Topeka

Between Downtown Topeka to the northeast and Washburn University to the southwest, Central Park is a neighborhood with century-old houses that are some of the most affordable in the city. This is an area where the city of Topeka has worked to help families purchase homes through TOTO (Topeka Opportunity To Own). The program provides grants of up to $30,000 for home repairs to those who qualify for assistance purchasing a $75,000 or less home. It comes as a relief for residents in this community, where the median household income is just above $30,000 compared to the city’s median of around $50,000. Families also receive childcare support through the Central Park Community Center at the heart of the community, a hub for local indoor and outdoor recreation. Central Park’s tree-lined streets feature side-by-side bungalows and American Foursquares built between the late 1800s and 1920s. “There are a lot of beautiful historic homes,” says Amber Smith, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty, who works in the neighborhood. “And they’re affordable, which is why most people move here. The prices are significantly lower.” Homebuyers can find fixer-uppers for $35,000 to $75,000 -- less than half the norm for the Topeka area -- and turnkey properties for around $80,000 to $150,000, still below the average. They’re typically on lots less than a quarter acre but have many mature trees that add to this historic feel. Most houses have wide front porches, while fenced back yards with detached garages are accessible from back alleyways. To qualify for the benefits of the TOTO program, which also can include down-payment assistance, applicants must attend 12 hours of home-buyer and -maintenance classes before closing and buyers are not permitted to own other real estate. Finding is through the federal department of Housing and Urban Renewal. Central Park Community Center offers after-school activities where kids can play in the game room and the gymnasium, where basketball leagues are held through Shawnee County Parks and Recreation. Outside the community center, there’s a pond with a fishing dock and a walkway that loops around the water. Every evening from Monday through Thursday, Silverbackks, a local non-profit volunteer organization, provides free meals for anyone 18 and under at the community center. Students attend Randolph Elementary, which gets a C-plus grade from Niche. They’ll go on to Robinson Middle, which also earns a C-plus and is located next to the neighborhood’s community center. Topeka High, which receives a B grade, is ranked the fourth-most diverse high school in the state. Built in 1931, Topeka High is well known for its elaborate Gothic-style architecture with a 165-foot bell tower inspired by Henry VIII’s Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace. Students may continue their education at Washburn University, just a few blocks away. The neighborhood's one restaurant, Fat Shack, is known for its cheese fries and other American favorites. But with downtown just a few blocks away, there are always plenty of restaurants nearby. For everyday shopping, the closest big box retailers such as Walmart, Target and Sam’s Club are about 4 miles west. They’re all right by the two-story West Ridge Mall, which has more than 50 businesses. Along with retailers and restaurants, the mall is home to a Sky Zone Trampoline Park, a Game Zone arcade and an indoor glow-in-the-dark mini golf course. Topeka Metro offers bus routes on all four sides of Central Park along Huntoon Street, 17th Street, Washburn Avenue and Topeka Boulevard. Topeka Boulevard can be taken for a half-mile drive to downtown. That’s where Interstate 70 runs through, which goes west through Kansas and about 60 miles east to Kansas City.

