Juniata

Prior to the 1920's, Juniata was mostly farmland. Row homes were first built in the neighborhood around the mid-1920's, except for the western portion which wasn't developed until the 1950's. The area, first populated by working class Irish Americans, is now predominantly a middle class Hispanic neighborhood.

One of the most notable places in the neighborhood is the Juniata Golf Course, an 18-hole course designed by Ed Ault in 1930. The course actually includes the Frankford Creek as a water hazard in six of the 18 holes.

The commercial and retail portions of the neighborhood are divided on 4 major avenues; Castor Avenue, Hunting Park Avenue, Kensington Avenue and Erie Avenue. There are convenient/drug store throughout the neighborhood. Also, major retailers, such as Burlington Coat Factory and Kmart, are in the vicinity. Juniata is also the home of the Coca-Cola Bottling company in Philadelphia.

Homes in the area are generally row homes, with some townhouses, single-family homes and condos here and there.

Schooling in the Juniata section of Philadelphia includes four schools within the area; one public, one charter and two Catholic schools. There are day-cares in the area for children who are not yet school age.

The Juniata Action Committee has been working diligently in recent years to produce a more green neighborhood. Juniata does include Tacony Creek Park but it is only the northern portion of the area. The committee is trying to include more community gardens inside the neighborhood. They also hold meetings and such to assist the neighbors of Juniata in the landscaping of their homes.

Juniata gets a bad rap just like many of the neighborhoods in the lower portions of the Northeast due to integration and changes in economy. The neighborhood has crime as does any other part of Philadelphia, however there is a neighborhood committee that cares. That's what makes the difference in areas that have bad reputations; the ability of the people to make it better than what it is perceived to be. And Juniata is one of those places where the people are trying desperately to give a better name to their home.

Juniata Park is a working class neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia. Before its development in the mid 1920s the area was mostly farmlands. Today Juniata Park is a residential area of row homes with a large Irish-American and Puerto Rican population.

One defining structure of Juniata Park is the 18-hole golf course called the Juniata Golf Club; it is located north of the neighborhood. Surrounding the golf course are two parks that were a popular attraction to child in the neighborhood.

Unfortunately like many areas of Philadelphia the increasing crime rate has ruined much of Juniata Park and made it unsafe. Incidents of vandalism and theft are on the rise and keeping potential residents away.

The shopping options in Juniata Park are in the area of Kensington and Hunting Park. Though there are a few corner stores in the area. Public transportation via the Market-Frankford line is easily accessible as well as bus routes that run through the neighborhood. Driving is also easy to do in this residential section with plenty of off street parking available.

Juniata Park also has several schools such as Hopkins Elementary and Juniata Park Academy. The neighborhood has an abundance of churches as well, as the past residents of the neighborhood used to be very religious/spiritual group.