills in the Tumble Zone, which features a tumble track and balance beam. Just south of the rec center, many young skaters test their skills on the graffiti-covered ramps. The site also draws scooter riders. While there aren’t any restaurants within the neighborhood itself, those looking for places to dine don’t need to travel far. Right East 19th Street and Haskell is a nearby favorite in the Angeles Panaderia Mexican Restaurant & Bakery. Regulars can pick anything from authentic street style tacos and tamales to sticks of sweet churros. The restaurant is down the road from the 1900 Barker - Bakery and Cafe in the adjacent Barker neighborhood. A multiple James Beard award nominee, the cafe is a community favorite for artisan breads and pastries like almond croissants. The southern outskirts of Brook Creek are also a few blocks north of East 23rd Street, which is dense with eateries and shops. The Fields & Ivy Brewery is among the staples here. Along with craft brews, patrons can order bowls of fresh fruit and lettuce salads or freshly baked and doughy pretzels paired with beer cheese dip. The Dillons in neighboring Barker provides a grocery shopping option. Brook Creek also isn’t too far from downtown Lawrence and the several institutions in that part of the city. “You really could walk to downtown from there, like on the very western edge of th Brook Creek area. I’ve done that walk,” Perdue says. One of the most beloved spots here is the Free State Brewing Company, which has served the area since the late 1980s. Children in Brook Creek start at New York Elementary, which receives a B-minus from ratings site Niche. They then go on to Liberty Memorial Central Middle School and Lawrence High School, which receive B and A-minus grades respectively from Niche. Both the middle and high school emphasize STEM through their curricula, with the former giving its students early exposure through courses on coding and app creation. The highly rated Lawrence High is among the top 25 best high schools in Kansas for STEM. Parents can also take their preschool age children to the Kennedy Early Childhood Center. The programs there include pre-kindergarten readiness and early childhood special education services. The neighborhood sits just north of the site that hosts the annual Douglas County Fair. The event occurs over a period of several days in late July and early August and features a myriad of entertainment. Goers can enjoy a lineup of live music acts, get on carnival rides and sign up for cornhole tournaments. The fair also offers a variety of agricultural activities like llama, alpaca and poultry shows and a petting zoo. Brook Creek sits about 4 miles south of Interstate 70, which provides direct routes to both Topeka and Kansas City for commuters to each of those cities. Downtown Lawrence sits about 2 miles north of Brook Creek. Amtrak’s Lawrence station near downtown is a stop for the passenger rail service’s Southwest Chief Train, which also stops in Kansas City and runs as far west as Los Angeles. The Lawrence Memorial Hospital west of downtown provides a major and nearby medical facility for this part of the city. For out-of-state flights, many here travel to the Kansas City International Airport about 53 miles east. Brook Creek has an overall CAP Index crime score of four out of 10, which is on the par with the national average.

