DavisR

Highland Park flies under the radar as far as Seattle neighborhoods go. Why? Well, first, the neighborhood itself can only tout a few bars, restaurants, and coffee shops--not even one brewpub... yet! It wears a decidedly residential neighborhood makeup, with a small town feel to it. Generally speaking, the trees tower over the buildings rather than the reverse, and that's how residents like it.

Residents of Highland Park, as well as those from nearby neighborhoods, also benefit from the community atmosphere nurtured by the Highland Park Improvement Club (HPIC), founded in 1919. HPIC is a unique neighborhood institution which hosts neighborhood meetings, monthly theme parties when it turns into the "Corner Bar" serving local foods and beverages, movie nights, various fun fundraisers--wine tasting, arts & crafts, etc.--and even Seahawks game day potlucks.

While Highland Park is itself a pretty chill enclave, mostly protected from the noise and faster-pace of much of the rest of the city, it's within a short walk or drive to various more happening West Seattle neighborhoods (including the Junction, Westwood, etc.), as well as to fun, trendy Georgetown and up-and-coming South Park. Additionally, it's a short walk to White Center, which, while higher crime than most of Seattle and certainly grittier, has been making steady strides with recent additions to its diverse base of great restaurants and bars and has refreshing rawness and character to it that has been long washed away from many other Seattle nabes.

While Highland Park lacks pocket parks, it does have a couple notable larger parks within it, and much more within walking distance. Highland Park contains Westcrest Park, which boasts the largest dog park in the city, as well as walking trails through a greenbelt. Westcrest Park was just expanded by 20 acres in July 2015, which is a huge coup for the neighborhood, adding panoramic views of the mountains and the city from the park's upper area. Highland Park playfield also offers a nice outdoor area as does the expansive Riverview Park/Playfied, which is technically in the Riverview neighborhood a block north of Highland Park.

Highland Park is just a mile south of the South Seattle Community College, which in addition to providing more affordable education opportunities (including having a well-reputed wine program), hosts all sorts of events, and also has a gorgeous 5 acre public arboretum with one of the largest collections of dwarf conifers, as well as an Asian garden.