Schmitt Park - Green Bay, WI

One of the earliest European settlements in America grew from a trading post established at Green Bay in the 1630s. By 1848, when Wisconsin achieved statehood, Green Bay's industry shifted to logging and other industries, but the city's culture and identity were truly transformed in 1919, when the Green Bay Packers football team formed. Thousands of visitors come to Green Bay every year to visit Lambeau Field, home of the Packers.

In the 1950s, developer John Schmitt platted an innovative community just south and east of the bay. The wooded, winding streets and large homes of Schmitt Park afford views of the bay and the skyline to the west. This quiet neighborhood relies on nearby areas for most amenities, and events here focus on school, church and family happenings. The bay, downtown and university await just minutes away and provide residents a full range of activities.

There are very few restaurants or bars within walking distance of most homes in Schmitt Park. Residents needn't go far for a good meal or a lively place to watch a Packers game with like-minded fans. Downtown Green Bay, west of the neighborhood, provides a full array of ethnic dining, fine dining, cozy cafes and casual places to watch a game with a burger or wings at hand.

Head to Green Bay Pizza Co. for Chicago-style pizza and wings. The huge, hearty pies, including the popular Packer all-meat pie, come with free breadsticks if you join the VIP club. Those wanting to enjoy a pizza from home can have food delivered.

Legend Larry's cooks legendary chicken wings, and the bar sells its award-winning BBQ sauce bottled to take home. Eating in, however, brings at least half the fun of this boisterous bar, especially when a Packers game plays on the big screens. The menu includes a dozen different wings, plus a full complement of salty deep-fried goodness in the form of cheese sticks, fries and cheddar-breaded cauliflower for the health-conscious.

Across the street from Larry's, the Packer Burger Co. has a split personality. As the name suggests, the cooks fry up a great burger, with one, two, three, or four generous 1/3-pound stacked patties on one carefully-toasted bun. Brats, subs, and gyros round out the savory, two-handed menu. On the next page, however, Cantonese specialties such as Mongolian chicken, egg fu young, and kung pao chicken tempt diners looking for an entirely different experience.

Just east of Schmitt's Park, Z Harvest Cafe provides an oasis of fresh vegetables and innovative cuisine in a charming little dining room. Standout entrees include the potato-crusted roasted salmon served over sautéed spinach, and the chicken marsala pairs chicken and ravioli with a leek and wild mushrooms ragout in a creamy marsala sauce. Lovely martinis and fresh, thoughtfully prepared dishes make this a welcome antidote to the bar food that dominates Green Bay's dining scene.

Nearly all jobs, amusements and shopping districts lay beyond the borders of Schmitt Park, so residents rely heavily on cars here. However, Green Bay Metro runs several bus lines through the area, with rides at $1.50 one way or $3 for a day pass. Taxis and Uber cabs can be called in as well. I-43 and Highway 54 border the neighborhood, and downtown, Lambeau Field, the bay of Green Bay and the university area can be reached very quickly.

At the center of the neighborhood, Schmitt Park provides residents quiet trails, play space and wooded, natural beauty. Just north of the neighborhood, the bay of Green Bay affords a more dramatic natural beauty and recreation opportunities. The Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, preserved in the 1930s at the urging of naturalist and author Aldo Leopold, provides exercise-minded visitors the chance to hike through a variety of habitats, and learn about the area's scenery and wildlife at its education center.

The Bay Beach Amusement Park dates back to the late 1800s, when it began as a resort community. Over the years, the park has added concessions, contemporary amusement park rides and a scenic train but vestiges of its earlier personality remain in vintage park buildings.

The Brown County Park Pet Exercise Area, off Highway 54 a few minutes from Schmitt Park, lets dogs run in a four-acre fenced, off-leash area with trails, and a small creek for splashing and drinking.

Renters find very few apartments in the area, but a one-bedroom rents for an average of $620. It's possible to rent an entire home for about $1,000 a month. Gas prices rest about 5 percent lower than the national average, and a couple cents a gallon cheaper than the Green Bay average. A beer at Cliffhangers Grille runs $3 to $5 a pint, maybe $1 higher than the average sports bar in the area.

Schmitt Park lacks grocery stores, but just a few minutes west, numerous options for food and other goods can be found on the perimeter of downtown Green Bay. Copp's and Festival Foods sell good selections with a hometown touch, such as Packer helmet-shaped cookies in the bakery and lots of good Wisconsin cheese.

Fishermen appreciate the service and supplies at Smokey's on the Bay. This small bait and tackle shop features a huge selection of fishing lures and other fishing paraphernalia. Nala's Fromagerie celebrates cheeses of the world, with high-end varieties from Europe, Scandinavia, South America, the Mediterranean and the United States – including, naturally, Wisconsin.

Take University Avenue west from Schmitt Park to find an assortment of unique local businesses threaded between national chains. Silver Thimble Quilt Shop caters to the area's high number of retirees and young craft enthusiasts with a large shop that doubles as a social center. If that's too sedate, InCompetition Sports keeps its customers moving in all seasons with cross country ski gear, bikes, snowshoes and running gear. The tiny Guitar Cellar has big musical knowledge and a good selection of instruments and sheet music.

Downtown Green Bay's revitalized shopping areas include antiques stores, gift shops, sports memorabilia and other unique retailers in a charming historic setting.