Centennial is a Lawrence neighborhood with mid-20th century character, but it also boasts the creative quirks of that era. The neighborhood enjoys structures like the Dean House, which easily stands out with its double hyperbolic paraboloid roof. A mature canopy and many diligently maintained lots add to the neighborhood’s Atomic Age traits. “It’s a very walkable neighborhood. We have city parks, and we’re also on the edge of the commercial district with shopping, grocery stores and all of that.” says Jeanne Klein, a former co-founder of the Centennial Neighborhood Association in the early 1990s. While many University of Kansas students live here, university staff still make up a portion of the neighborhood. “What you will find is professors who like to live there because of its proximity to the university and some of the sizes of the homes,” says Beth Ham, a Realtor with Realty Executives, who’s made many sales around KU. “There are affordable homes, but they also have a lot of character.” The proximity to KU was among the reasons Klein chose to settle there. “That’s one of the reasons I wanted to live close to campus. After teaching a full day of classes, I wanted to run home real quick, grab dinner and then go back and do rehearsals,” Klein, a former theater professor, says. “I just wanted to be a mile and a half away and hit the hay.” Houses in Centennial sit behind groups of trees that form dense canopies across the neighborhood. Many homeowners keep their yards spruced up with pine oaks, hostas and native plants like sun flowers and black-eyed Susans. “It’s a gorgeous neighborhood,” Klein says. “A lot of us are growing all sorts of native plants." Once a suburban neighborhood of Lawrence, many houses here were built in the mid-20th century for returning GIs. Today, a number of houses have been bought by parents of KU students and converted into rentals. The architecture features many ranch-style houses and Craftsman bungalows, but also has several builds — like the Dean House — with mid-century contemporary and postmodern traits. Sale price points can go from just under $200,000 for a house less than 1,000 square feet to almost $400,000 for one that’s nearly 2,000 square feet. Several local staples lie right along West 23rd Street, which forms Centennial southern bounds. Running out of a strip mall, the Thai Diner is a favorite among fans of Southeast Asian cuisine. Menu choices here include vegetable and protein rolls wrapped in boiled rice paper, chicken curry bowls with sides of plain rice and deep-fried fish. A little farther down the street is the Fresh Mediterranean, where gyro wraps and Greek-style salads are served out of a small convenience store space. On the other side of the neighborhood is Taylor’s Donuts, ran by the owner of multiple James Beard nominee 1900 Barker - Bakery and Cafe. Checkers Foods and Dillons on either side of the neighborhood provide nearby grocery stores. With Massachusetts Street cutting through the eastern end of Centennial, many in the neighborhood can easily reach and enjoy the many institutions in historic downtown Lawrence. “More people are going to venture downtown. It’s still considered pretty close to downtown,” Ham says. Among the renowned staples there is the more than three decades old Free State Brewing Company. Klein concurs with Ham. “For me personally, when I want to eat out, I go downtown. It’s our real pride and joy. It’s got lots of history and lots of restaurants, just some really fantastic places down there,” Klein says. “That’s part of why I love living in this part of the neighborhood.” While most of the athletic spaces within Centennial cater to Lawrence High School’s athletics, the neighborhood isn’t far from a few major city green spaces. Veterans Park along the neighborhood’s northern bounds offers a playground complete with creatively designed equipment painted in red and blue. There are also courts for pickup basketball games and tennis matches between friends. Just south of 23rd Street sits Naismith Valley Park, a nearly 1 mile-long and 25-acre park. The site consists of a mixture of open prairie and some dense woodlands that can be passed through on an approximately 2-mile-long trail. Birdwatchers enjoy the park, and birds spotted here include tree swallows and American goldfinches. East of this green space is Broken Arrow Park, where parents with children will find more playground fixtures. The park occasionally hosts events like small vintage car shows. Avid horseshoe players will also find 16 courts for the hobby, and the Lawrence Horseshoe Club regularly puts on contests here. Older teens don’t need to drive or take the bus to go to class as Centennial is home to Lawrence High School, which receives an A-minus from ratings site Niche. The site ranks the high school among the top 25 best high schools for STEM in Kansas. A recently approved measure also requires all of Lawrence’s high schoolers to get an extra STEM credit to graduate. Prior to attending Lawrence High, children in the neighborhood go to Cordley Elementary School and Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, which receive B-plus and B grades respectively from Niche. Opened over a century ago and renovated in the mid-2010s, Cordley serves just under 300 students. One of its special services is English as a second language to English learners. Centennial previously maintained an annual series of events like community garage sales, but those gatherings have declined as the neighborhood has become less active. Despite that, residents don’t need to look far for festivities. The neighborhood sits just a few miles south of South Park, which is as much of a city meetup point as it is scenic and relaxing green space. Events there include the annual Juneteenth celebration. The proximity to KU also puts Centennial within convenient distance of the NCAA Division I matches like Jayhawks basketball games at the Allen Fieldhouse. “There’s always something to do in this town,” Klein says. Centennial sits about 4 miles south Interstate 70, which provides commuter routes to Topeka and Kansas City. Kentucky Street provides a direct connection to downtown Lawrence about 2 miles north. Near downtown is Amtrak’s Lawrence station, a stop for the passenger rail service’s Southwest Chief Train. Lawrence Transit bus stops along Massachusetts and West 23rd streets provide more alternative transportation options. The Lawrence Memorial Hospital about 3 miles north addresses major medical needs. For out-of-state flights, many here travel to the Kansas City International Airport about 53 miles east. Centennial has an overall CAP Index crime score of four out of 10, on par with the national average.

