$120,006Average Value$312Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
Historic Southeast Ward community
Around 2,100 Winston-Salemites live in the small, wooded neighborhood of Forest Park, about 3 miles southeast of downtown. Anchored by a green space that shares its name, this community’s roots trace back to the late 1800s when a streetcar line ran down East Sprague Street. Part of the Waughtown-Belview National Register Historic District, the neighborhood would significantly shift in the mid-1960s when urban renewal displaced African Americans in the East Ward. Today, Forest Park is a thriving and diverse community, home to a public elementary school, the Winston-Salem Black Chamber of Commerce and an expansive community garden that provides fresh produce, education and neighborhood events. A locally legendary hot dog hut and NASCAR’s oldest operating weekly racetrack are mere blocks away.
Bungalows, cottages and ranch-style homes shaded by trees
Wide streets, sometimes lined with aging sidewalks, form the small grid that makes up Forest Park. Like nearby communities with postwar housing, the neighborhood features petite properties averaging just over 1,000 square feet of living space. Craftsman-inspired bungalows, minimal traditional dwellings and ranch-style homes are the most common designs, often featuring tiny covered front porches and short driveways. Cottages, reminiscent of Tudor Revival style homes with brick chimneys adorning the façade, and Cape Cods are sprinkled in between. Most properties sit in the shadow of towering trees, and with no homeowners' association, landscaping varies from yard to yard. Most homes cost between $100,000 and $200,000, though properties needing complete renovations start at about $50,000, and new builds can reach up to $250,000.
The neighborhood receives a CAP Index crime score of 6 out of 10, slightly above the national average of 4. It has a higher-than-average risk of violent crime, with some crimes scoring as high as an 8. Winston-Salem police are working to reduce crime in the Southeast Ward by increasing patrols, particularly in the summer months. Forest Park is also supported by Simon Green Atkins Community Development Corporation, a local nonprofit focused on affordable housing, neighborhood preservation and development.
Forest Park is a community filled with mid-20th-century ranch-style homes.
Some Forest Park homes have covered front porches.
Forest Park's oldest house have stood since 1915.
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Generations of fans dine at Kermit’s Hot Dog House
Local restaurants dot Waughtown Street. La Perlita Restaurant & Carniceria is the spot for authentic Mexican cuisine, while Ming Garden Chinese is the choice for takeout. However, this area is arguably best known for Kermit’s Hot Dog House, which the local Williams family has owned and operated for generations. “My father, Kermit, opened the business on January 10, 1966,” says Arthur “Buster” Williams. He has run the classic American drive-in since his father died in 1968. “We offer curb, take-out and dine-in service,” he says. “We’ve got good people, we’ve got good food, and we’ve gotten a lot of friends and customers over the years.” Day-one Kermit’s fans will bring their children and grandchildren to enjoy staple menu items. “We’re real famous for our cheese dogs: We put pimento cheese on them,” Williams says. “They’re really mild, and I make them myself.” Forest Park residents have quick access to groceries with a Food Lion just south of the neighborhood.
Kermit's Hot Dog House is always busy during lunchtime.
Kermit's Drive-In has a mid-1900s vibe with barstools and booths.
Customers can eat hot dogs and fries at Kermit's Hot Dog House near Forest Park.
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Simon’s Green Acre Community Garden uplifts the neighborhood
Forest Park’s namesake green space covers several blocks and features winding walking trails and a recently upgraded playground beneath mature, shady trees. On the neighborhood’s west side, Simon’s Green Acre Community Garden features nearly 100 raised beds cared for by beginner and seasoned gardeners. Run by a nonprofit, the garden offers a farmers market, cooking classes and volunteer days. In the summer, its Sizzlin’ Summer Nights event allows neighbors to connect over food and live music every second Thursday. The Waughtown Greenway provides a meandering paved path through the woods east of the neighborhood to The Quarry at Grant Park. This 200-acre attraction offers scenic views of a water-filled quarry with the downtown skyline rising above the horizon. Reynolds Park is nearby, featuring a public 18-hole golf course and a community center. Bowman Gray Stadium, hosting stock car races since 1949, is less than a mile north of the neighborhood. Every weekend during the spring and summer, 17,000 spectators fill the stands to watch local speedsters loop the ¼-mile track. East Ward Council Member Annette Scippio says traffic can get heavy on race days.
This sleek, shaded play structure appears in Forest Park's eponymous green space.
The Quarry at Grant Park boasts incredible views about 1 mile from Forest Park.
Grant Park features a three-story slide for youngsters who use its playground.
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U.S. Route 52 and two interstates close by
While Forest Park is somewhat walkable, the community is mainly car-dependent. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, a main road, offers quick commutes into downtown Winston-Salem, about 3 miles away. U.S. Route 52 brushes against the neighborhood's west side and connects to Interstates 40 and 285 nearby. Two Winston-Salem Transit Authority bus routes pass through the neighborhood with stops along Waughtown Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, two bike-friendly roads in the area. Piedmont Triad International Airport is roughly 23 miles east, outside Greensboro.
Buses serve Forest Park locals at several nearby stops.
Forest Park is located near US-52 and I-40 in Winston-Salem, NC.
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Forest Park Elementary sits in the heart of the neighborhood
Forest Park shares its name with the park and the elementary school at its center. The school, which receives a C rating from Niche, celebrates its diverse student body with events such as the Annual Hispanic Heritage Performance. The STEM-focused Hanes Magnet Middle is less than a mile south of the neighborhood and earns an A-minus rating. Robert B. Glenn High is about 6 miles east of the neighborhood. The C-plus-rated school is the alma mater of comedian Jerrod Carmichael, among other notable names. Parkland High serves students living west of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. It gets a B-minus and offers an International Baccalaureate program. Two nearby private options are Salem Academy, an A-plus-rated all-girls boarding high school, and Winston Salem Street School, a B-plus-rated Christian high school. Winston-Salem State University, a historically Black institution, is north of the neighborhood and offers over 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Forest Park Elementary School welcomes over 500 pre-K through fifth grade students.
Forest Park middle schoolers are zoned for Philo-Hill Magnet Academy.
Glenn High School serves most Forest Park ninth through 12th graders.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jennifer Sapp,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Salem Lake Park
Boating
Fishing
Lake
Happy Hill Park
Belview Park
The Quarry at Grant Park
Lake
Picnic Area
Trails
Forest Park
Reynolds Park
Bike Trails
Golf
Grills
Civitan Park
Transit
Airport
Piedmont Triad International
32 min drive
Forest Park Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Forest Park, Winston-Salem sell after 156 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Forest Park, Winston-Salem over the last 12 months is $325,500, up 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to this versatile and maintained 6-bedroom, 3-bathroom home—perfect for large families, multigenerational living, or investment potential. Featuring two full kitchens, this home offers incredible flexibility and functionality. Enjoy outdoor living on the large, partially covered deck, ideal for entertaining or relaxing in any weather. The fully fenced yard provides privacy and space for
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jennifer Sapp,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
2,082
Median Age
29
Population Density
6 ppl/acre
Population under 18
32.7%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
12.8%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$55,428
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$73,215
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
78%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
15.7%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
5.7%
% Population in Labor Force
58.8%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
31°F
Average Summer High Temperature
88°F
Annual Snowfall
6''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
56/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
35/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
