Parma, OH

Parma was originally settled by a European family in 1816. Benaiah Fay and his family were settlers from New York State and named the area after Parma, Italy. Parma was not incorporated as a village until 1924, and in 1931, it became a city. During the period after World War II, Parma experienced an exponential growth that witnessed the population increase from 20,000 people in 1950 to more than 110,000 in 1980. At this time, the majority of new residents migrated from Eastern European neighborhoods and Cleveland's Polish neighborhood. To this day, this neighborhood has a strong Polish and Ukrainian community.

Parma lacks a strong arts and museum culture. The closest museum, the Brooklyn Historical Society Museum, rests north of Parma in Old Brooklyn. This museum provides 11 rooms of artifacts and furniture relating to the history of Brooklyn Township. There are also displays and an extensive history of the area.

Parma has a diverse selection of restaurants and eateries within the area's borders. This neighborhood provides cafes for grabbing a quick cup of coffee, diners for lunch and authentic cuisine locations for appetizing dinners. Although dining options can be found throughout the area, the central location for restaurants borders State Highway 3 and State Highway 176. Nightlife activity, on the other hand, borders Interstate 480 and State Highway 94. Mizu Japanese Sushi Restaurant has developed a reputation for preparing some of the best sushi in the Cleveland area. Although this restaurant has a smaller-than-average interior and slightly cramped seating, guests suggest overlooking these minor inconveniences for the enjoyable menu items and quality of service. Most guests highly recommend the sashimi and speciality rolls, which include the Christmas rolls and dragon rolls. Mizu has a reasonably priced menu and sushi happy hour daily that helps guests sample a wide selection of items. Although Parma provides many upscale dining options and top-notch eateries, The Hot Dog Diner has become a highly coveted hole-in-the-wall. This restaurant has popular menu items for hot dog connoisseurs as well as new and curious guests. The Hot Dog Diner keeps the menu simple, however, the items remain well-prepared and inexpensive. Guests enjoy a diverse selection of hot dogs that range from the windy city dog to the hillbilly dog. This restaurant also has tasty burgers, specialty hush puppies and highly praised chili cheese fries. Nightlife in Parma provides a relaxed yet engaging social atmosphere. Nightlife activity includes bars, pubs and taverns. For music venues, dance clubs and sports bars, most residents travel a few miles to downtown. Popular locations in Parma include Rock City Tap House and Red Circle Bar & Lanes. Red Circle Bar & Lanes provides a casual place to grab a beer while taking in some bowling with friends. This bar features good bar food, reasonable prices and great cocktails that add to the experience.

Although Parma has a low walk score, Ukrainian Village and Polish Village, located inside of Parma, rank as the most walkable neighborhoods in the area. Parma provides a number of bike lanes and has a useful bike infrastructure that makes cycling an effective method of getting to your destination. This area boasts good transit options that include interstates and state highways. Reliable public transportation options include bus routes operated by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.

Car-sharing services, such as Uber and RelayRides, serve the Cleveland area for residents without a personal vehicle. Local taxis, such as Need A Ride Taxi and United Cab, run frequently throughout the area. Customer parking lots and street parking provide the primary form of parking. For access to nearby locations, Interstate 480, State Highway 42, State Highway 3 and State Highway 94 help residents travel effortlessly.

Parma has many recreational facilities and neighborhood parks, however, West Creek provides the largest and most widely used area. West Creek provides beautiful walking and biking trails as well as picnic areas for special events. There are also many events that include the Blues for Greens festival and hands-on workshops for residents. West Creek believes natural areas and neighborhood green space act as an important component for a healthy, attractive and successful community. This family friendly area provides a place where walking, jogging or simply enjoying nature can be accomplished easily.

Veterans Memorial Park provides another neighborhood park that has a straightforward setup, which incorporates a small lake for fishing and a playground for children. This park also provides fields and courts for sports-related activity.

The cost of living in Parma rests 1 percent higher than the Ohio average, while the average rental rate sits at $600. The cost of living includes shopping, entertainment and public transportation, which costs $2.25 for a single, one-way fare on the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority bus lines. One-bedroom apartments in the area start at $690 in the Regency Apartments and $700 at Monica Gardens.

Gas in Parma costs 11 percent less than the national average, and residents can expect to pay about $3 for a domestic beer at a local bar.

Shopping in Parma consists of a diverse selection of options that include major department stores, chain retailers, niche boutiques and speciality stores. This area also has the popular Shoppes at Parma, which has about 150 stores that include J.C. Penney, Marc's and Walmart. This mall was formerly known as Parmatown Mall, however, the newer, remodeled structure provides a pedestrian-friendly center with attractive landscaping, beautiful lighting and two tree-lined boulevards. Residents use this mall for home essentials, gift options, clothing items and much more. For grocery needs, Walmart and Giant have competitive prices and a diverse selection of products. Both stores stock a large selection of grocery items, home essentials and prepared foods.

North Coast Nostalgia prevails as the best location in Parma for purchasing comic books, toys and collectibles. This speciality store sells a wide range of items that include retro toys and modern day collectibles. North Coast stays true to the name and provides nostalgia for older customers through vintage toys and comic books.

Flowerama on Ridge Road provides an inexpensive florist that boasts a wider selection and more informative staff than the local Walmart of Shoppes at Parma. This florist provides gorgeous corsages as well as candles, roses, decorative flags, crafts, wreaths, yard art and much more. Flowerama remains the best place to visit when flowers are needed for special occasions or events.

The closest farmers market, Stearns Homestead, opens on Saturdays from June until October between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. This market features all local vendors that sell a variety of products, such as honey, bakery, produce, soaps, crafts, oils and much more.