Some say “park like” is an accurate way to describe Deerfield. Groups of trees not only line the streets, but can be found clustered behind houses where they can appear to turn backyards into tiny forests. Although some may not like the upkeep these kinds of lots require, much of Deerfield’s buyer pool enjoys the neighborhood’s natural scenery. “Those that have those kinds of backyards, they’re really a draw to buyers,” says Beth Ham, a Realtor with Realty Executives, who’s made a few sales in Deerfield. Additionally, the neighborhood draws parents who appreciate the proximity to Deerfield Elementary School. They can often be seen walking their children to the school in the morning. Located on either side of the school is Deerfield Park and the Lawrence Country Club, which both provide close and various recreational activities for the neighborhood. “I think some people like the school district. Some people like that it’s a mature neighborhood,” says Jill Ballew, a Realtor with Stephens Real Estate, who’s made several sales in Deerfield. “Lawrence is a pretty pedestrian friendly city, but they do have a cute little park there. It’s a walkable neighborhood, and it’s kind of right in the middle of town so you can get east or west pretty quickly.” Groups of oaks, maples and pines surround many houses built between the 1960s and 1980s. Hilly lots are not uncommon and have made way for numerous split-level style houses. The split-levels here typically have double garages on the side with two-stories. “It’s a variety of homes there, but they’re older, so they have a lot of character,” Ballew says. “And there are also some really unique homes.” The neighborhood’s architecture includes bi-levels, contemporary Traditionals from the latter half of the 20th century, ranch-style houses and midcentury builds. Houses show prominent wood or clapboard exteriors with some brick mixed in. A group of more upscale houses on larger and more elaborately landscaped lots exist right outside of Deerfield’s bounds. Boasting Traditional touches, some of these houses show stone exteriors and wood shingle roofing. The lots also feature brick driveways and winding walkways lined by large stones, pines and maples. Price points in Deerfield can go from approximately $250,000 for a 1,300-square-foot house to $450,000 for one just over 3,000 square feet. The upscale houses right outside the neighborhood can run between $1 million and $3 million. Deerfield Park has several amenities for both children and teens. The park provides sites for pickup basketball games and baseball and softball matches. While children enjoy burning off energy on its playgrounds, teens and young adults can also find some use out of the equipment. The playground fixtures include exercise bars that can be used for calisthenics workouts. Deerfield Park also has one of the city’s two skate parks. Avid skateboarders can sharpen their skills and tricks on a variety of ramps and grind rails. On the other side of Lawrence Avenue is the private Lawrence Country Club. In addition to playing on the 18-hole course, members can access a pool and several dining locations at the club. The dining spots include the Tiki Hut by the pool and a deck overlooking the course itself. “I hear it’s one of the better golf courses around here,” Ham says. Those looking to enroll in some fitness classes and do some gym workouts can sign up at the Genesis Health Clubs - Lawrence North. While many here often go downtown to dine, several eateries are clustered along West Sixth Street on the southern end of the neighborhood. A few restaurants serving Asian cuisine exist among the chains on West Sixth. They include the Kobe Japanese Steakhouse, where patrons can enjoy watching the chefs prepare the meals on the renowned iron griddles. In a nearby strip mall is Thai-Siam, a counter serve spot offering both Thai and Chinese foods. Just south of Deerfield in neighboring Sunset Hill is Biemer’s BBQ, another counter serve spot where a variety of meats and downhome sides are enjoyed on simple foam plates. A Dillons offers a grocery shopping option. The neighborhood is home to Deerfield Elementary School, which receives a B-plus from ratings site Niche. Older children then go on to West Middle School in neighboring Sunset Hill. The middle school, which