Is Cleveland Park South East safe?
Nashville, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Cleveland Park South East as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Cleveland Park South East
“Go with care. Cleveland Park South East is a rapidly evolving residential neighborhood with acclaimed independent dining and restored historic charm. Visitors should feel comfortable during the day, though standard urban precautions are advised at night due to occasional property crime and isolated street incidents.”
Metro Nashville Police continue targeted patrols across East Nashville residential zones to curb opportunistic vehicle break-ins and package thefts associated with rapid residential growth.
About the area
Located just northeast of Downtown Nashville in East Nashville, this section of Cleveland Park features a mix of historic craftsman bungalows and modern infill housing. It offers convenient access to top-tier dining on Cleveland Street and Meridian Street while maintaining a neighborhood residential feel.
- Gentrifying
- Historic Bungalows
- Emerging Dining Hub
- Residential
Walking and biking in Cleveland Park South East
Walk score: 62/100 · Bike score: 67/100
Biking is relatively straightforward along wide residential streets, with future connections planned to the Shelby Bottoms Greenway network via adjacent East Nashville bikeways.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Rapidly rising median incomes and substantial private investment in housing renovations
- Close proximity to destination-quality neighborhood dining and boutique cafes
- Active neighborhood association and community center programming at Cleveland Park
- Short 5 to 10-minute rideshare access to Downtown Nashville and Five Points
Cons
- Elevated rates of opportunistic property crime, particularly vehicle break-ins
- Variable street lighting and intermittent sidewalk coverage on secondary residential streets
- Pockets of legacy poverty and lingering commercial blight along nearby outer arterial corridors
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the strictly residential southeast interior, though individuals experiencing homelessness and occasional panhandling can be observed along nearby commercial corridors such as Dickerson Pike and Ellington Parkway underpasses.
What Cleveland Park South East is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with dog walkers, runners, and residents grabbing coffee along the main corridors.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and residential, feeling generally safe with moderate vehicle and foot traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Lively around neighborhood restaurants and bars, though dimly lit side streets warrant staying alert.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet and largely deserted; visitors should avoid walking alone on side streets and use rideshares instead.
Transit, parking and getting around
WeGo Public Transit serves the perimeter of the neighborhood via Route 23 along Dickerson Pike and Route 14 along Whites Creek Pike, connecting directly to WeGo Central downtown. There is no passenger rail or dedicated BRT station directly in the neighborhood.
Street parking is widely available and typically free throughout the residential avenues, though visitors must lock doors and keep valuables out of sight.
Things to do in Cleveland Park South East
- Enjoy recreational sports, green space, and the indoor gym at Cleveland Park Community Center
- Take an architectural walk to view the blend of 1920s craftsman bungalows and modern urban infill homes
- Sample celebrated local culinary destinations centered along Cleveland and Meridian Streets
Local favorites
- Redheaded Stranger · Tex-Mex Restaurant · 4.7★ (1250)A neighborhood favorite known for fresh handmade tortillas, brisket tacos, and hatch green chile burgers.
- Retrograde Coffee · Coffee Shop · 4.7★ (480)A hip, laid-back cafe serving specialty espresso drinks, house-baked pastries, and fresh breakfast sandwiches.
- Folk · Italian / Wood-Fired Pizza · 4.6★ (920)A stylish, upscale eatery offering seasonal small plates, natural wines, and thin-crust wood-fired pizzas.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.
Add this score to your site
Writing about Cleveland Park South East? Copy this code to show its live safety score on your blog or listing.