Hyde Park

Welcome to Hyde Park, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Cincinnati! Located on the east side of the city, the Hyde Park area is known for its high quality, beauty and tranquil community atmosphere. With huge, gorgeous trees throughout the community as well as beautiful flowers and bushes, Hyde Park has a well-groomed natural appeal. According to the community website, demographically, Hyde Park is 95.2% white, 3% black, and 1.3% Asian. Average household income is over $37,000 with 53% of residents owning their homes.

Schools in the Hyde Park area include Kilgour Elementary School, the Springer School and Center, Summit Country Day School, St. Mary's Catholic School, Withrow University High School, Withrow International High School which offers English as a Second Language programs and Clark Montessori Junior and Senior High School, the first public Montessori high school in the United States. Residents of Hyde Park also often have their children attend the private Seven Hills School and the US News Gold Medal winning Walnut Hills, a Cincinnati public school for which students must pass an entrance exam in order to attend.

Hyde Park also offers multiple places of worship including St. Mary's Catholic Church, The Church of the Redeemer Episcopal Church, First Church of Christ Scientist Church, Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church, Hyde Park Baptist Church, and The Knox Presbyterian Church.

For more general information about Hyde Park visit their community website.

The Hyde Park neighborhood is known for a variety of older, historic homes and a range of economic classes. Homes here sell for an average $436,271, typically containing three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. Hyde Park homeowners pay approximately $1,683 in taxes per $100,000 in property value, but benefit from an average 42.4% return on their investment in their residence in five years. 218 homes sold in the Hyde Park neighborhood in 2007 typically receiving 94.1% of their original sale price.

Founded in 1892 as the Mornington Syndicate, Hyde Park began as purchase by several wealthy citizens who put together strict regulations and standards of property which eventually resulted in this neighborhood's current state of beauty and class. The community was created to model the Hyde Park area of New York with large, luxurious houses and small, local business. Shortly after its purchase in 1896, the Hyde Park Village council was established and holds an impressive record of having no corruption by council officials during the time Hyde Park was an independent village. Additionally, Hyde Park, before becoming a part of Cincinnati, paved many roads and established more street car lines to connect and carry residents around the area.

Also of historical note in neighbor community Mount Lookout is the Cincinnati Observatory, the oldest observatory in the Western Hemisphere. Founded in 1842, the Observatory is made of up two National Historic Landmark buildings and home to the world's oldest telescope, which is still open for public use year-round. The Observatory not only offers daytime tours for school groups, but also nighttime lectures and telescope viewings in conjunction with the Cincinnati Astronomical Society, one of the oldest amateur astronomical societies in the United States.

Ready to get out and meet people from the neighborhood? Hyde Park community events are great friend-finding and networking opportunities. In October there's the annual Hyde Park Square Art Show, one of the area's finest juried art shows and the Reggae Run in Ault Park, a 5K race which benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Don't like to run, but still want to give to the cause? Then go to the Reggae Run after-party, a $25 event with all you can eat food at over 30 food and drink booths and live music.

For the summer, the community comes out for the annual Hyde Park Blast in June, a run, walk and bike race event whose proceeds go to local cancer charity organizations and which also features kids' race event and a fabulously fun block party. Another summer event is the Hyde Park Farmers' Market, voted Cincinnati Magazine's "Best of the City 2007" for best farmer's market. Occurring every Sunday, June through October, the Hyde Park Farmers' Market was started not only as a way to offer great local produce, baked goods and hand-crafted items, but also to help connect members of the neighborhood.

Do you like to start your morning off with a cup of coffee? Hyde Park offers several places to grab a cup on the go or to meet friends for a coffee or tea, hot or cold. One of the best is Coffee Emporium located at 3316 Erie Avenue and founded in 1973. This wonderful, quaint coffee shop is located in a renovated, light green house and offers a variety of drinks, including micro-roasted coffee blends and loose leaf teas. Baristas at Coffee Emporium are friendly and helpful as they serve or recommend drinks, smoothies and small food items, often knowing the names and usual orders of regular customers. While the ordering area is on the first floor, just upstairs is a small, well-lit seating area with wooden tables and chairs where customers often read or study on cool or rainy days. Once it warms up, however, Coffee Emporium has plenty of outdoor seating, some on the side of the shop in a sunny garden area around a water fountain and the rest in the back under a vine-shaded patio. Between the above average menu and great atmosphere, Coffee Emporium in Hyde Park is a wonderful place to hang out, relax or just get a great drink.

you're ready to eat, Hyde Park has many locally own restaurants and bars. One of the most popular Hyde Park restaurants is Teller's. Located in a former bank building, the appropriately named Teller's, still contains a working bank vault within its intimate, upscale dining atmosphere. Seating at Teller's is available in the sunny, window lined top floor, open first floor or cozy back booths near the old bank vault, meaning no matter if you're coming for a lunch meeting, date, or to hang out with friends Teller's is a wonderful place to eat. Servers here recommend the buffalo chicken egg rolls appetizer and Cajun spiced farfalle entree as well as Teller's over 150 wines by the bottle and 20 micro-brewed beers on tap, one of the largest beer offerings in the city. And don't forget! Teller's also now offers brunch on Saturday and Sundays when you're in need of a good early meal as well.

