Merrill Park - Milwaukee, WI

Merrill Park developed in the late 1800s with the arrival of the railroad, and some of the Victorian architecture still dots the area today. In the 1950s, the southern portion of the neighborhood was lost to the construction if I-94, but with its prominent high school and nearby college, the neighborhood bounced back quickly. Famous residents of Merrill Park include actors Spencer Tracy and Pat O'Brien and politicians William O'Donnell and John Doyle.

Discover the Pabst Mansion just outside of Merrill Park on West Wisconsin Avenue and North 19th Street, and explore this gem for a general admission fee $10. DanceCircus has promoted the arts through dance for more than 40 years.

Hungry residents of Merrill Park can count on a cold drink, satisfying food, and friendly service at their local taverns. Valley Inn on the west side of the neighborhood serves a well-known Friday night fish-fry and treats customers like family. TJ's On 35th, located on the south side of North 35th Street, serves as a popular place to gather for Green Bay Packer games. The Leprechaun Lounge on West Wisconsin Avenue and Highway 57 draws patrons to its cozy confines with the promise of billiards and darts.

The Envoy Restaurant, only a few blocks outside of Merrill Park on Wisconsin Avenue, serves new American fare and finely-crafted cocktails on the ground floor of the Ambassador Hotel. Try the baked French onion soup for an excellent way to start dinner at the Envoy. Have the fish fry on Fridays or whiskey-bourbon back ribs any other day of the week. Come in for a Sunday brunch, and dine amid breathtaking Art Deco furnishings.

China Taste, one block north of Merrill Park on Highway 57, promises an excellent culinary experience in every meal. Order General Tso's chicken for a hot dish, or order the shrimp kow if you love seafood. China Taste delivers in southeast Milwaukee for orders $8 or more.

Sidewalks line the city streets of Merrill Park and most side streets provide free curbside parking. Residents with automobiles have easy access to Interstate 94, with access ramps at West Saint Paul Avenue and North 28th Street and West Park Hill Avenue and North 35th Street. U.S. Route 18 travels east into downtown Milwaukee and west to the Milwaukee County Zoo. U.S. Route 41 provides fast transportation south to Miller Park, home of the Brewers baseball team, and north to the northwestern suburbs.

Milwaukee County Transit System buses stop at every major intersection on West Wisconsin Avenue and North 35th Street. The Ortiz Taxi & Transportation Services company headquartered just northeast of Merrill Park provides options for those without cars as well, or use your computer or smartphone to book a ride with Uber or Lyft. Merrill Park sits just outside the commerce sector, but residents shouldn't have trouble hailing Uber drivers to their city blocks.

Two free public parks provide recreational opportunities for Merrill Park residents. Patrons visit the parks for the calming view, playground equipment and baseball field, and both welcome leashed dogs on the green spaces. Valley Park sits beside the Menomonee River and has a "tot lot" for children and walking paths. Merrill Park, the vast green space that borders Marquette University High School Stadium, remains a favorite play place for children and adults. The park has a baseball field, pool, playground, and a four-net tennis court. Residents who want more structured exercise typically head to the YMCA in Kilbourn Town on West Wisconsin Avenue.

Held annually at the Historic Tripoli Shrine Center just north of Merrill Park , the Big Halloween Gig, a 21-and-older festival, supports the Children's Charity of Wisconsin. Pay admission at the door and celebrate with live music, free tap beer, pizza, and entry in the costume contest. The Milwaukee Park Horticultural Conservatory, known more commonly as "The Domes," holds seasonal events for the public. Music Under Glass, a very popular concert and light show series held between January and March, always draws a crowd. Experience live music and a magnificent display of lights under the magic of the Mitchell Park Domes.

The cost of living in Merrill Park is six percent lower than in the city of Milwaukee, overall. Traveling to the center of Milwaukee, merely three miles away, proves very affordable. A bus ride costs $2, driving to the city center requires less than a gallon of gasoline, and bicyclists can easily travel the distance for free.

Median rent in Merrill Park for a one-bedroom apartment runs $505. Draft beers generally start at $4, but happy hours may push a glass as low as $2. Gas prices in Merrill Park sit four percent lower than the national average.

Most shopping options in Merrill Park lie along West Wisconsin Avenue and North 35th Street. The Milwaukee Food Market on West Clyborn Street and North 29th Street and Lucky Supermarket on West Wisconsin Avenue and North 27th Avenue serve local needs for staple food items and beverages. Larger chain grocery stores such as Pick 'n Save and ALDI also lie within the neighborhood.

Mosaic Soap Company follows a rich history of high-quality soap making. This high-end boutique sells body soap free of color and dye, sea salts that rejuvenate the skin and relieve muscle aches, and a body oil that soothes rough skin.

Milwaukee Bicycle Collective, a non-profit organization that assists in bike repair, provides a bicycle resource center for all. Open to the public on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons, the Bicycle Collective encourages volunteers and bike enthusiasts to visit.

The Milwaukee County Winter Farmer's Market sets up shop on Layton Boulevard in the nearby Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory. The market operates from November to April on Saturday mornings, selling fresh produce, seasonal soups, soaps, and holiday confections.