Chesney Park, about 2 miles south of Downtown Topeka, gets its name from the neighborhood’s hub of outdoor recreation and community events. Houses date to the early 1900s and are some of the most affordable in the city. Though the neighborhood is predominantly residential, Washburn University is situated directly to the west, while the Stormont Vail Events Center is just to the east, putting on concerts and other big events. Right across the street stands the Great Mural Wall of Topeka, wrapped around the walls of a former water reservoir. The Chesney Park Neighborhood Improvement Association initiated the mural. Ann Marshall, the president of the Chesney Park NIA, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1986, said the artwork was envisioned as a way to help the neighborhood. "They came up with this idea, and it basically showcases the history of Chesney Park and all of Topeka.” The actual Chesney Park, where the neighborhood gets its name, is a square block in the center of the community. Alongside wooded spaces are paved walkways that lead to a playground, basketball court and skate park with three metal ramps. Family and friends can also visit the park to celebrate special occasions by gathering under the gazebo or the pavilion and cooking burgers on the charcoal grill. “The park is busy all the time,” says Marshall. “You can’t go and not see people hanging out.” Shunga Glen Park is just a few blocks south of the neighborhood. Like Chesney Park, it also has a basketball court, playground and a skate park, though this skate park is more of a concrete bowl. People can also play on the 18-hole disc golf course and go for a hike on the 13-mile Shunga Trail. Several events are held at the neighborhood park throughout the year, including National Night Out, potluck picnics and summer concerts. “They’re very low-key,” says Marshall. “We all know each other, so it’s a chance to just sit down and talk.” The Stormont Vail Events Center, located on the east side of the neighborhood, draws people from all over the city. “They always have something going on,” says Cathy Conn, a Realtor with Platinum Realty in Topeka. “I saw the Gaither Vocal Band there, and I attend the Kansas Lawn and Garden Show every year.” The event center frequently features nationally touring musicians, monster truck rallies, trade shows and much more throughout the year. One section of the venue includes the Domer Livestock Arena, which hosts all kinds of horse shows and other livestock events. Chesney Park’s grid-pattern streets are primarily lined with Craftsman-style bungalows with spacious front porches and three-story American Foursquares built in the early 1900s. Some are located by the old red bricks that cover Buchanan Street, which serve as a reminder of the neighborhood’s beginnings. Recently renovated properties sell for around $60,000 to $140,000. Houses in need of work usually fall in the $30,000 to $50,000 range. They’re typically situated on approximately 0.10-acre lots with driveways that are accessible from back alleyways. “There are a lot of young, new homeowners because the houses are affordable,” says Marshall. “But a lot of us have also lived here for 20 to 30 years.” Chesney Park has a few restaurants along 21st Street on the neighborhood’s south side. World Cup Coffee and Crepes offers indoor and outdoor dining, where locals can enjoy a latte and choose from a variety of breakfast, lunch and dessert crepes. Tortilla Jack’s provides an old-fashioned Mexican atmosphere while serving tacos, burritos and other traditional Mexican food. Meanwhile, Ichabods Grill is the place to go to hang out with friends while watching sports over burgers, wings and drinks. Chesney Park isn’t really a shopping destination, though there is a Waters Hardware for tools. There are, however, dozens of big box retailers like Walmart, Target and Sam’s Club about 4 miles west. They’re all right by the two-story West Ridge Mall, which has more than 50 businesses. Along with retailers and restaurants, the mall is home to a Sky Zone Trampoline Park, a Game Zone arcade and an indoor glow-in-the-dark mini golf course. Students attend Randolph Elementary and Robinson Middle, each of which earns a C-plus grade from Niche. They’ll go on to Topeka High, which gets a B grade while being ranked the fourth-most diverse high school in the state. Built in 1931, Topeka High is well known for its elaborate Gothic-style architecture with a 165-foot bell tower inspired by Henry VIII’s Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace. Students may continue their education at Washburn University on the west side of the neighborhood. No highways are needed to drive 2 miles north to downtown. The closest highway is Interstate 70, which runs through downtown, leading west throughout Kansas and 60 miles east to Kansas City. Topeka Metro bus stops can be found along 17th Street to the north, Washburn Avenue to the west and 21st Street to the south. Like any place in Topeka, Chesney Park has the potential to be impacted by severe weather, as the city is located in the Midwest’s “Tornado Alley.” The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been tracking tornadoes since 1950 and has not recorded one in Chesney Park since. Topeka also does not have any public tornado shelters.

