Surrounded by East Chicago community spaces and industrial hubs
Washington Park—sometimes referred to as Park Addition—speaks to the cultural core of East Chicago. To the west of these longstanding homes is a vast railyard housing oil tank cars on their way to Indiana Harbor and the city’s other industrial centers. To the east is its namesake park, developed in the early 1900s and now serving as a community hub alongside the baseball stadium to the south. Residents are close to U.S. Route 12, the Interstate 90 toll road and other routes out of Northwest Indiana.
Washington Park shoppers can access retail strips nearby in East Chicago.
Winners at Ameristar Casino leave with a free lunch near Washington Park.
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Living next door to two of East Chicago’s most popular parks
Washington Park’s playground, paths and sheltered picnic pavilions are open from dawn to dusk. With the headquarters of East Chicago Parks and Recreation in the park, visitors can purchase potted plants from the park system's greenhouse or learn more about the community's recreational sites and programs. Originally established by the Inland Steel company in 1942 on the opposite end of the park, Block Stadium hosts baseball games for East Chicago Central High School and Calumet College of St. Joseph. Next to the stadium, Indiana Habor Little League organizes youth players on its array of smaller fields in the Kenny Lofton Complex. More East Chicago fixtures are located north of Cesar Chavez Memorial Drive, including Jerose Park Beach and the Indiana Harbor Public Library, a Carnegie library listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Enjoy local baseball games at Block Stadium at the Kenny Lofton Complex in Washington Park.
Washington Park features a variety of exercise equipment in Gary.
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Brick homes with down payment assistance
Washington Park’s long blocks are named for plants and East Chicago Company founders. Those living on Carey Street and Euclid Avenue are closest to the railway, though traffic on Chavez Memorial Drive and sirens from St. Catherine’s Hospital to the east add to the noise level throughout the neighborhood. Though many homes include detached garages, street parking is also common. Signs warn visitors not to block driveways. Patio chairs, children’s toys and potted plants clutter small front porches, while trash cans awaiting collection line back alleyways. Brick ranch-style homes, bungalows, American Foursquares and folk-style homes include tight front and backyards with chain-link fences, and some buildings have since been converted to duplexes and multiplexes. Prices range from $90,000 to $375,000 depending on size and the number of renovations needed before move-in. East Chicago also maintains a down payment assistance program to help renters own their first home in Washington Park and other neighborhoods. The CAP Crime Index overall score for the community is 5 out of 10 compared to the national average of 4, though some violent crimes score higher.
Bungalows are a well represented home style in Washington Park.
Brick, Cape Cod inspired homes add a touch of charm to Washington Park.
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Celebrating Latino culture at Block Stadium, Washington Park
Foot and vehicle traffic is at its highest during events at the local parks. Washington Parks holds several of these annual fixtures, including the Easter Extravaganza, Salsa in the Park and the Rhythm & Soul Fest on Juneteenth. East Chicago's Fiestas Patrias, which features a parade in honor of Mexican Independence Day, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024. The event kicks off at Block Stadium and routes to a festival at Jeorse Park Beach.
Enjoy local baseball games at Block Stadium at the Kenny Lofton Complex in Washington Park.
Car enthusiasts in Washington Park will enjoy events like Cruise Nights in Whiting.
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South Shore Line and bus connections near Washington Park
Washington Park is located 1.5 miles south of the Indiana Harbor area and its facilities. Folks can head the 24 miles to downtown Chicago on the Indiana Toll Road, or await a 40-minute trip at East Chicago Station on the South Shore Line, 3 miles southwest of the community. The Lakeshore Connection shuttle, part of Gary Public Transportation Corp, runs every 2 hours, stopping at St. Catherine’s Hospital before heading to Ivy Tech Community College’s East Chicago campus and East Chicago Station. The line also heads to downtown Gary and downtown Hammond. Gary/Chicago International Airport is nearby for cargo transportation and limited flights out of 3 gates, while Chicago Midway International Airport is 23 miles away.
Public schools and free charter options in East Chicago
School City of East Chicago, the district serving Washington Park, maintains a strict uniform policy extending to all students, save for those with religious waivers or those with financial difficulties. Washington Elementary School teaches kindergarten through sixth grade and scores a C-minus from Niche. So does Block Middle School. Both have bus pickup locations either directly within or a few blocks north of the community. Kindergarten through eighth grade charter schools are also popular choices. East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy scores a C, while East Chicago Lighthouse Charter School gets a C-minus. Kids cap out at East Chicago Central High School, the only high school in district, which scores a C. The school is home to John A. Baratto Athletic Center, which has the third-largest seating capacity of any high school basketball gym in the country, according to the Indiana High School Basketball Historical Society. .
East Chicago Central High is part of the East Chicago School District.
East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy is a public, charter, elementary and middle school.
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Getting groceries or a bite to eat near Washington Park
A Dollar General, Walgreens and several fast-food franchises and locally owned take-out spots line Cesar Chavez Memorial Drive. Tania's Latin American Restaurant crafts Puerto Rican dishes in large portions. Shark's serves up wings, catfish and other fried fish in Styrofoam containers. For more options, residents take this route west to U.S. Route 20. La Chiquita, a Hispanic market and butcher shop, is the source for tamales and fresh meat cuts. La Mexicana is also a go-to spot for imported Mexican goods. Locals visit Strack & Van Til nearby for supermarket goods.
Enjoy Latin American cuisine at Tania's in Washington Park.
Enjoy fresh deli foods from Van Til's in Washington Park.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jeff McCormick,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Washington Park
Kenny Lofton Complex
Transit
Airport
Chicago Midway International
39 min drive
Bus
St. Catherine Hospital
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Washington Park
US
Homicide
7
4
Sexual Assault
4
4
Assault with Weapon
6
4
Robbery
5
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Washington Park, East Chicago sell after 106 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Washington Park, East Chicago over the last 12 months is $204,600, up 74% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Prime 1/2-acre commercial development site located in the City of East Chicago. Former long-term location of a United Steelworkers union hall. Premier lot located at the corner of Euclid Ave and Broadway. Could be a perfect site for another office building, mixed-use development, retail, possibly even some type of residential. The North Harbor are of East Chicago has much development taking
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jeff McCormick,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,282
Median Age
37
Population under 18
26.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.3%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$39,999
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$67,216
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
78.2%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
8.7%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
3.1%
% Population in Labor Force
55.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
41''
Average Winter Low Temperature
16°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
6''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
46/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
47/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
