Continential Park - Fort Wayne, IN

Fort Wayne was founded in 1794 and named for Anthony Wayne, a U.S. army officer. Given its location along the St. Joseph River, St. Mary's River and Maumee River, Fort Wayne became a trading post for European settlers. Sitting on the Rust Belt, the area thrived during industrialization and declined during deindustrialization. Urban sprawl eventually became a problem, but during the 1990s, officials redeveloped the area, creating a safer community.

The area has a robust cultural scene with its many museums and annual events such as the Three Rivers Festival. The Grand Wayne Convention Center also hosts an annual showcase of local artists and performances during the Foundation for Art and Music in Education (FAME) Northeast Festival. Residents enjoy going to Broadway caliber shows, community events and a variety of other shows at the Embassy Theatre.

Residents find varied choices outside of the neighborhood, including many in downtown Fort Wayne. If you are looking for a good Lake Perch fry in a homey restaurant with good prices, try the family-owned Nine Mile Restaurant , just six miles out. Locals frequent this place for its Lake Perch, perfectly crisp and served with a side of fries. For breakfast, order a coffee and a cinnamon roll.

Residents wanting a change from Chinese takeout and fast food burgers can go to a little hole in the wall four miles out called Mahnin Asian Restaurant. This tiny establishment serves up Burmese appetizers and Thai dishes for the main course. The papaya salad comes loaded with fresh seafood and the hefty portions of this dish, along with the flavors, make it a hit with patrons.

For what locals say are the best ribs in town, seven miles outside of the neighborhood, grab your friends and dine in at Ziffle's Rib Bar . The restaurant serves up affordable plates of well-cooked meat slathered in perfectly seasoned sauces. Stop by for lunch and order the Rib Tip Special.

Residents looking for a night out on the town can do so in downtown Fort Wayne, just a little over five miles from the neighborhood. Fans of martinis find masterfully crafted ones in Club Soda, a restaurant and bar that has received accolades for its martinis. Beer fans find satisfaction at the Dash-In, Fort Wayne's largest craft beer bar with over 23 varieties on tap, including several selections that are gluten-free.

Residents commonly get around Continental Park and Fort Wayne by driving. Although the city does not have an urban freeway like most cities its size, it does have I-69 running through the suburbs and I-469 going through the outer edges into New Haven.

Individuals who do not want to drive can call a cab or hail one downtown. Uber does not provide service to the city just yet. If you do drive into the city, there are ample parking spaces in garages and on the street.

Commuters who bike outside of downtown Fort Wayne find it difficult to get around the neighborhood. The streets are not bike-friendly and designated bicycle paths can only be found in the city.

Citilink, Fort Wayne's mass transit system, also provides service throughout the city and in its suburbs, but many residents opt to drive instead. Walking does not offer an efficient way to get around the neighborhood.

Fort Wayne's Parks and Recreation operates 86 public parks in the area. Each park has unique features and hosts a number of interesting events for the community.

The most expansive park is Franke Park, which is home to the Fort Wayne's Children's Zoo, Shoaff Lake and Foellinger Theatre. Visitors enjoy an afternoon out on the lake to fish or take advantage of the many hiking trails in the park. The park even has a BMX trail for the risk takers and renegades wanting to show off some tricks.

Johnny Appleseed Park provides residents another notable park to spend time in the outdoors and was the final resting place of the park's namesake, John Chapman. You can visit the grave on your visit if you want. The park offers visitors more of a laid-back visit with its picnic sites, campsites and fishing grounds, but once a year, the park attracts thousands of people to its Johnny Appleseed Festival. Featuring foods, crafts and historic demonstrations, the festival pays homage to John Chapman.

Continental Park gives residents a high quality of living without the hefty price tag. Residents can expect a median rental price of $496 for a one-bedroom apartment, well below the city average.

It does not come as a surprise that residents drive often, as gas prices are only 0.8 percent higher than the national average. If you want to skip the drive to get a drink downtown, mass transit fare one-way costs $1.25 and once you are in the city, enjoy a domestic beer for $3 or an import for $4.

The area gives residents many options for retail therapy. From large shopping malls to smaller boutiques, the choices are plentiful, but the majority of shopping comes with affordable prices in the form of mainstream brands or vintage stores.

Many shopping malls are scattered around Fort Wayne including Jefferson Pointe, an outdoor mall housing many popular brands and restaurants. The shopping malls are the highest-end option in the area. Small businesses are more concentrated in the downtown area.

Book lovers fall in love with Hyde Brothers . Inside the store, you'll find books stacked up to the ceiling and filling every nook and cranny. The store carries over 150,000 titles in many genres and also has a buy-trade program.

Residents are near Kroger and Walmart Supercenter for grocery shopping. A number of nearby markets including the Barr Street Market also provide an alternative or supplement to mainstream grocery shopping.