receives a B-plus from Niche, provides unique activities like a Pokemon Go Club. Students here finish their secondary education at Lawrence Free State High School, which receives an A-minus from Niche. The ratings site ranks the school among the top 20 best high schools for STEM in the state. The school’s extracurriculars include a Women in STEM club and a robotics team called Team STEAM. Near the Monterey community, which Deerfield neighbors, is the annual Santa’s Lights. Running from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, the festivity invites the community to drive through the residential area around Monterey Way and Running Ridge Drive to enjoy a holiday lights display. The night time show has featured small Christmas trees and snowmen illuminated in multiple colors. Snow-covered pines and lawns during the middle of December enhance the displays. For more festivities, many here travel a few miles east to the city’s downtown, which hosts the weekly Lawrence Farmers Market. The market runs every Saturday morning between April and September. Interstate 70 just north of the neighborhood provides a commuter route to both Topeka and Kansas City. West Sixth directly connects the neighborhood to downtown Lawrence, which is about 3 miles from Deerfield. Lawrence’s Amtrak station operates near downtown and serves as a stop for the service’s Southwest Chief Train. The line stops in neighboring Kansas City and runs as far west as Los Angeles. Those looking for alternative transportation options will find a few Lawrence Transit stops along West Sixth. Deerfield also lies about 2 miles west of the Lawrence Memorial Hospital. For out of state flights, many here go to the Kansas City International Airport, which is more than 50 miles east of Lawrence. Deerfield has an overall CAP Index crime score of four out of 10.

East Lawrence sits a few blocks east of downtown Lawrence with its dense, eclectic mix of shops and eateries alongside Massachusetts Street. “You get to see more of the historical side of Lawrence when you’re on that side of town,” says Victoria Perdue, team leader for Keller Williams Integrity’s Complete Home Advisors team, who’s made sales in nearby neighborhoods. The establishments downtown run out of rows of low-rise brick buildings with glass and vintage storefronts. Red brick roads cut through blocks of houses dating back over a century and the industrial district along Pennsylvania Street. The proximity to downtown, the art scene and cultural activities are among the other perks of living in East Lawrence. Several former warehouses here have been repurposed into spaces for art galleries and studios. Cider Gallery hosts live music and showcases tableaus and other paintings depicting colorful farm scenery. Indie film screenings occur during the summer and Art in the Park is a decades long city tradition where goers go hunting for jewelry and crochets. Houses in the neighborhood can go as far back as the late 19th century. The architecture ranges from less than 1,000-square-foot ranch-style houses and Craftsman bungalows to 4,000-square-foot Queen Anne cottages and modern contemporaries. One of the area’s leading builders has also modernized several of the older and smaller houses by making contemporary additions to them. Wood fences for privacy are common, while some of the Queen Annes occupy lots with wrought-iron fencing enclosing both the front and back yards. Houses sit behind groups of mature trees that form dense canopies across the neighborhood. Red brick roads also cut through parts of the neighborhood with narrow walking paths. Sale price points can go from under $200,000 for a cozy log ranch-style house to $900,000 for a new contemporary. East Lawrence residents can take advantage of dining and shopping options located a few blocks away in downtown Lawrence. The Free State Brewing Company began serving craft beers in the late 1980s, decades before the national brewpub craze. Free State's flagship beers include the Ad Astra Amber Ale and the Stormchaser IPA. Merchants Pub & Plate's menu includes an over-easy egg English muffin sandwich with fries. Merchants runs out of an old bank that first opened in the late 19th century, and remnants of the institution remain visible. “They’ve turned the vaults into the bathroom, so