Oak Forest - Little Rock, AR

The city of Little Rock derives its name from a rock formation along the river that the French named “Le Petit Rocher.” Oak Forest was named for the large number oak trees in the area in the 1800s. The area of Little Rock and its outlying neighborhoods are major cultural and economic centers. Residents and visitors enjoy taking advantage of several amenities, including the Arkansas Arts Center, Repertory Theatre and Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, hiking, boating and other outdoor opportunities keep residents busy and returning area year after year.

Museums such as the Arkansas Museum of Discovery and Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum can be found centrally located in downtown Little Rock. Festivals such as Little Rock Bacon Fest, held in September, and Little Rock Film Festival bring out residents and visitors in the thousands.

The area has plenty of franchised establishments such as Pizza Hut, Popeye’s, Burger King, Subway and Taco Bell, but you can also find places that serve wings and seafood. The majority of restaurants are located along South University Avenue and close to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Wing Shack has been operating for over 10 years in Oak Forest. Wing flavors have been taken to a whole new level by saucing the wings in a secret recipe. Patrons are rewarded with interesting flavors of wings that are fresh and hot. Flavors like Suicide hot, lemon pepper and mesquite BBQ are finger-licking good. The menu also has dinners such as catfish, jumbo shrimp, chicken strips or nuggets and pork chops - not to mention the 19 sides and extras to make your meal complete. Too bad the place is closed on Sunday and Monday.

Kitchen Express sometimes has live jazz music to accompany your meal. The prices are reasonable for breakfast, lunch or dinner with the seasoned-to-perfection catfish a must-try. Patrons say that the Grandmother or Hungry Man breakfast gets the attention it deserves because of the generous portion of food on the plate.

Catfish City & BBQ Grill combines food and atmosphere to make it the perfect spot for family dining. If you don’t want to dine in, you can get your meal on the go just by calling in your order and scheduling a pick-up time. Patrons use this service for tailgate parties, family picnics and those busy nights when cooking a meal just isn’t possible. Drive-through services are available if you are looking for a quick meal with fresh ingredients. Pulled pork and beef brisket sandwiches are among the best items on the menu. Of course, catfish options are plentiful and combinations are endless and include shrimp or ribs on the side.

For an exciting evening of entertainment and dining, head to Murry’s Dinner Playhouse where theatre and food are combined. Nightlife often takes patrons to Refined Ale Brewery or Zack’s Place for a game of pool.

Oak Forest has bus systems that runs seven days a week with fixed routes and provides access to downtown Little Rock’s historic streetcar system. The streetcars operate on an overhead power supply that travels across the Main Street Bridge and Arkansas River. For a great view of the river and the skyline, the streetcars are a must.

About 90 percent of residents in Oak Forest drive or carpool to work, but taxi services, Uber, walking and biking are all options for navigating the neighborhood. Some streets in Oak Forest have metered parking, which generally have a one- to two-hour time limit and cost $1 per hour. There are several free parking lots, including parking at shopping centers, but they can get crowded fast. Private parking lots charge hourly and daily rates that range from $3-5 per day.

Just north of Oak Forest runs Wilbur D. Mills Freeway, and Highway 76 runs through the neighborhood, making travel easy. Biking is becoming safer and more prevalent in the area with bike lanes popping up, additional lighting for safety, and trails for outdoor enthusiasts.

To the west of the neighborhood are Boyle Park, University Park and Oak Forest Park. Residents visit these parks because they're quiet, free to use, kid-friendly and dog-friendly, as long as they are kept on-leash. Just across the freeway, families can enjoy a day at Little Rock Zoo.

The 250 acres of urban parkland known as Boyle Park was donated to the city in 1929. The park has been classified as unimproved woodland, which means it primarily consists of open meadows and forested areas with trails for hiking and biking. However, Boyle Park also contains a small pond with plenty of wildlife and a playground.

The Little Rock Zoo was founded in 1926 and when it opened, only had two animals; an abandoned timber wolf and a circus-trained bear. It has steadily grown to house over 700 animals with one very notable animal: Francois, a sloth bear.

The cost of living in Oak Forest sits nine percent lower than Little Rock, with a one-bedroom apartment renting for an average of $566 per month. Gas prices in Oak Forest are equal to that in Little Rock and the national average.

Riders of public transit can expect to pay $1.35 for a one-way trip or purchase a monthly bus pass for $36.00 per month. If going out for a brew at a local restaurant or pub, patrons can expect to pay $3 for a domestic beer and $4.75 for an imported one.

Most shopping locations are at Broadmoor Shopping Center, K-Mart Shopping Center, or University Shopping Center. Residents can find clothing at stores such as Jamie & Freddee Cat Gallery, Cream Clothing, B and Z Fashion, and Armadillo’s Hands and many essentials at Dollar Tree and Kroger. Hogman’s Gameday Superstore carries the largest selection of clothing, merchandise and gifts for Arkansas Razorback fans.

Kroger acts as the main grocery store for the area, but there are several others that carry specialty items. Asian Mart stocks items that you can’t find anywhere else for Chinese, Thai, Korean and Indonesian grocery and spices. Fairpark Grocery & Food Mart has cheap snacks and subs, while Sam’s Oriental Store carries fresh ingredients for ethnic cooking.

Residents looking for fresh farmers market finds need only head nine minutes into Little Rock to the Hillcrest Farmers Market. The most notable farmers market, River Market , provides a unique shopping experience with two open-air pavilions overlooking the Arkansas River. Visitors will find fresh produce from local farms and have the joy of experiencing a purchase right from the back of a farmer's truck. River Market runs from May through October.