Lawrence neighborhood with anchor park and close-knit community
“Dad” Perry Park was affectionately named after a Lawrence-area teacher and coach considered the father of gymnastics in Kansas. Today, this 45-acre park is the heart of the Perry Park neighborhood, which shares the same name. Serving as a hub of activity, here youth attend soccer practices during the summer or sled down its snow-covered hill during winter. Resident Rebekah Humphrey-Sewell describes Perry Park as “Fairly chill. It's pretty quiet. Most of the traffic on your street will be people who live here." Humphrey-Sewell goes on to explain, “There's a walking culture. People go out for walks early in the morning or in the evening. And you generally know most of the people on your street, or block, well enough to smile and wave as they go by.” Common sights in Perry Park include youth biking and playing outside, or neighbors gathering together to enjoy small festivities like their own annual Halloween parade or chili potlucks held in residents’ driveways. Perry Park is also bordered by two major roads that lead directly to downtown Lawrence and the University of Kansas. Wade Walckner, neighborhood resident and the director of nursing at Perry Park-based Lawrence Presbyterian Manor, comments: "It’s pretty much in the dead center of the city,” Walckner adds. “It has access to all of the services of Lawrence—and it’s just a really solid neighborhood, well established. There aren’t a lot of apartment complexes, so we don’t have the in and out of students like other parts of town.”
Mix of mid- to late 20th century houses
“There's a mix of housing types and sizes. If you are looking for a starter home, townhouse or something larger and more luxurious, the whole range of options can be found here,” Humphrey-Sewell says. The majority of homes in Perry Park share ample lots with mature trees that provide the community with shade. While others sit atop raised lots with sloping driveways—“Many of the houses here were built back in the day when basements were a standard feature. So, that’s nice for a tornado and not common in many of the new builds,” adds Humphrey-Sewell. Mid- to late 20th-century architecture dominates the neighborhood and single-family home designs include ranch-styles, split levels, bi-levels and multi-story Traditionals. Basements are a standard feature for many of the ranch-styles, as well as large windows and direct backyard access. With size and condition being factors, price points here run between $250,000 and $400,000. There are also some townhouse options available, which sell for about $150,000 for a two-bedroom to $220,000 for a three-bedroom.
Wide range of activities at ‘Dad’ Perry Park and golf options
“Dad” Perry Park is where this community gets outside. Here, nature trails pass through both open fields and woodlands. The park is also home to courts of all shapes and sizes: basketball, volleyball, pickleball and tennis. The tree-shaded and bark-covered playground equipment is geared toward children of all ages. Nearby, golf enthusiasts will enjoy their proximity to the private Jayhawk Club, which features an 18-hole course and an adjacent wellness center complete with a pool and a fitness center. For a public course, folks can book a tee time at the 9-hole Orchards Executive Golf Course, where they also have a 9-hole footgolf course, which challenges soccer players to kick soccer balls into oversized cups.
Staples like Six Mile Chop House and more diverse options
West Sixth Street provides dining locations for both the West Lawrence area and downtown to the east. “There are all kinds of restaurants that are fabulous. That’s why we’re in such a good location,” says Susan Cook, director of marketing for the Arbor Court Retirement Community at Alvamar. Nearby staples include the Six Mile Chop House and Tavern for steaks and the Johnny’s Tavern West sports bar. Regulars at Johnny’s like to add the establishment’s famous Wilson Sauce on their favorite menu items. Fans of international cuisine will find several options even closer to Perry Park. Thai Siam is a counter-serve establishment offering a mix of Chinese and Thai specialties. While those hungry for grilled and skewered meats and Greek salads can go to the Mediterranean Market & Cafe. Lulu’s Latin Food answers calls for tacos and plantains. And those with a penchant for sweet bubble tea can go to the Bubble Box. The nearby Dillons is one of several area grocery options.
Highly rated and STEM focused Lawrence Free State
Students here start at Sunset Hills Elementary School, which receives a B from ratings site Niche. They then go on to West Middle School and Lawrence Free State High School, which receive ratings of B-plus and A-minus, respectively. Lawrence Free State is ranked as one of the top 20 best high schools in the state for STEM programming by Niche and the schools' extracurriculars include a Women in STEM club. Alternative private school options, like Bishop Seabury Academy, offers sixth to 12th grade education and receives an A-minus grade from Niche. The ratings site also ranks Bishop Seabury as both the best private high school and college preparatory high school in the state. Bishop Seabury’s curriculum also emphasizes a science and math focus; with high-level coursework like calculus classes, and extracurriculars like a coding league.
The Lied Center and annual powwow festival
The Lied Center of Kansas, located downtown, hosts world-class performances ranging from theater productions to renowned musicians. “It’s connected to the university. It’s wonderful and there’s always something going on,” Cook says. Recent performers have included R&B and gospel legend Mavis Staples and the KU wind and jazz ensembles. The auditorium is one of the center’s two performance spaces and features both first-level and balcony seating and a traditional stage. One of the largest events that the Lied Center hosts each year is the annual FNSA Powwow & Indigenous Cultures Festival, held each April.
I-70 commute and West Sixth connection to downtown
Perry Park sits 3 miles south of Interstate 70, which many in Lawrence take to commute to Topeka and Kansas City. West Sixth Street connects the neighborhood to downtown Lawrence about 3 miles to the east. Although the Lawrence Transit system maintains a few bus stops along West Sixth, but many residents rely heavily on their cars for transport. “You do have to drive to get groceries. You should have a car if you live around here,” Humphrey-Sewell says. For medical needs, the Lawrence Memorial Hospital is about 3 miles away; and for travel out of state the Kansas City International Airport is roughly 50 miles east.
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
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Parks in this Area
Centennial Park
Prairie Park Nature Center
Fishing
Picnic Area
Trails
Prairie Park
Clinton Lake Sports Complex
South Park
Dad Perry Park
Rotary Arboretum
Buford M. Watson Jr. Park
Deerfield Park
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Perry Park
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
4
4
Assault with Weapon
4
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
6
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
7
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Perry Park, Lawrence sell after 12 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Perry Park, Lawrence over the last 12 months is $286,250, up 2% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Updated fitness room, pool table & parking lot!! Call for a tour appointment. Canyon Court offers a great location in West Lawrence, near the KU Campus, convenient shopping, and plenty of dining options. We offer spacious units, large walk in closets, attractive amenities including in unit washer/dryer, pool with spa, basketball court, and garages for lease. (when available)
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Pat Manza,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,766
Median Age
35
Population Density
7 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
14.3%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$57,479
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$69,913
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
87.3%
College Graduates
47.6%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
19.2%
% Population in Labor Force
84.6%
Above the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
40''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
88°F
Annual Snowfall
11''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
55/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
35/ 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.
