Hyde Park, the former suburb turned south side Chicago neighborhood, has been acclaimed as one of the most successfully integrated neighborhoods in the United States. It has been home to President Barack Obama, Muhammad Ali, Senator Carol Mosely-Braun, and Marshall Field, among others, and its family-oriented appeal makes it a prime pick for any visitors or prospective residents. You can eat fabulous Carribbean and Soul food and enjoy an outdoor chess match in Harper Court. The Promontory Point on Lake Michigan is a favorite spot for swimmers, dog-owners, and picknickers alike.

Besides being home to the University of Chicago, Hyde Park is packed with artistic and cultural destinations, among which are Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, and the Museum of Science and Industry. The university offers the Court Theatre (5535 South Ellis) for theater buffs and the Renaissance Society (Bergman Gallery, Cobb, Room 418) attracts more culture to the area through art and performance. The 57th Street Art Fair is also the oldest outdoor juried art fair in the Midwest.

In the 1950s Hyde Park began to suffer from the economic decline of the rest of the South Side. The University of Chicago sponsored a very large urban renewal plan which was highly successful. Today it is considered a secure and stable neighborhood, with a rich cultural life and many benefits to offer the students, families and singles who are making it their home..