Glen Park (Gary)
Encyclopedia
Glen Park, also sometimes called University Park, is the most populous neighborhood in Gary, Indiana
. It is situated on the city's far south side, south of the Little Calumet River and Borman Expressway
. The neighborhood is often divided into Glen Park East and Glen Park West, on the respective sides of Broadway. Within Gary, Glen Park borders on Black Oak
to the west and Midtown
and Pulaski
to the north; beyond Gary, it adjoins Hobart
, Merrillville
, and unincorporated Calumet Township. As of 2000, the neighborhood had a population of 25,454, approximately a quarter of Gary's total population. In terms of race, as of 2000 Glen Park was 86% African-American, 9% white, and 5.5% Hispanic.
Glen Park predates the founding of Gary by two decades. It was platted in 1894 by Chicagoans William Reissig and Charles Williams, near the intersection of the Nickel Plate Railroad and Joliet and Northern Indiana Railroad ("Joliet Cutoff"). A post office was established in 1898. The community was originally named "Kelly," but had come to be called "Glen Park" by 1900.
After the city of Gary was founded in 1906, the county built a bridge across the Little Calumet to extend Broadway to Glen Park. The portion of Glen Park north of 45th Avenue was annexed shortly thereafter, and the southern part followed in 1926. The first school in Glen Park was built in 1909, and the first church in 1911. Streetcars along Broadway allowed millworkers to commute from Glen Park to the Gary Works
at the northern end of Broadway. The area was strictly segregated until the 1960s, with blacks not allowed to cross the Little Calumet bridge except for work.
Glen Park is home to Indiana University Northwest
and the Gary campus of Ivy Tech Community College. The neighborhood is served by the Borman Expressway
directly to its north, which has exits at Broadway and Grant streets, and by Interstate 65
to the east, which has an exit on Ridge Road. Public transportation is provided by the buses of the Gary Public Transportation Corporation
, which run along Broadway, Grant and Ridge. Bike trails cross the northern and southern edges of the neighborhood, and there are numerous city parks including the Gleason golf course; the Little Calumet floodplain also provides significant greenspace.
The housing stock is dominated by single-family homes, of which about 50% are owner-occupied. There is little industrial development, and most commercial development is clustered along the Grant and Broadway thoroughfares.
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
. It is situated on the city's far south side, south of the Little Calumet River and Borman Expressway
Borman Expressway
The Frank Borman Expressway is an east–west highway in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Indiana, named after astronaut and former Eastern Airlines CEO Frank Borman. The expressway consists of parts of Interstate 80 , I-94, and U.S. Highway 6 , as well as a short section of US 41...
. The neighborhood is often divided into Glen Park East and Glen Park West, on the respective sides of Broadway. Within Gary, Glen Park borders on Black Oak
Black Oak (Gary)
Black Oak is a neighborhood in Gary, Indiana. As of 2000, Black Oak had a population of 4,216, which was 84.7% white. It is Gary's only majority-white neighborhood, and the most recent neighborhood added to the city....
to the west and Midtown
Midtown (Gary)
Midtown, also called Central, is a neighborhood in central Gary, Indiana. For many decades it was the only African-American neighborhood in the city. It is located south of Downtown Gary and north of Glen Park along Broadway, Gary's principal thoroughfare. It adjoins the neighborhoods of...
and Pulaski
Pulaski (Gary)
Pulaski is a neighborhood in eastern Gary, Indiana. It is roughly triangular in shape, bounded on the south by the Borman Expressway, on the west by Maryland Street, and on the northeast by the Norfolk Southern railway. It is separated by an industrial corridor from Aetna to its east; it directly...
to the north; beyond Gary, it adjoins Hobart
Hobart, Indiana
Hobart is home to many thriving businesses in its downtown shopping district, including the historic Art Theatre.Hobart is also home to the Westfield Southlake Shopping Mall and many surrounding retailers and restaurants, although most businesses are required to list their addresses as Merrillville...
, Merrillville
Merrillville, Indiana
Merrillville is a town in Ross Township, Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 35,246 at the 2010 census. Merrillville is located in the east-central portion of Lake County.-Geography:Merrillville is located at ....
, and unincorporated Calumet Township. As of 2000, the neighborhood had a population of 25,454, approximately a quarter of Gary's total population. In terms of race, as of 2000 Glen Park was 86% African-American, 9% white, and 5.5% Hispanic.
Glen Park predates the founding of Gary by two decades. It was platted in 1894 by Chicagoans William Reissig and Charles Williams, near the intersection of the Nickel Plate Railroad and Joliet and Northern Indiana Railroad ("Joliet Cutoff"). A post office was established in 1898. The community was originally named "Kelly," but had come to be called "Glen Park" by 1900.
After the city of Gary was founded in 1906, the county built a bridge across the Little Calumet to extend Broadway to Glen Park. The portion of Glen Park north of 45th Avenue was annexed shortly thereafter, and the southern part followed in 1926. The first school in Glen Park was built in 1909, and the first church in 1911. Streetcars along Broadway allowed millworkers to commute from Glen Park to the Gary Works
Gary Works
The Gary Works is a very large steel mill in Gary, Indiana, on the shore of Lake Michigan. For many years, the Gary Works was the world's largest steel mill, and it remains the largest integrated mill in North America....
at the northern end of Broadway. The area was strictly segregated until the 1960s, with blacks not allowed to cross the Little Calumet bridge except for work.
Glen Park is home to Indiana University Northwest
Indiana University Northwest
Indiana University Northwest is a regional university campus in the Indiana University system in Gary, Indiana, USA, established in 1963.-Courses:...
and the Gary campus of Ivy Tech Community College. The neighborhood is served by the Borman Expressway
Borman Expressway
The Frank Borman Expressway is an east–west highway in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Indiana, named after astronaut and former Eastern Airlines CEO Frank Borman. The expressway consists of parts of Interstate 80 , I-94, and U.S. Highway 6 , as well as a short section of US 41...
directly to its north, which has exits at Broadway and Grant streets, and by Interstate 65
Interstate 65
Interstate 65 is a major Interstate Highway in the United States. The southern terminus is located at an intersection with Interstate 10 in Mobile, Alabama, and its northern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 90 , U.S. Route 12, and U.S...
to the east, which has an exit on Ridge Road. Public transportation is provided by the buses of the Gary Public Transportation Corporation
Gary Public Transportation Corporation
The Gary Public Transportation Corporation is a commuter bus system in Gary, Indiana that offers service to numerous stops throughout the city and neighboring suburbs...
, which run along Broadway, Grant and Ridge. Bike trails cross the northern and southern edges of the neighborhood, and there are numerous city parks including the Gleason golf course; the Little Calumet floodplain also provides significant greenspace.
The housing stock is dominated by single-family homes, of which about 50% are owner-occupied. There is little industrial development, and most commercial development is clustered along the Grant and Broadway thoroughfares.