Wynnefield Heights - Philadelphia, PA

Wynnefield Heights was once known as Woodside Park, an amusement park open from 1897 to 1955 before becoming a residential neighborhood. The neighborhood holds a reputation for beautiful single-family homes, an active community organization, and a close association with actor Will Smith, who grew up in the bordering neighborhood of Wynnefield.

On the eastern border of the neighborhood sits a portion of Fairmount Park. This section houses the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden and the Mann Center for performing arts. The country's first zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo, welcomes visitors in Fairmount Park and hosts events throughout the year. The Wynnefield Heights Civic Association hosts events for neighborhood residents, such as flea markets and Community Day.

The general area houses a combination of chain restaurants such as T.G.I. Friday's, Chili's, Olive Garden, and hotel restaurants inside the popular Crowne Plaza and Hilton. However, a few local gems are scattered throughout the area.

Honeygrow is the perfect place to go if you're looking for local, fresh, and healthy food. All ingredients come to the table sourced as locally and seasonally as possible from nearby farms, and the chefs prepare everything fresh daily. They serve varieties of stir fry, salads, smoothies, fresh fruit, and honey treats in a fun and casual environment.

Keith's Red Snapper Restaurant brings astonishing Caribbean food to the neighborhood and wins raves from the locals. The red snapper itself is served up with traditional sides such as peas and rice, plantains, and festival bread. Choose the curry chicken or the oxtail, then stick around for some live reggae music.

Head to Pescatore Palace in neighboring Bala Cynwyd for a special night out where you can enjoy rustic, Italian fare in a cozy, welcoming space. The staff provide friendly and professional service, and the entrees are a modern take on classic Italian dishes. Every meal starts off with a plate of bread, cheese, and pesto, and as the name implies, seafood remains the specialty. Be sure to save room for dessert; the tiramisu has been voted the best in the area multiple times. This fine dining establishment provides a BYOB destination, and reservations are taken online.

Nightlife in the area remains more low-key with a diverse variety of bars. Elzina's Touch of Class serves up strong drinks sized and priced well in a clean and casual environment. Enjoy the jukebox and a dance floor, as well as live entertainment and raffles on occasion.

If a game of pool sounds good, head over to Five Points Cocktail Lounge on Ford Road. The staff provides friendly service, the drinks come cheap and the soul food ranks as the best in the area. Thursday night features ladies' nights, which means customers get $5 Long Island iced teas and $2 Ciroc shots/drinks as well as raffles and prizes. Old school R&B and Soul play throughout the Lounge on Sunday night. The pool tables remain busy every night of the week.

Head to nearby neighborhoods such as Ardmore or Manayunk where a mix of college students and young professionals enjoy their free time. Center City, about six miles away, provides an eclectic, broad range of nightlife options from clubs to wine bars to live music venues.

Wynnefield Heights has a high percentage of commuters who drive; however, the public transportation in the area remains good. Septa bus route has 38 destination stops at the bus station on Cranston Road, and the train station sits at 5024 Wynewood Avenue. The area consists of a suburban space, so call ahead for a cab or an Uber.

A few paid parking garages exist in the area for the local business facilities; otherwise, shopping centers and small-business parking lots generally provide public parking.

Wynnefield Heights provides easy access to major highways, such as business Route 30, Route 1, and 76, 676, and 95. Streets have no designated biking lanes, but trails and parks in Fairmount Park are convenient and safe for walking and biking.

West Fairmount Park shares territory with Wynnefield Heights, one of the largest urban green spaces in the country. The park itself remains free, but many museums and historical sites throughout the park charge admission.

Paths and trails for walking and biking exist throughout the neighborhood, with plenty of play space for kids and dogs. The Belmont Plateau provides a green, open space in the park with stunning views of the city and a great place for a picnic.

The park consists of 63 individual parks where events and activities occur year-round, the most notable being the Welcome to America concert series celebrating Independence Day.

The cost of living in Wynnefield Heights is similar to that of the Philadelphia average. Due to its closeness to the center of the city, public transportation costs only a few dollars each way. Gas prices come in at 6.7 percent higher than the national average, while one-bedroom apartments in Wynnefield Heights rent for an average of $1,162 a month. Grab a pint of beer at a local bar for about $4 or $5.

Neighboring Bala Cynwyd provides the shopping hub for the area, with chain stores such as Target and Lowe's, and major department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor. For boutiques and specialty stores, head to nearby neighborhoods such as Narberth in the suburbs or into Center City.

Sweet Mabel in Narberth provides a colorful and fun gallery specializing in found-object art, pottery, glass, jewelry, and funky and unique gifts. Everything in the store comes with a made-in-the-U.S. declaration, and the establishment features and sells the work of local artists.

Just four miles away, you'll find the Second Mile Center, which provides the mecca of thrift stores, carrying a large selection of furniture, clothing, home goods, electronics, toys, books, and records.

Giant, Shoprite, and Acme are the main grocery stores. The Bala Cynwyd Farmers' Market, open spring through fall, sits in the parking lot of the GSB Building at Belmont Avenue and St. Asaphs Road in Bala Cynwyd.