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Ames' Core Neighborhoods

As you look for a place to call 'home', consider Ames' core neighborhoods. Ames residents value these neighborhoods for their proximity to the library, post office, shopping, parks, multi-use trails, city bus service, Iowa State University events, and medical services, and for the sense of neighborhood and community.

Downtown/Medical District

This area includes some of the oldest homes in Ames. A portion of this area has been designated as a registered historic district (referred to as 'Old Town'). The area is bounded on the south by downtown and on the north by the medical district.

Attractive features of this area include:

• Access to downtown; includes library, post office, City Hall, city auditorium, city gym and fitness facilities, a grocery store, coffee shops, restaurants, Main Street shopping, and a summer Farmer's Market.
• Band Shell Park; the site of summer community concerts.
• Access to medical services; includes hospital and clinics.
• Access to city bus service.

Neighborhood Associations in this area include:

• Bandshell Neighborhood Association
• Wilson-Beardshear Neighborhood Association
• Old Town Neighborhood Association
• North Old Town Neighborhood Association
• Garden District Neighborhood Association

Brookside Park District

This area is located between downtown and the Iowa State University campus. The neighborhood includes a mix of large and small older homes.

Attractive features of this area include:

• Access to downtown; includes library, post office, City Hall, city auditorium, city gym and fitness facilities, a grocery store, coffee shops, restaurants, Main Street shopping, and a summer Farmer's Market.
• Brookside Park; an 82-acre forested park with picnic shelters, playgrounds, multi-use trails, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field (site of Ames High School games), and a skate park.

Neighborhood Associations in this area include:

• Westside Neighborhood Association
• Emanon Neighborhood Association
• Friendship Neighborhood Association
• Grand-Summitt Neighborhood Association
• Brookside Neighborhood Association

Oak-to-Riverside Neighborhood

This neighborhood is home to a diverse mix of families, older adults, singles, community members needing special assistance, and ISU students. The housing reflects this diversity, with owner-occupied homes, rental homes, duplexes, community service residences, apartment buildings, and businesses.

Attractive features of the area include:

• Access to downtown; includes library, post office, City Hall, city auditorium, city gym and fitness facilities,
a grocery store, coffee shops, restaurants, Main Street shopping, and a summer Farmer's Market.
• Access to parks and multi-use trails:
  • O'Neil Park: a neighborhood park with playgrounds, basketball court, and baseball diamond.
  • Stuart Smith Park: spanning Squaw Creek with a network of multi-use trails, a playground, and picnic tables.
  • Brookside Park; an 82-acre forested park with picnic shelters, playgrounds, multi-use trails, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field (site of Ames High School games), and a skate park.
  • Multi-use trail access to Iowa State, Brookside Park, and south Ames.
• Access to city bus service.
• Access to Iowa State University events; able to walk to Jack Trice Stadium, Hilton Coliseum, Stephens Auditorium, and the Fisher Theater.
• Access to Lincoln Center shopping area; includes grocery store with pharmacy, book/movie/recorded music store, hobby stores, and other shopping.

Neighborhood Associations in this area include:

• Oak-to-Riverside Neighborhood Association
• South Riverside-South Russell Neighborhood Association

South Campus Area Neighborhood

This neighborhood is home to a diverse mix of families, older adults, singles, and ISU students. The housing reflects this diversity, with owner-occupied homes, rental homes, duplexes, apartment buildings, and businesses.

Attractive features of the area include:

• Access to the Iowa State University campus and university facilities, such as the Memorial Union, soccer fields, track, and cross-country site.
• Proximity to Campustown, the university commercial area, which includes a movie theater, coffee shops, restaurants, banking, and specialty shops.
• Architectural diversity.

Neighborhood Associations in this area include:

• South Campus Area Neighborhood Association

West Campus Area Neighborhood

This neighborhood is home to a diverse mix of families, older adults, singles, and ISU students. The housing reflects this diversity, with owner-occupied homes, rental homes, duplexes, apartment buildings, and businesses.

Attractive features of the area include:

• Access to the Iowa State University campus.
• Wooded hills.
• Access to Emma McCarthy Lee Park and Alice Munn Woods.
• Access to commercial areas, including a grocery store with pharmacy, medical clinic, and international food stores.
• Edwards Elementary School

Neighborhood Associations in this area include:

• Westside Neighborhood Association
• Oak-Wood-Forest Neighborhood Association
• Edwards Neighborhood Association

State Avenue Area Neighborhood

This neighborhood is home to a diverse mix of families, older adults, singles, and ISU students. The housing reflects this diversity, with owner-occupied homes, rental homes, duplexes, apartment buildings, and businesses.

Attractive features of the area include:

• Access to the Iowa State University campus.
• Access to Franklin Park.
• Access to commercial areas, including a grocery store with pharmacy, medical clinic, and international food stores.

Neighborhood Associations in this area include:

• State Avenue Neighborhood Association