Washington Park

Overlooking downtown Oklahoma City, Washington Park offers unparalleled convenience with a competitive price tag. David Aita, a Realtor with Lime Realty, notes that “neighborhoods on the northeast side of town are definitely up-and-coming.” Broker Greg Ouren, with Keller Williams Platinum, agrees: “The whole area is transitioning in a positive direction.” With the secret of Washington Park’s enviable location in the OKC urban core and under-the-median home prices out, the neighborhood is drawing increasing attention from investors and developers. “Now’s the time to invest here,” says Aita, predicting that this part of town will be “unrecognizable” within a few years. “When you buy at the beginning of the development or redevelopment of an area, it’s always better than waiting to buy till the tail end. It’s an exciting time for the community, for sure.”

You’ll find a variety of early Oklahoman architectural styles on display here, from Craftsman and Traditional-style bungalows to Contemporary and brick ranch-style homes. “There are several new builds here and a lot of older homes from the ’20s and ‘30s that have been updated. It’s a mix, what with all the different kinds of investors buying in the area and doing different things,” Aita says. He explains that as Washington Park has increased in popularity with professional developers, house-flipping hobbyists and first-time homebuyers alike, you’re as likely to see homes undergoing extensive renovations as you are homes being torn down and rebuilt. A typical Washington Park two-bedroom, one-bathroom bungalow built in 1938, with a wide screened-in porch and an original, wood-burning fireplace tends to sell for close to $150,000. The median list price hovers below the median for the city, around the $170,000 mark.

Just a mile from downtown OKC, Washington Park’s location is a large part of its appeal. “You’re as close to downtown as you can be without being right in the middle of it, which people like,” Aita notes. Ouren adds that a benefit of being separated from the city center by Interstate 235 is that while you’re still “close enough to take advantage” of all the entertainment, shopping and dining options, “you’re far enough that you don’t have to deal with the traffic outside your house.”

For date night, head west down 4th Street to the downtown Bricktown District. “There’s just an incredible amount of great food, you could pick a place randomly and you’d still have a great experience,” says Aita. Start the evening at Vast Restaurant at the top of the Devon Tower, then grab drinks at the Red Piano Lounge in the historic Skirvin Hilton. Vast was named Oklahoma’s “Most Scenic Restaurant” by OpenTable for its soaring 700-foot view over the downtown skyline. Its locally sourced menu of fresh American-style fare is as good as the view and won the eatery AAA’s Four Diamond Award in 2022. The Skirvin Hotel, the self-proclaimed “original happening hotspot” of OKC, has been a landmark since 1911. Today, the Red Piano Lounge’s Art Deco atmosphere, which Aita says “gives cool, vintage speakeasy vibes,” provides the perfect backdrop for a nightcap.

For a breath of fresh air, head to the community park at the corner of 4th Street and High Avenue. Originally commissioned in 1924, Booker T. Washington Park has been a gathering place for neighborhood events, family reunions and other celebrations for nearly 100 years. Between the basketball goals, sunny football and soccer fields, picnic areas and playground, there’s something for residents of all ages to enjoy.

Washington Park students attend schools in the Oklahoma City Public Schools system. Many go to Parks Elementary, Moon Middle and Douglass High, all within 3 miles of most homes. Affectionately known by locals as the “Pride of the East Side,” Douglass High was established in 1891 as the first school in the city serving African American students. Today, the historic school is known for its stellar music program, which has produced famous alums like jazz musicians Charlie Christian and Jimmy Rushing.

Written By

Megan Quintin

Video By

Scott Wiggins