Eau Claire has several distinct neighborhoods each known for their special characteristics created and built by the citizens who live there. The Eastside Hill Neighborhood in Eau Claire came in as #1 likely due to its location along the Eau Claire River, the abundance of year-round recreational opportunities in Boyd Park—it has the E-Cacia Solar Tree—and it is just up the hills from downtown Eau Claire. Second place is the Third Ward known as the home of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and its many long-time residents’ cooperation with the student population as well as Wilson Park and Demmler Park. Coming in third place is the West Side where West Siders believe the West is best, and while it’s not the wild west, this neighborhood covers the Upper West Side, the West Side, and Shawtown, which covers plenty of beautiful parks filled with nature as well as residential and small businesses opportunities. -Barbara Arnold