What is Parma really like? (Cleveland, Westlake: homes, school district, pharmacist)

[quijote]

I've been to Cleveland and took a drive through some of the surrounding suburbs, but didn't get a chance to explore much in depth. The inner-ring suburb of Parma seems to have the (outdated?) reputation as a community of Catholic, ethnic people who like to bowl, eat pierogies, and put pink flamingoes on the lawn.... When I drove through Parma (a few years ago) I didn't see any pink flamingoes or bowling alleys, though. So what is it really like? Is it basically a mix of older ethnic people with younger newcomers? Is it blue collar, white collar, or...? Just curious-- In Milwaukee the communities of West Allis and Cudahy still carry the blue collar and bowling rep, and in Buffalo the city of Cheektowaga is still seen as predominantly Polish and blue collar. Just wondering if Parma is similar, or if things have changed (or never were that way)!

[nocondorfx]

thats pretty much it. Except now they just use tons of HUGE blowup holiday decorations. Not just for Christmas either, but for valentines day, halloween, 4th of july, etc.

[citybythebay]

The pink flamingos can be found in many cities!...anyhow, that was something of years gone by.
And those HUGE blow-up decorations can be found on many a lawns from east to west...LOL...it's not just a Parma "thing".

Parma has always been known to have the certain ethnic folks...and they also don't just bowl or chow on rogies...LOL

All kidding aside...Parma is decent. It may not compare to say Westlake...but I'd rank it as a good burb to live in...south of Snow Road I personally consider a better choice for location.

Is it a blue collar or white collar town? I'd say a mix of both. Brooklyn, the neighboring town north of Parma, I consider predominately blue collar.

[nocondorfx]

agreed. South of Snow is a little nicer. A few years newer. Last year it was ranked as one of the safest cities in America. I've lived in Parma my whole life; and as much as it sucks, its very cheap and doesn't have thugs walking around on the streets. Unless you count the 80lb highschool freshman with his hat backwards and pants mid-thigh chillin at the food court in parmatown.

[steeler killer]

Parma is great, a truly unique and interesting city, its safe and i like how it is not dominated by yuppies or WASP's but is very diverse, I usua;;y just go there for parmatown but i sometimes drive around just to get the feel of the city.

[chartbury]

What is Parma really like?

Just awful.

[Gypsii]

Parma is comprised mainly of hard working middle class families who are visciously trying to hang onto the perception of a traditional and "safe" community. Thus, in the minds of many Parmenian's, safe means no Black families and no Hispanics. Parma has a reputation of being hostile towards minorities---even those who aren't "thugs" and who have decent jobs, etc... Therefore, if you're looking for a predominately white community that seeks to be all white, Parma is definitely a good place to live. The folks there aren't necessarily bad people but they do raise eyebrows and in a couple of cases have literally burned crosses in the yards of the one or two minorities that were brave enough to attempt to integrate that community.

On the otherhand, the city has a decent school district, nice location, and pretty good retail options.

Good luck with your move!

p.s. I think the blow up yard decorations are so funny! Parma is definitely good for that!

[SummersEve]

Tons of Seniors and then they pass away and their family sell off their homes to young blue collar/welfare people. I can say that becausemy hub is a pharmacist and whenever he works in Parma he says very few pay for their RX's they mostly are on the "card".

[cheleski68]

parma is lower to mid working class..still mostly white/ immigrant area.

[freedomgirl]

ghetto!

DONT MOVE THERE.

BROOK park is right next to parma, its much nice and there is a bowling places on snow road, middleburg is even never and right next to brookpark (west of brookpark) pearl rd area.

but no parma. ghetto