Reed Park - Oklahoma City, OK

Reed Park's beginnings closely coincide with the history of the greater Oklahoma City area, when the city received its first 10,000 residents as part of the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889. As a major stop on Route 66, Reed Park and the city gained further prominence in the first half of the 20th century, while the discovery of oil within city limits prompted a population and development boom. Several city projects, such as MAPS and the MAPS 3 proposal, modernized the Reed Park area with spacious townhouses and attractive amenities

Public art and a culture of music has become the norm throughout Oklahoma City. Locals can experience the city's art scene at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art or the Gaylord-Pickens Museum. Immediately south of the neighborhood, State Fair Park hosts some of the biggest annual events of the year, such as Disney On Ice or the Oklahoma State Fair.

Varied dining options founded on Southern comfort foods and Latin American delicacies characterize the Reed Park neighborhood, and locals are never too far from a wide array of hearty, spiced dishes. Most of the neighborhood's popular restaurants rest along the major roads, including Northwest 10th Street and Northwest 16th Street.

When you're hungry for authentic Mexican fare, Taqueria La Mejor off Northwest 16th Street is where you need to go to experience flavors from south of the border. Among traditional paintings and a comfortable, casual atmosphere, this restaurant serves up massive pork tamales and beef burritos drenched in refried beans, salsa and homemade guacamole.

Although Oklahoma City features hundreds of Mexican and Latin American restaurants, locals can still dive into true Western and Southern staples at the Cimarron Steak House. Located about 2.5 miles southwest of Reed Park, Cimarron emphasizes large, juicy steaks aged to perfection and cut right on the premises. In addition to traditional mesquite cooking methods used on the steaks, this steak house also serves up broiled seafood and classic steak-and-shrimp combinations.

A popular stop along Route 66, Reed Park and Oklahoma City gives visitors classic Americana diners. The Hungry Frog Restaurant off North Pennsylvania Avenue combines a nostalgic atmosphere of the classic roadside diner with outstanding breakfast, lunch and dinner options. Traditional southern grits and biscuits with sausage gravy remain the most ordered breakfast items, though the onion burger has grown to become the lunchtime staple of this comfortable diner.

A profound culture of blues and jazz within Oklahoma City limits helped spark a vivid nightlife scene complete with a variety of music venues and Western-style saloons. Danny's Blues Saloon stands as one such establishment, and visitors can always discover local and national blues groups either jamming or putting on a high-octane concert. Locals head to Richard's Club for the amazing jukebox and the old school dive bar vibe; the bar also features live music occasionally.

The Reed Park neighborhood rests about 4 miles west of the downtown Oklahoma City area, making traveling to the city center or commuting to work quite convenient by foot, bicycle or public transportation.

Although locals can often find free, curbside parking throughout the neighborhood, Reed Park residents just find it more convenient to bicycle or take the bus downtown. Because of the few bike lanes available throughout the city, bicyclists need to be attentive to other vehicles on the busier streets. An abundance of pancake flat streets, courteous drivers and bike racks encourage a greener, bike-friendly culture throughout Reed Park and downtown Oklahoma City.

Some attractive amenities rest within walking distance in Reed Park, though many residents prefer to jump on the EMBARK city transit. Route 10 and Route 38 pick up riders on Northwest 16th Street and Northwest 10th Street, respectively. These routes travel to the Transit Center where residents can make connections to any other part of the city. Hailing a cab from the curb in many Reed Park streets may be difficult, except near the State Fair Park during large events. Locals can always catch a quick ride by calling ahead for a cab or using Uber ride-sharing services.

Most Reed Park residents do own a car, and close proximity to the Will Rogers Expressway provides convenience when traveling south of the city or to the Will Rogers World Airport. Nearby Interstate 40 cuts through the heart of Oklahoma City and continues in a northeast direction toward Tulsa.

Oklahoma City has always garnered a reputation of encouraging outdoor recreation and healthy, active lifestyles, and a wide variety of neighborhood and city parks reflect these values.

The two parks in the Reed Park neighborhood cater to visitors of all ages, and both parks feature playground equipment for the neighborhood children as well as expansive picnic areas. The namesake Reed Park includes a volleyball and tennis court for local athletes, while Girvin Park has large open spaces ideal for throwing around a baseball or playing soccer. These two parks always remain free, and dogs are allowed as long as owners keep them leashed.

To let Fido run free without a leash, locals have several dog parks to choose among throughout Oklahoma City. Located 5 miles north of Reed Park, the OKC PawPark within Lake Hefner Park provides the largest off-leash dog park. A little closer to home at the Myriad Botanical Gardens, dog owners can also take advantage of the Myriad Botanical Gardens Dog Park. Both dog parks do not carry an admission fee, but dog owners can make donations.

For 5 days in April, the Myriad Botanical Gardens transforms into one of the most acclaimed art festivals throughout the state. The Festival of the Arts showcases visual arts, culinary arts and performance arts. From Tuesday to Saturday during this family-friendly event, visitors can enjoy national music acts, local and national dishes from hundreds of vendors and much more.

Reed Park carries a moderately lower cost of living compared to Oklahoma City averages. Newcomers to the area should expect the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment to hover around $722 a month, though more luxurious housing is available.

Traveling around Oklahoma City via EMBARK costs $1.75 on the local bus and $3.00 on the express bus. Residents typically save the most on gasoline because Reed Park gas prices rest about 24 percent lower than national averages. A pint of beer at local pubs costs between $2 and $4.

Reed Park's vicinity to downtown Oklahoma City means that residents can always experience the upscale and trendy shopping scene located in the city center. The Penn Square Mall off the Northwest Expressway caters to most shoppers in the city looking for both designer goods as well as unique, locally made products.

Located closer to Reed Park, Antique Alley fosters a lively antique shopping scene that serves as a one-stop shop when searching for rare, valuable and stylish antiques. Part of this selection of antique stores, the Antique Co-Op endures as the most popular center for any antique needs. Most tourists stop by this store just to browse around, while locals enjoy year-round access to everything from vintage lamps to vinyl records.

Hobbyists can discover one of the most complete toy shops in Oklahoma City at Mike's Models. No matter if visitors want to get involved with model aviation or other RC toys, this small store features hundreds of full models and hard-to-find parts. Even if the store doesn't have a specific part, Mike can normally have the exact part you need within a couple weeks.

Reed Park residents have several options when stocking up on common groceries or organic fruits and vegetables. When picking up last-minute ingredients or quickly shopping for common foods, the Local Food Mart and Whittaker's Foods stand as the neighborhood's most popular options. El Mariachi Supermercado 2 serves those looking for imported ingredients and Central American delicacies.

For a wide selection of organic fruits and vegetables as well as sustainable meats straight from the countryside, head over to the Farmers Public Market off South Klein Avenue. This market remains open year-round, and visitors can often discover a wide array of fun-filled events throughout the year.