every time you visit the restroom, you’re in the vault,” Perdue says. One of the most well-known stories about this building is Clyde Barrow — one-half of the outlaw duo Bonnie and Clyde — robbed the bank in 1932. Popular shops downtown include Love Garden Sounds, a favorite of music fans and vinyl collectors. East Lawrence itself is home to Bon Bon!, a bistro serving anything from beet poke to okonomiyaki, a Japanese pancake dish with toppings like pork cutlet and shiitake mushrooms. Just down the street, Lawrence Beer Company serves up flights and pints in it’s roomy, industrial-style taproom. Also nearby is CARAMELO, a tortilla shop for those looking to try their hand at making some Mexican dishes at home. The tortillas are distinctly made with duck fat. A Dillons in the neighboring Barker community to the south offers a nearby grocery shopping option. For farm fresh produce and artisan goods, the Lawrence Farmers Market downtown runs every Saturday between April and late November. South Park serves as the neighborhood’s main green space and is home to the city’s parks and recreation administrative office. Lawrence’s oldest park, the site extends on both sides of Massachusetts Street. Visitors on one side of the park can relax by the Roosevelt Fountain, a granite installation President Theodore Roosevelt himself saw when he attended its dedication. Other activities on this side include strolls along a path lined with eastern redbuds, sweetgums and sugar maples and through flower gardens. On the other side of Massachusetts, children enjoy burning off energy on the playground and swings and visiting the butterfly garden. On the other end of the neighborhood is Hobbs Park and the Municipal Stadium, the latter of which is adorned with mural panels showing East Lawrence’s history. The art includes scenes of the Lawrence Massacre, Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes and baseball games at the venue. The stadium neighbors the historic Murphy - Bromelsick house, a brick structure and memorial to abolitionist and newspaper publisher John Speer. In addition to functioning as a neighborhood green space, South Park hosts a variety of events ranging from live music performances to art showcases. On Wednesday nights during the summer, a few hundred people come out to the park with their cooler chairs and gather around the gazebo for the free summer band concert series. Each night is centered on themes like Americana and Hollywood Nights. “There are a lot of scores from movies. They did some Disney,” says Beth Ham, a Realtor with Realty Executives, who’s made nearly 20 sales in East Lawrence. “It’s a little family type of event. You got kids running all over the place. People bring their dogs, bicycles and roller skates.” The Lawrence Arts Center hosts the Free State Festival over several days in June. The celebration includes a variety of entertainment, including indie film screenings at the center. “There are always art festivals,” Ham says about the scene around East Lawrence. Students in East Lawrence start at New York Elementary School, which receives a B-minus from Niche. The school houses a local Boys and Girls Club after-school program. Older children and teens then go on to Liberty Memorial Central Middle School and Lawrence High School, which receive B and A-minus grades respectively. Both schools’ emphasize science and technology. Liberty’s STEAM initiative includes courses on subjects like coding and app creation, and obtaining an additional STEM credit is among the new graduation requirements for Lawrence’s high school students. Niche ranks Lawrence High as among the top 25 best high schools in the state for STEM. East Lawrence is within 2 miles of Interstate 70, which serves as a commuter route to both Topeka and Kansas City. Located on the northern end of the neighborhood, Amtrak’s Lawrence station is a stop for the Southwest Chief Train. The line makes a stop in Kansas City and goes as far west as Los Angeles. The Lawrence Memorial Hospital west of downtown puts the neighborhood within 2 miles of a major medical facility. For out-of-state flights, many here travel to the Kansas City International Airport about 53 miles east. East Lawrence has an overall CAP Index crime score of eight out of 10, double the national average.