When eating in Hyde Park, be sure to save room for dessert! Just two doors down from Teller's Graeter's Ice Cream. This local ice cream favorite is one of the oldest surviving ice cream companies to still use the French pot process and large chunks of dark chocolate, creating their deliciously creamy ice cream two gallons at a time. To add more history, the cozy Graeter's ice cream parlor in Hyde Park is the oldest surviving Graeter's location. This ice cream shop has eight small wire tables for seating and two big outdoor benches on the square. Though most well known for ice cream, some Graeter's locations, including the one in Hyde Park, also offer tempting handmade cakes, chocolates, and pastries in big glass display cases. Wondering just how good the ice cream is here? Well, Graeter's has celebrity fans such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Oprah Winfrey, who named Graeter's raspberry chocolate chip flavor as her favorite ice cream.

If you're looking to bring the food and drink home, head to the locally owned and operated Hyde Park Kroger or Fresh Market, a new chain to the area which offers a variety of fresh food in an old European market style. For more drinks to take home, you can also stop by Hyde Park Wine and Spirits. Located at 2719 Madison Road, Hyde Park Wine and Spirits offers a variety of alcoholic beverages, including an entire aisle of imports and an affordable wine of the month club.

In terms of art, Hyde Park has many opportunities, particularly for those interested in viewing or purchasing visual art. The Miller Gallery celebrating over 45 years of business showcases work by both local and national artists with occasional international work as well. One of the best galleries in the Midwest, Miller Galleries has gained national reputation and continues to bring more impressive and unique artistry to the area. Also in the area is the Lasting Images Gallery which features the wooden gallery process in which pieces are frames without glass to reduce glare and reflection.

Read to shop? Then head to Hyde Park Square! Built around the Kilgour Fountain, donated in 1900 by real-estate investor Charles Kilgore, the tree lined, quaint Hyde Park Square is central to the neighborhood for shopping, dining and gathering. Pass through the square on a nice day or warm evening and you will see many residents of all ages walking dogs, jogging, and meeting friends or colleagues. Hyde Park Square is a well-known gem within the Cincinnati area containing an eclectic mix of one-of-a-kind unique shops.

One well known store in the Square is Hyde Bark Fashions a specialty store for dogs and dog-lovers alike. Hyde Bark offers pet friendly products that range from stylish to humorous, including leashes, treats, clothing, toys, carriers, bowls and grooming supplies. Featured in Pet Product News International Magazine, Pet Style News Magazine, New York Dog Magazine, as well as other local magazines, Hyde Bark is a well known spot for the best and most unique products for pampered pooches and their owners. Additionally, each September Hyde Back Fashions hosts the Who-Dog Wagging-Tailgate Party, a charity event which benefits local no-kill shelters and animal rescue projects.

Just off the Square is Karisma Klothing, a modern and stylish boutique offering mostly women's clothing and accessories with some men's as well. Operating out of an open, sunny store with wooden floors, karisma is most known for carrying high end premium as well as a range of North Face brand products in the winter months. Mostly appealing to women in their 20's and 30's, Karisma carries sophisticated, yet fun tops for going out as well as fashionable day-wear. Without a doubt, even the pickiest fashionistas will find something to suit them at Karisma Klothing.

When it's time to get moving, Hyde Park has recreational opportunities for everyone. Most prominent is Ault Park, a large, quiet Cincinnati public park which features large trees, open green spaces and birdlife. With plenty of safe, open sidewalks and shaded walking/jogging trails through beautiful wooded areas as well as four picnic areas and two children's playgrounds, Ault Park is a wonderful place to exercise, play or relax. Dogs on leashes are welcome in Ault Park and are often seen walking or jogging with their owners. The park also has the Ault Park Pavilion, the largest of all Cincinnati public park buildings. At the Pavilion and through the property, Ault Park offers a variety of activities and events, such as wine tastings, dance classes, bike races and summer day camps for children.

For those with canine companions, the newly renovated Otto Armleder Memorial Park is another great recreational spot which features not only a playground and walking trails for people, but also a large fenced dog park area where dogs can run and play off their leashes in designated grassy areas. Big dogs have plenty of room to run, fetch balls and catch Frisbees and small dogs under 22 pounds have an area all to themselves to be with pooch pals their own size.

Looking for indoor recreation? Near Hyde Park there are several options for year-round activities inside, such as Urban Active and Revolutions fitness centers, Hyde Park Studio and Cincinnati Sports Club, one of the area's best health, fitness and social clubs for the whole family, the Cincinnati Sports offers work-out facilities and classes, swimming, sports, physical therapy and a salon.

When you're done with your physical activity, you can relax at one of Hyde Park's salons or spas, such as Richard's Hair, Skin and Nails or Tanya's Image and Wellness Salon, one of four winners of Cincinnati Magazine's "Best of the City 2007" for best manicure.