Nature’s sounds still win out over the roar of nearby Jackson Ave. and I-94 in much of west-side Lakewood. Named for its First Sister and Second Sister lakes and woods around Dolph Park, this neighborhood includes a mix of housing styles.
South of the school, off Liberty, the Burr Oak subdivision dates from the 1980s. The Lakewood area stretches far west into southern Scio Twp. and northern Lodi Twp., where scattered big houses on park-size lawns intermix with farms with rustic barns on stone foundations, split-rail or white picket fences, and horse pastures and stables.
Expensive homes can be found in Pheasant Hollow on Scio Church east of Zeeb and across the street on Encore. To the west are Riding Oaks Estates, and Sandy Creek, with three- to six-acre home sites and equestrian trails. Houses in a cluster on Tessmer off Waters are separated by wildflowers.
There are a number of neighborhoods in the Lakewood area’s northwest corner, all within a short walking distance to shops on Zeeb and a slightly longer walk to shops on Jackson Ave. Parkwood, Scio Village, and Country French Estates offer condos, all built this century, while Cambridge Club has apartments. South along Zeeb, the few houses have stately trees and huge yards with swing sets, decks, and patios. In Saginaw Hills Estates off Liberty, modern brick and stone homes and decks rise above impressively large landscaped lawns.
Condominiums are concentrated around Liberty near Scio Ridge Rd. On the north side of the road, the 1980s-vintage Liberty Pointe and Liberty Oaks offer sixty-five detached ranches and 114 townhouses, respectively. Across the street is the 130-unit Summerfield Glen; Walnut Glen and Walnut View off Scio Ridge Rd. add another 152 condos between them. Affordable housing is provided by the 290-lot Orchard Grove manufactured home community on Wagner.
Among the more unusual but popular attractions in the area is the 2|42 Community Center, a massive, free indoor playground and café open to the public and provided by a nondenominational megachurch.
Lakewood grads north of Liberty go to Forsythe Middle School and then Skyline High; those south of Liberty go to Slauson Middle School and then Pioneer High.
Bike lanes: Dexter Rd., W. Liberty, S. Maple, W. Stadium, and parts of Jackson Ave. and Wagner have bike lanes.
Walking: Lakewood Elementary, buried at the back of the subdivision, has a walk score of 46, but many homes in the original Lakewood area are within walking distance of shopping at Jackson Ave. and Maple. Scio Twp. subdivisions are likely to require driving.
