Creston-Kenilworth

One of the older areas of Portland, Creston Kenilworth, is a residential neighborhood located in southeast Portland. It’s a nice area for families, but the age group is diverse. The Portland influence is not far away, as you can find a little bit of traditional mixed in with some funky, but it’s all very charming. The town consists of popular parks: Creston Park and Kenilworth Park. Both include a decent playground, off dog leash run, picnic areas and the like.

You wouldn’t travel to Creston Kenilworth to shop, unless you are looking for a Trader Joe’s, and who isn’t looking for that? But you are not far from anything you would need, as it would be a short car ride away. Mostly, it’s a nice quite, safe area with decent schools.

With SE Holgate to the South and SE Powell Blvd to the North, between SE 28th and SE 39th, lies Creston-Kenilworth. This neighborhood is hard to summarize in just a few words. It feels very family-friendly, whether you're looking to raise your kids in an exciting urban environment or a laid-back community. It has a bit of a small-town feel, but with easy access to everything Portland has to offer.

The neighborhood was first settled in the 1890s, and many of the homes date to this era, along with a number of newer houses and apartment buildings. There are plenty of affordable rentals here, if you're looking to move into the neighborhood. Many of the apartments are located along the busier roads, offering easy access to shopping and public transportation.

There are several nice, older parks here, including Kenilworth Park and Creston Park, which has a pool and a dog park. Tree-lined streets give Creston-Kenilworth the atmosphere of a quiet neighborhood, even along busier roads. There is lots of shopping, especially to the Northeast, where businesses are mostly contained in strip malls. Unfortunately, some of these areas have experienced some crime over the past few years, though the neighborhood still feels very safe for families, especially during daylight hours.

Creston/Kenilworth is in SE Portland near Reed College. If you are looking for an affordable home in a convenient location, you just might find it in this part of town. A lot of families live in this area, and it offers conveniences for kids including Creston Park and Kenilworth Park. You will see a lot of children and dogs in both these parks, and they have a nice relaxing vibe. Creston Park even has a community pool.

This area doesn't have too many restaurants and shops, but you can easily access this kind of thing by driving to Division Street or Hawthorne. There is a Trader Joes in Creston, however, which is only one of a few in the whole city. The Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens is another interesting attraction that is inexpensive to visit and quite beautiful.

You are unlikely to find huge expansive homes in this area. Alternatively, there are a lot of moderately sized quaint places to live. People are friendly, and you likely will feel pretty safe in Creston/Kenilworth.