Parkway Hills - Milwaukee, WI

Most of the homes located in Parkway Hills were built around 1959, and certainly maintain that period’s sense of urban design and architecture. Several Alic/Alongoquian tribes, such as the Menominee, Fox, Sauk and the Ho-Chunk, inhabited the entire Milwaukee area, including Parkway Hills, before 1785 when Alexis Laframboise established the area’s first European trading post.

Several interesting cultural locations worth investigating reside in the area. Just south of Parkway Hills, the Wanner Sculpture Studio showcases art created using metalworking, woodworking and other mediums. The themes span from religious to secular sculpture and baptismal fonts. From the studio, David M. Wanner displays a number of authentic pieces available for purchase.

Not far down North 91st Street, Gayle’s Dance Studio provides hands-on classes for young children aspiring in the art of dance. Gayle offers three different 8-week programs throughout the year under a variety of different disciplines.

While supplying few options for eating within its small residential area, the urban surroundings of Parkway Hills supply much food and entertainment, even if you avoid chain restaurants.

Just down the street stands Gianelli’s Pizza and Chicken Man, a great choice for reasonable prices and a friendly atmosphere. Gianelli's features "buy one, get the second free" pizza, making this a superb place for large groups. Its daily delivery service runs from 11 a.m. to closing, and it even provides catering.

A short drive south on West Appleton Avenue, El Greco gives residents a dining option for under $10. It specializes in Greek cuisine, however the menu shows a wide palate of foods from Chinese to Spanish. Residents appreciate this joint for its large portion sizes and friendly service. Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner here thanks to El Greco's 24-hour service.

With a higher price range and a more sophisticated atmosphere, The Fox Den lies just outside of Parkway Hills. It supplies not only an expansive menu, but a long list of beers on tap and a separate menu for their mixed drinks and cocktails. Many of this establishment's local and independent brews change and rotate seasonally. Be sure to ask the helpful and knowledgeable bartenders about any of the specialty drinks.

Adjacent to the Fox Den, the venue Jokerz Comedy club provides nightly entertainment in a fun, speakeasy-type atmosphere. Acts go on nightly at Jokerz, and special events such as fundraisers and birthday parties can be booked. The menu features an impressive range of appetizers, sandwiches and some entrées. The club typically charges a small cover for comedy acts and a two-drink minimum.

The Milwaukee County Transit System provides quick and easy transportation by bus to and from Parkway Hills. Via the BlueLine, stationed just north on West Fond du Lac Avenue, residents can access almost any corner of the Milwaukee area. The short distance from the station means any resident of the neighborhood can be a city commuter.

Access to Parkway Hills by car proves to be extremely simple via Wisconsin’s Highway 145 that runs just north of the neighborhood. Highway 145 can be reached by Interstate 43 in Milwaukee. While the local stores provide the only public parking, the small suburban center remains walkable for any visitor or resident.

Uber provides a viable transportation option for anyone in the surrounding Milwaukee area. However, traditional taxi services such as the Yellow Cab Co-Op can be arranged by phone. While Parkway Hills maintains no bike routes, the city of Milwaukee has a lively biking community that has mapped out many paths for bikers all around the area. For Parkway Hills residents, a bike path crosses just north of the area in the Little Menominee River Parkway.

The Little Menomonee River Parkway takes a piece of the area’s natural setting and provides a location for nearby residents to enjoy the outdoors. While residents of Parkway Hills may enjoy their specific piece of the river and woods, the Parkway itself stretches through the entire Milwaukee area from north to south. The park provides biking, walking, hiking and an abundance of natural scenery. Also, this park doesn't charge a fee for use and welcomes dogs. Local meetings held consistently here allow residents to take part in the park’s advancement and renovation.

Located not too far south of the area in Wauwatosa, Currie Park provides a great option for Parkway Hills residents for picnics and lounging with family and friends. The park harbors both an outdoor golf course along with the Currie Park Indoor Golf Dome, creating opportunities for fun and entertainment that any casual golfer will appreciate.

In terms of the overall cost of living, Parkway Hills averages at about 6 percent lower than the national average, while the Milwaukee area in general averages at about 7 percent lower. The average apartment rent in Milwaukee falls around $904, and in Parkway Hills, around $695.

Customers at a Milwaukee-area pub expect to pay around $4 to $6 for a beer. Gas in the area typically falls around 12 percent lower than the national average. Transport via the Milwaukee County Transit System for one full day costs $4 in advance and $5 on the bus, and long-term tickets can be purchased on the MCTS’s website.

Parkway Hills itself contains several options for casual shopping, such as its sizable Goodwill Store & Donation Center and All Season Lawn Care. This local Goodwill provides thrifting and general shopping for residents of all over the local area. However, if you wish a more broad and unique shopping experience, several local options sit either a modest walk or a short drive away. The Applecrest Plaza Shopping Center houses vendors such as Dollar Tree, Pick’n Save, and Value Beauty.

A short drive south on Route 45, the Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity ReStore provides another useful thrift/furniture store option for locals. Here, customers can find everything from home decorations to an entire washer and dryer set. This one-stop convenience makes the store a useful option for any new home or apartment owner who requires either decorations or appliances. You can also request pick-ups for larger donated items.

While the Pick’n Save grocery food store and the Walmart Supercenter service the area surrounding Parkway Hills, residents find the city’s farmers markets useful as well. The Brown Deer Farmer’s Market to the north and Fondy Farmers Market to the southeast both make good choices. The Fondy Farmers Market serves the community from May to November.