College Hill is one of Topeka's most established communities, located on the north side of Washburn University. Of the nearly 500 homes, almost 300 are considered to be historic and remain preserved, giving College Hill an old-time feel. The neighborhood dates back to 1880 when it was developed by the university's president, Peter McVicar, to house professors and staff. Though the neighborhood is relatively flat, it's about 40 feet higher than downtown, so it appeared rather hilly back in the 1800s, influencing the name "College Hill." McVicar is credited with the planting of now-mature trees that provide shade and natural beauty to College Hill, making it a popular place for people to go for casual strolls on the sidewalks. What sets College Hill apart is its connected community and determination to maintain the neighborhood. Sue Fackler, a resident since the 1970s and a longtime board member of the College Hill Neighborhood Association, says, "We have a lot of community civic volunteers and elected officers. The mayor used to live next door to me. We have City Council members who live within the neighborhood. We just have a lot of go-getters that want to be involved in making the neighborhood and the city better." Boswell Square Park is the heart of College Hill's outdoor recreation and community events. But that likely would have never happened if the community hadn't stuck together. The park used to be the site of a junior high school in the 1980s. When the building was demolished, a developer wanted to put in houses, which didn't sit well with the community. "It would have ruined the character of the neighborhood," says Fackler. "We started a petition, brought it to a City Council zoning meeting, told them we wanted it to be a green space, and we won. Westminster Presbyterian Church across the street built a parking lot to go with the park. So, it's just a wonderful example of a partnership between the neighborhood, school board, city officials, church and neighbors. It's the way it's supposed to work." The park, which occupies about two neighborhood blocks, includes a playground, basketball court and a field. There's also a gazebo and a tree-lined walkway around the park's perimeter. The park has several benches with dedications and a brick Wall of Fame to honor neighbors who helped create it. Every second Sunday of October, the neighborhood holds a Wall of Fame induction, followed by a homes tour, where residents open their doors to the community. The neighborhood also celebrates Fourth of July each year with a parade. Fackler says, "We have a band made up of neighbors. All the kids decorate their bikes, their dogs and their outfits. We carry a humongous American flag at the front of the parade that takes about 20 people to hold. It's like the signature part of the parade." Following the parade, the community enjoys festivities at Boswell Square Park, which includes food, games and turtle races. Houses in College Hill were built between the late 1800s and 1940s in a variety of architectural styles, so no two houses are the same. Their originality is documented by the National Registry of Historic Places. "Recently, I was out watering my flowers, and a road worker came up to me and said he loved my house and wanted to live in it," says Fackler. "So people really appreciate the beauty of the homes in this neighborhood." Homebuyers can find Craftsman-style bungalows, Victorian-style homes with wrap-around porches, Colonial Revivals and English-style cottages and Tudors all blended together along the neighborhood's tree-lined streets. Situated on approximately eighth-of-an acre lots, these diverse, historic homes, vary in size and price. Houses with 1,000 to 1,900 square feet of living space generally have two to four bedrooms and range from $60,000 to $200,000. Larger, 2,000 to 4,500-square-foot homes with three to five bedrooms sell for around $200,000 to $360,000. Students attend Randolph Elementary, about a half-mile west, and Robinson Middle, about a half-mile east, both graded a C-plus by Niche. They'll go on to Topeka High, which is about 1.5 miles northeast, closer to downtown, and graded a B. Built in 1931, Topeka High is well known for its elaborate Gothic-style architecture, including a 165-foot bell tower inspired by Henry VIII's Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace. Just as the neighborhood was intended, many Washburn University professors live in College Hill, along with students living at home, according to Fackler. The public university offers more than 200 academic programs and competes in NCAA Division II sports. It also puts on several performing arts productions throughout the year, while the Topeka Symphony Orchestra utilizes the university's White Concert Hall for monthly performances as well. Southwest 17th Street separates Washburn University from College Hill and is where neighbors and college students go to hit up local restaurants. Both Coffee Bar and Circle Coffee Co. are popular cafes with indoor and outdoor seating. There's also Margarita's Jalisco and Fuzzy's Taco Shop for those in the mood for Mexican food. The closest shopping options are about 4 miles west, where West Ridge Mall and dozens of big box retailers are located on Wanamaker Road. While no bike lanes exist in the neighborhood, crosswalks on Southwest 17th Street connect directly with bike lanes on the Washburn University Campus. Walking or cycling from the north end of the neighborhood to points on the southern end of the campus is about a 1 mile trip. Topeka Metro operates buses along Southwest 17th Street and Southwest Washburn Avenue with routes all over the city, including downtown, about 2 miles away. Interstate 70 runs through downtown, leading west throughout Kansas and about 60 miles east to Kansas City. While Topeka has a regional airport, there are no commercial flights. Those who want to fly head to Kansas City International Airport, about 73 miles away.

