Lincoln Park has been a well-kept pocket for 100 years
Jeffrey Stoudt frequently strolls the sidewalks of Lincoln Park, admiring the century-old brick architecture, manicured bushes and colorful flower beds. “The great majority keep their lawns and gardens tidy — and some are downright immaculate,” he says. Stoudt grew up in this suburban pocket outside of Reading and still lives there, running the Lincoln Park Weather Bureau — a hobbyist weather station — from his house. Stoudt says not much has changed since his childhood; residents still take pride in their properties, swim meets continue to anchor the social scene and the community retains a family-friendly atmosphere. One change has been the addition of shopping centers just west of the homes, enabling locals to shop without driving to Wyomissing or Reading.
Brick construction from the early and mid-1900s
Development started in the 1920s, with Tudor Revivals, Dutch colonials and Cape Cod styles built over the next three decades. Brick construction and dormer windows are prominent features of the homes, which are uniformly spaced apart on compact lots. Condo complexes were constructed later along West Wyomissing Boulevard. Recent condo sales vary from $135,000 to $145,000, while single-family prices range from $250,000 to $625,000. Stoudt says that when a for-sale sign is planted in front of a Lincoln Park house, it usually only takes a week for someone to snatch up the home.
Wilson School District to build new campus
Stoudt grew up walking to the community elementary school, but it was demolished in 2014. However, the district plans to build a new Lincoln Park Elementary School that will open in time for the 2027-2028 school year. In the meantime, most children in the community can go to Shiloh Hills Elementary, which gets a Niche grade of B-plus. After fifth grade, students can attend B-rated Southern Middle and then Wilson High, graded an A-minus.
Groceries, hardware and pizza at a pair of shopping centers
Houses are within a 5-minute drive of two shopping centers, where residents run to Weis Markets and Lowe’s Home Improvement. The retail plazas also house an Anytime Fitness and The Original Mamas Pizza, which bakes Sicilian and Neapolitan-style pies. More businesses, including Schaylor Brewing Co. and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, line Lancaster Pike just outside of Lincoln Park.
Lincoln Park Pool is one of the longest-standing amenities
The Lincoln Park Pool has endured for more than 50 years, and the swim team is just as active as when Stoudt was a kid in the ‘60s, he says. There have been some changes over the years, such as the addition of a pickleball court and Aqua Zumba classes. To swim in the pool, locals must either buy a membership or come as the guest of a member. A playground and baseball fields occupy the spot where the old elementary school stood. When the new school is constructed, this park will be converted into play areas for the students. There’s another playground, along with basketball courts and softball fields, at nearby Red Caboose Park.
Snow is normal in the winter. Stoudt has tracked the weather in Lincoln Park since 1983, and he has seen winters ranging from a storm-filled season with 85 inches of total snowfall to a year with less than 4 inches. In recent years, snow flurries barely accumulated on the sidewalks, melting after a few hours, Stoudt says. “The last couple winters, we didn’t really need a shovel.”
80 years of worship and missions at Lincoln Park Community UMC
Members of Lincoln Park Community United Methodist Church feed the region in multiple ways, from serving a free Sunday morning breakfast once a month to cooking meals at the church and giving them away at Opportunity House, a Reading homeless shelter. Lincoln Park Community United Methodist was founded in 1945, and it continues to hold two services every Sunday.
Highway and bus connections to Reading
U.S. Route 222 leads from Lincoln Park to Berkshire Mall, about 8 minutes away, and downtown Reading, a 15-minute drive. Berks County’s BARTA bus stops at several places in Lincoln Park, taking riders to Reading Hospital in 15 minutes and downtown Reading in about 30 minutes. Reading Regional Airport doesn’t offer commercial flights, but passengers can fly to more than a dozen U.S. cities from Lehigh Valley International Airport, 45 miles away.
Written By
Alex Soderstrom