Although the row of Greek life houses to its east might suggest otherwise, Hillcrest is home to a large number of non-student residents. This neighborhood bordering the University of Kansas has drawn buyers attracted to its vast collection of post-World War II houses. “It’s just the type of home in the Hillcrest area. It’s geared more for younger families than it is for college kids,” says Jason Robinson, a Realtor with Keller Williams, who’s made several sales around KU. “There are a lot of entry level houses, but also houses where a lot of professors live. Those houses are just immaculate, gorgeous and in really good shape.” A smattering of upscale houses with stone exteriors and Greek Revival features sit along University Drive. They occupy spacious lots with ranch fencing, ornate landscaping and patches of mature trees. The community is also home to Hillcrest Elementary School. “It’s a walk down the hill to campus and a lot of people like that location,” Karyn Davis, a Realtor with McGrew Real Estate, who lives near the university. “And the proximity to the Hillcrest school, which is kind of in the middle of the neighborhood. It’s one of those neighborhoods built around the school.” The neighborhood’s houses sit along quiet streets lined by mature oaks and pines. Ranch-style and midcentury builds from the 1950s make up much of the architecture. They show a mix of wood, brick and stone veneer exteriors and occupy lots up to about a third of an acre. Other features include both detached and double garages and wood fences for privacy. “There’s lots of midcentury homes. I think it’s a style that a lot of people are really attracted to right now. It’s comfortable,” Davis says. A few split-levels and larger homes that blend Cape Cod and Traditional features also exist in the neighborhood. Price points can go from just under $300,000 for a traditional ranch-style house to nearly $370,000 for a slightly larger midcentury. The stately homes on University Drive have footprints larger than 3,000 square feet. Play equipment like rings, rope ladders and swings have been attached to a few of the trees in front of these homes. Although the houses aren’t listed for sale, their values run between $800,000 and $900,000. The neighborhood can choose between Iowa and West Sixth streets for shopping and dining options. Staples at the Hillcrest Shopping Center off Iowa include Biemer’s BBQ and Munchers Bakery. Biemer’s is a counter-serve restaurant serving hearty choices like brisket and pulled pork sandwiches on foam plates. Regulars like to pair the sandwiches with sides of potato salad, fries or baked beans. Munchers serves an array of pastries ranging from doughnuts and warm cinnamon rolls to cream cheese danishes. Both establishments neighbor the Merc Co+op, a community-owned store where shoppers find a variety of locally-sourced foods and produce. A Dillons farther west offers more grocery shopping options. On the eastern end of Hillcrest is Louise’s West, a popular watering hole and late night hangout. Hillcrest has a cozy neighborhood green space called Water Tower Park. Named after the water tower overlooking the grounds, the park’s open field has long attracted friendly games of football and basketball among local children and teens. The park has a playground that comes complete with a swing and slide. Hillcrest neighbors Centennial Park, one of the city’s largest parks. The 35-acre site draws disc golf enthusiasts to its 18-hole course. The outdoor venue also boasts a lighted skate park with one of the few 30-foot ramps in this part of the country. Clinton Park north of West Sixth provides a path for relaxing walks and another playground with a spiraling slide. Hillcrest is home to an elementary school that shares the neighborhood’s name. Hillcrest Elementary receives a B from ratings site Niche. The school promotes a healthy lifestyle for its students through various programs like the Boys & Girls Club and the Hawkathon Club. The latter allows participating students to run a marathon by the end of the school year. Students then go on to West Middle School and Lawrence Free State High School, which receive B-plus and A-minus grades respectively from Niche. Lawrence Free State among several city schools that promote science learning, and Niche ranks the institution among the top 20 best high schools in Kansas for STEM. Lawrence Free State’s other academic highlights include recently winning a fifth consecutive state title in speech. The proximity to the KU campus puts Hillcrest close to attractions like the Allen Fieldhouse, home of Jayhawks basketball. Like other neighborhoods bordering the campus, Hillcrest won’t be close to Jayhawks football games for a while due to the redesign of the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. But they’ll be able to enjoy game day festivities again once the massive project is completed. The community stays active and close-knit through smaller events like neighborhood garage sales. Hillcrest lies less than 2 miles south from Interstate 70, which provides a route for those who commute to Topeka and Kansas City. West Ninth Street provides a direct connection to downtown Lawrence about 1 miles east of the neighborhood. The Lawrence Transit makes stops in the neighborhood for those needing alternative transportation. Those going on out-of-state flights go to Kansas City International Airport about 50 miles east of Lawrence. The Lawrence Memorial Hospital less than 2 miles north provides a major medical facility. The neighborhood has an overall CAP Index crime score of four out of 10, putting it on par with the national average.