Humboldt Park

Humboldt Park is a pretty big neighborhood, and has a lot of cool things to offer.

First, the park the area is named for is huge and really pretty. There’s a giant pond in the middle and the fieldhouse is a historical landmark. It’s a really nice spot to relax.

The neighborhood has long been one of the most dangerous in the city, and still has a huge problem with crime and gang activity. People get shot here all the time. Some blocks are worse than others – some are pretty much fine. There’s been a lot of effort to clean this up.

There’s a pretty diverse population there, although it’s a Puerto Rican neighborhood. There are two giant Puerto Rican flags that arch across Division Street. The Puerto Rican Day Parade is a HUGE event in Humboldt Park. There also seems to be a ton of hipsters moving in the past 5 years or so, since yuppies have pretty much taken over the surrounding neighborhoods.

The bars and stores are all neighborhood corner places. There’s definitely a sense of real community in the neighborhood, and there are lots of families and people who have lived in the area forever.

I think many people in the neighborhood are really worried about the gentrification going on in surrounding areas creeping in. Poor families would have to move out and a lot of the culture of Humboldt Park would be lost. I even saw a sign put up that said “Yuppies, stay away from Humboldt Park.”

It’s a really cool place to visit for the culture, delicious food and neighborhood spirit. Hopefully it’ll stay that way.

Known largely for the park of the same name, Humboldt Park boasts one of the city’s largest outdoor areas. The 200-plus acre Humboldt Park includes beach access, swimming pool, tennis courts, baseball park, playgrounds, bike paths, walking paths, ice-skating, picnic areas, and pretty much anything else you can imagine. Enjoying the outdoors in this neighborhood is pretty effortless, but there are a few other things about Humboldt Park worth mentioning.

Humboldt Park is also noted for its ethnic diversity, which includes a great balance of many cultures. Full of charming older brick homes, courtyard apartment buildings, and a general feeling of community, this is a good choice for families in search of lower-cost homes and plenty of activities. There is still much work being done to continuously improve Humboldt Park, which gives the impression of a bright future for this working-class neighborhood.

Culturally, one of the most important activities in Humboldt Park is the Puerto Rican Peoples Parade and Fiesta Boricua (Puerto Rican Pride festival), which occur annually in June. With a showing of over 150,000 people every year, it is one of the city’s most noted festivals. Visiting Humboldt Park puts you in touch with some of the best parkland in the city, although its west side locale makes it a little out of reach for many locals.

I see a bright future for Humboldt Park. It used to be a really rough neighborhood with a lot of crime, but it has been cleaned up as of late, and the actual park that lends its name to the neighborhood is family friendly now, and I feel pretty safe here. I know it has had a reputation in the past for being tough, so I think that scares some people off, but it's really not that bad anymore. I wouldn't suggest walking around at night without keeping an eye on the lookout, but overall it's really coming into its own.

The area has not, as of yet, really been gentrified, which can be a good thing, but I think a bit more gentrification would help drive up home prices and really solidify the improvements that have taken place. Perhaps if a few Starbucks showed up it would bring in more yuppies. Yeah, I know the yuppie crowd seems like it would ruin the unique flavor, but it's a safe crowd that brings in a lot of money to an area that can really help rejuvenate the community.

I could see in the next 5 to 10 years Humboldt Park getting a little more gentrified and becoming a great area. It isn't there yet, but it could get there.

Yet another “up-and-coming” Chicago ‘hood (though it’s not quite there just yet). Word on the street is that Humboldt Park is going to be the new Wicker Park/Bucktown – because of the influx of starving artist types. (Wicker Park/Bucktown isn’t as cool these days for starving artist types – all the commercial things springing up in those neighborhoods are apparently drawing in a yuppie crowd.)

Anyway, some parts of Humboldt Park are nicer than others – there are places that can be a little sketchy at night, so be careful if you’ve never been to the neighborhood. It’s weird: each block in Humboldt Park is pretty different from the next. There are a number of families that live here, and there is still a certain amount of crime, which is what I’m beginning to think “up-and-coming” really means – that artist-types are moving into a neighborhood where crime is beginning to drop.

Paisano’s is a good taco place in the area, and Bite on Augusta is worth checking out as well. There are also a number of little bars in the neighborhood – hole-in-the-wall type places with a really laidback vibe. Just be careful walking home!