Neighborhoods: Arbor Hills
Once considered “too far off the beaten path,” this thriving community continues to blossom

By Cayce Johnson

Nestled sedately between the bustling Beltline and Fish Hatchery Road lies the neighborhood of Arbor Hills. It was founded back in 1956 when the Arbor Heights Development Corporation began building there. The area was slow to catch on, however, because many Madisonians considered the area to be too far off the beaten path. So in 1958 the developers joined the popular Parade of Homes, showcasing quality homes in a natural setting, and interest grew with each year. Participation in the Parade continued over the years, more homebuyers took a chance on Arbor Hills, and the community blossomed into a true neighborhood.

In 1962, 13 women interested in beautifying the growing neighborhood formed the Arbor Hills Garden Club, which thrives to this day. The club puts its collection of green thumbs to work keeping the median along Grandview Boulevard looking neat and tidy, among other projects. Then in 1969, Arbor Hills gained Aldo Leopold School, which today is a magnet for families looking to give their children a solid, diverse public school education.

In addition to an abundance of trees threading through the neighborhood, there is no shortage of green space: the Arbor Hills Park and Greenway, Knollwood Conservation Park and the Leopold Elementary Playground all offer excellent opportunities for outdoor enjoyment, not to mention the Arboretum just across the Beltline.

In this quiet little neighborhood, you won’t have to look far to find residents willing to expound on the virtues of the often-overlooked area. Such a natural, serene spot with close proximity to the city is rare in today’s corporate, crowded world, and Arbor Hills devotees know full well that they’ve found something special.

Look for these picturesque neighborhoods to be featured in future issues of ANEW!

August - Middleton
September - Stoughton
October - New Glarus
November - Mount Horeb
December - Fitchburg