In October, the zombies come out in East End for a month-long tradition of haunted hikes and jump scares. The rest of the year, it's a neighborhood of modest living about 3 miles from downtown Topeka. East End features two leafy subdivisions with homes that sell below the city's median sale price of $185,000. Both subdivisions offer parks easily accessible by foot or a short drive. They're also served by two separate school districts, including Topeka Public Schools and Shawnee Heights Unified School District. While the neighborhood's main road isn't very busy, with one convenience store and a bakery, it's where thousands of people go to work in Reser's Fine Foods' several manufacturing plants and at the corporate office of Conduent. The neighborhood is separated into two subdivisions, one to the north of SE 6th Street and the other to the south. Homes on the north side were developed in the 1930s and 1940s. They include bungalows and ranch-style homes on leafy quarter-acre lots, ranging from $75,000 to $150,000. While there are no sidewalks in the north subdivision, it's a low-traffic area where homes are within walking distance of Rice Park. The south subdivision is a bit newer with homes developed in the 1970s. They include four-unit townhouses with three to four bedrooms, ranging from $60,000 to $70,000. There are also more bungalows and ranch-style homes, along with bi-levels, all ranging from $75,000 to $150,000. This subdivision does have sidewalks, which residents can use to walk to Eastgate Park. East End is home to Rice Park, which has a large open field with a disc golf course. There's also a pavilion that can be used to celebrate special occasions along with a horseshoe pit and a playground to add to the fun. Eastgate Park is a smaller space where people can go to play basketball or have fun on the playground. Forest Park isn't a traditional public park, but rather a conference and retreat center with dozens of cabins. It was created in 1922 to hold the United Methodist Church's annual Summer Assembly. While that event still happens every year, Forest Park is mostly used as an event space for retreats, camps and weddings. People from across the city get excited for the Halloween season when Forest Park transforms into Haunted Woods. "It's the perfect place for it," says Steve Jacobs, Chairman of the board of Forest Park, "When you get up on the side of the hill, there's probably 20 acres of really thick woods, and it's just spooky as the dickens, so it doesn't take a whole lot to scare people to death." Part of the Haunted Woods experience is the Midwest Zombie Fest, where Hollywood costume designers who have worked on TV series' like "The Walking Dead" and "Vampire Diaries" assist in creating lifelike zombies to walk around the grounds. The event raises funds for the park and Boy Scouts of America. The north subdivision is zoned to Topeka Public Schools, while the south is served by the Shawnee Heights Unified School District. Topeka students start at Scott Dual Language Magnet Elementary School, which earns a C grade from Niche and is considered an International Spanish Academy by the Embassy of Spain – the only of its kind in Kansas. The school's Dual Language program aims to produce bilingual students by the time they finish fifth grade. From there, they'll go on to Chase Middle School and Highland Park High School, each of which earns a C-plus grade. Shawnee students attend Tecumseh North Elementary, graded a C-plus. They'll head to B-minus-graded Shawnee Heights Middle before moving on to Shawnee Heights High. The high school is ranked 25th best college prep public high school in Kansas. According to GreatSchools, 23% of students participate in the dual enrollment program, which offers courses through Washburn University and Allen Community College. The Topeka Correctional Facility is located on SE 6th Street, where there are also a few corporations providing nearby job opportunities. Reser's Fine Foods, a national food manufacturer, has five plants in the neighborhood, employing more than 1,300 people. There's also an office for Conduent, which helps process Medicaid applications for families across the country. The company also offers many work-from-home opportunities. SE 6th Street, while mostly lined with Reser's Find Foods plants, has a few places to shop and eat. Casey's General Store, a regional chain, is where locals go to get gas, buy convenience items and order pizza, breakfast burritos and other snacks to go. Though businesses are sparse at the Deer Creek Shopping Center, it's home to Panaderia Monterrey, a popular Mexican bakery offering various pastries, cakes and breads. For everyday shopping needs, Walmart and Dillons are just 4 miles south. The south subdivision features a mix of Downtown commuters can drive or take a Topeka Metro bus 3 miles down SE 6th Street with a few traffic lights and bus stops along the way. They can hop on Interstate 70 for a 4-mile drive as well. I-70 also leads west through Kansas and about 60 miles east to Kansas City.