South Tampa Neighborhoods
Hyde Park
Overview
Individuals driving through the city of Tampa will immediately be drawn to the historic beauty of Hyde Park. Its close proximity to the University of Tampa as well as to downtown Tampa has made Hyde Park real estate quite high in demand among prospective buyers.
Hyde Park was the first Western residential area bordering the city of Tampa, extending southward from the mouth of the Hillsborough River down east of the Interbay Peninsula. Following the construction of a bridge across the river in the late 1880s, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival-styled homes followed, and which are part of Hyde Park’s Bungalow Terrace.
In its first housing development plans, the executives of the Walt Disney Co. found Hyde Park so alluring and original that they explored the whole South Tampa neighborhood to assimilate the pre-1940's Southern architecture they wished to reproduce.
One of the most beautiful places in the city, The Village, is located south of downtown Tampa. This Hyde Park’s historic district, The Village, boasts of 50 designer shops, restaurants, and movie theaters in a European-themed locale distinguished by tree-lined streets, brightly colored awnings, patio restaurants, and luxurious parks.
Marked by front-porch socializing beneath a shade of oaks and camphor trees, new settlers are attracted to Hyde Park by the varied collection of houses; and buyers are soon enthralled by Hyde Park and are seen refurbishing their houses with fervor and watchful attention. Longtime inhabitants delight in the quiet oasis, the outskirt yet the heart of Tampa downtown’s government, business and culture.
Shopping and Dining
Hyde Park real estate owners will find plenty of shopping dining options within a short distance from their homes. Residents will want to visit the Hyde Park Village on a regular basis, which is an upscale shopping district located near the intersection of Rome and Swann Avenues and only a couple of blocks east of SoHo. Hyde Park Village comprises seven city blocks. There are tons of restaurants and stores located in this shopping district. Some of the more popular stores in Hyde Park Village include Brooks Brothers, Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, Albisia’s Jewelry, The Poppy Boutique, and more. There are several fantastic dining options in the area as well, making it easy for residents to make an entire day out of their shopping. Restaurants in Hyde Park Village include Nature’s Table Café, Piquant Epicure & Cuisine, Timpano Italian Chophouse, Nature’s Table and more. Keep in mind that these are just some of the options available in this one district. The city of Tampa boasts hundreds of stores and restaurants, which means that residents will always be able to find exactly what they are looking for, whether it’s something to eat or something to buy.
Parks and Recreation
Hyde Park real estate owners will find plenty of options in terms of parks and recreation as well. Residents looking to enjoy a long walk with a beautiful view of the neighborhood can do so on Bayshore Boulevard. Located on the eastern boundary of Hyde Park, Bayshore Boulevard has a reputation for its scenic greenway and stunning views of the water and city skyline, not to mention that residents can walk for what seems like forever – it’s the longest sidewalk in the entire world! As far as parks go, there are 151 parks from which to choose, many of which boast jogging trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, restrooms, shelters, and more. One of the larger, more popular parks that residents should be sure to check out is the Al Lopez Park. This park contains ball fields, a park center, dog park, picnic area complete with grills, a pier, play courts, as well as playgrounds, restrooms, and both hiking and jogging trails. There are some great recreational opportunities to take advantage of around the city of Tampa as well. Both children and adults can take part in a number of sport leagues, gymnastic classes, dance classes, and aquatics classes.
Living
Hyde Park has a population of 17,876 according to the most recent statistics, which is a 22 percent increase from its population in 2000. The average age of residents of Hyde Park is 36.37. The average household income in Hyde Park is $123,117. The unemployment rate in Tampa is 7 percent, which is roughly the same as both the state unemployment rate and the national unemployment rate. However, 82.99 percent of Hyde Park residents are white collar employees, while only 17.01 percent are blue collar employees, which most likely means that Hyde Park’s unemployment rate is lower than the rest of the city.
Schools, Health & Transportation
Hyde Park real estate owners who have children will be sending them to school in the Hillsborough County Public School District, which serves grades K through 12 in 267 different schools. Hyde Park is also nearby the University of Tampa, which is a medium-sized private university that offers over 150 areas of study.
Hyde Park is serviced by the Tampa General Hospital, which is located in Hyde Park Village. It is a private, not-for-profit hospital facility and has a reputation for being one of the most comprehensive medical facilities in the west central Florida area. The Tampa General Hospital serves a dozen counties and is one of the largest hospitals in the entire state with around 6,600 employees.
Because of Hyde Park’s proximity to downtown Tampa, there are a lot of different transportation options. The downtown area is the transit hub for 30 different local and express HART (Hillsborough Area Regional Transit) routes. HART also provides an in-town trolley network in the downtown area, making it easy to get around when shopping or dining. Other transportation services nearby include electric cart shuttles and a water taxi service.
Hyde Park, a few miles away on surface streets is just a few minutes away from downtown Tampa. People going downtown often relish the picturesque drive along Hillsborough Bay and the Gulf beaches are less than 30 miles from the Gandy Bridge or Interstate 275.
