Sweetwater

University Park owes its name to Florida International University, home of the Panthers. This college community is not only a hub for student activity but a self-contained suburb, complete with side-walk-lined streets, parks, schools, shopping and dining. “It’s a really friendly, welcoming, family-oriented area,” says Cesar Villarreal, a local Realtor with Keller Williams Capital Realty. “Home values are increasing rapidly there. Miami’s got two main universities. FIU is the newer, public one. A lot of it was built out in the 2000s, and it’s still developing. So, you have this modern campus to explore and all these businesses popping up around it. Everything is only a few minutes away. It’s super central.” Single-family homes in University Park range from around $500,000 for ranch-style homes and bungalows to $1.9 million for estate-style residences. While some properties date back to the 1950s, most homes in the community were built between the 1960s and ‘90s. Most are also free of HOAs. “Believe it or not, a house built in the ‘70s is pretty new compared to, like, Coral Gables, where most homes are from the ‘20s and ‘50s,” Villarreal says. “So, these houses have features that weren’t really in style in earlier decades, like garages and master bedrooms with en suite bathrooms.” Spanish eclectic architecture — characterized by barrel roof tiles, stucco siding and arches — is the neighborhood’s predominant style. Two-story homes are available, but most of the housing stock is ranch-style. Remodels and renovations blend Spanish eclectic and contemporary styles in some properties, while others are wholly transformed by streamlined, modern architecture. Lot sizes are typically small, less than a quarter acre. Driveways are standard; garages are common. Multifamily properties, such as townhouses and condos, are in the neighborhood, too, ranging in price from $240,000 to the low $400,000s. University Park is served by Miami-Dade Public Schools. The neighborhood’s primary schools, Coral Park Elementary and Royal Palm Elementary are rated B-plus on Niche. The middle schools, Rockaway Middle and Riviera Middle, are rated B. Miami Coral Park Senior High, rated B, and Southwest Miami Senior High, rated B-plus, are the last stops on this K-12 line. Both schools feature magnet programs students can apply for to focus on their areas of interest, from Southwest Miami’s Programming Academy to Miami Coral Park’s Architecture Magnet. There’s plenty of room for recreation in University Park, whether participating or spectating. Panthers fans can follow their favorites from the stands of Riccardo Silva Stadium and the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. The neighborhood's biggest green space is Tamiami Park, right by the university. It has sand volleyball, basketball, tennis and pickleball courts, as well as soccer, baseball and softball fields. There’s also a community pool to cool off from the hot South Florida sun. Concord Park is smaller and less crowded on the weekends. Residents utilize its ballfield, outdoor fitness zones, walkways, and basketball courts. FIU opened in 1972 and grew to define University Park. Its beautifully landscaped public campus is University Park’s centerpiece, featuring libraries and green spaces that residents are free to enjoy. The grounds around the Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum are particularly scenic, home to an outdoor sculpture garden titled the “Avenue of the Arts.” Paved walkways lead visitors past avant-garde sculptures made of stainless steel, bronze, marble and more. Inside the Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum are its fixed collections, including Haitian and Cuban paintings, multi-media installations by self-taught Miami artists, 1960s and ‘70s American printmaking and pre-Columbian artifacts. Resident foodies enjoy the array of local, chain and university-run eateries around University Park. Dos Croquetas is a family-owned business established in 2016 to bring delicious, handcrafted croquettes to Miami. It was a hit, largely thanks to the buzz generated by the Food Network and other outlets. Añejo Restaurant & Bar is popular for its elegantly plated Cuban cuisine and calendar of live performances. Night Owl Cookies is a late-night favorite with a menu of warm, homemade, ooey-gooey goodies. For running errands, University Park has two Publix supermarkets, a Winn-Dixie and multiple pharmacies. Local doctors’ practices are also in the neighborhood. University Park residents have immediate access to the Tamiami Trail, which can lead them 15 miles east to Downtown Miami and connect them to the nearby Palmetto Expressway. Miami International Airport is also close by, only 10 miles from the heart of the community. Dade County Metrobus stops can be found along major roads like Coral Way, making carless commutes convenient.