Bellevue has more than 2000 acres of parkland, trails, open space and wetlands contained within its 56 parks. Recreational trails connect Lake Sammamish east of Bellevue to Lake Washington on the west. The city is committed to education and consistently ranks as some of the state's best schools.

Bellevue's population is right around 110,000 and is projected to continue its upward trend. This population is becoming increasingly diverse, reflecting the city's status as a growing metropolis and international economic center.

With an estimated 121,000 jobs within the city, Bellevue has more jobs than residents. This number is expected to grow by 25 percent over the next 20 years.

Bellevue hosts a healthy arts community which includes the new Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue Philharmonics, Ballet Bellevue, Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art and Belle Art Concerts. Bellevue also initiated the Eastside's first public art pro- gram to create a distinctive and people-friendly downtown area.

Bellevue offers a diverse choice in housing to suite any lifestyle: from stunning waterfront estates to suburban ramblers to downtown condominiums. New home construction leans toward larger, more expensive homes.

Clyde Hill, Medina, Yarrow Point and Hunts Point are four affluent communities often lumped together as Bellevue's Gold Coast. These virtually all-residential communities are home to some of Washington's richest business, sports and entertainment figures. In these communities lining the edge of Downtown Bellevue, Lake Washington and the Evergreen Point floating bridge, smaller homes are quickly being bull- dozed and replaced by spacious new homes.

The Crossroads and Lake Hills neighborhoods contain some of the most-reasonably priced homes in the Bellevue area. Crossroads Shopping Center is the people-packed heart of this community. It is full of ethnic and folk music, cultural events and the smells of global cuisine. Crossroads and Lake Hills neighborhoods are dominated by apartment complexes and small 1960-ish homes.

The neighborhoods of Newport Hills and Newcastle occupy the hills southeast of downtown Bellevue at the interchange of 1-405 and 1-90. A large shopping district and Factoria Square Mall are also located at this junction. Here you'll find tree-lined established neighborhoods sandwiched between new higher-end housing developments. You'll also find the newly opened Golf Club at Newcastle.