Takoma DC with kids

[Anonymous]

We started looking in upper NW but realized pretty quickly that it's not in our budget. Now looking at the area by Takoma Rec Center and pool. Kids attend a charter so schools aren't an issue. Just looking for a leafy green neighborhood where kids can have a bit of freedom to run around unsupervised once they are a bit older. This area seems nice because of all the open space by the parks, indoor pool and high school grounds. We don't know anyone who lives in that area but I've heard good things and have attended a few soccer games.

[Anonymous]

We lived there with a young kid and really liked it for a few years. Ultimately moved across the MD border for other reasons, but we are still on the neighborhood lists.

You should be aware that there has been a string of very random gunfire incidents at or near that rec center in the last year or so, including one the other night in which three different people fired 23 shots at the same (fleeing) person. Another one was a street shoot-out entirely captured by a neighbor's Ring device.

Neighbors aren't getting much help from the police and Ward 4 councilmember sends out a lot of emails that make him sound like he is doing stuff.

[Anonymous]

We love it here. Lots of families, so walkable, use the playground/fields all the time and know all our neighbors. We’re also in a charter we love so schools aren’t an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We lived there with a young kid and really liked it for a few years. Ultimately moved across the MD border for other reasons, but we are still on the neighborhood lists.

You should be aware that there has been a string of very random gunfire incidents at or near that rec center in the last year or so, including one the other night in which three different people fired 23 shots at the same (fleeing) person. Another one was a street shoot-out entirely captured by a neighbor's Ring device.

Neighbors aren't getting much help from the police and Ward 4 councilmember sends out a lot of emails that make him sound like he is doing stuff.

Sigh. This has happened in multiple areas of DC.

It’s not a help that DC passed stringent gun laws that Antonin Scalia and four Republicans on SCOTUS decided to strike down because gun politics is part of the GOP agenda. Lots of things go into gun violence but laws are a big part of controlling it. Really, Heller vs DC (which Scalia wrote) materially made my kids more likely to be killed, and I will never get over that.

[Anonymous]

We love it but there is very little inventory.

[Anonymous]

Do kids ride bikes around and meet up on the streets without parents?

[Anonymous]

We love it here! Super safe, leafy, and kid friendly. Lots of opportunities to make friends at the playgrounds, parks, soccer and tennis and swim lessons, mom groups, book clubs and story time at the library, etc. Little kids run around together on the sidewalks, big kids bike to each other's houses. The neighborhood listserv organizes community events. Rock Creek Park is a short walk away. Main Street Takoma is really charming and has a great year round farmers market and excellent restaurants with outdoor seating. Safeway is walkable. Nearby Walter Reed will add a Whole Foods and new town center, so homes will appreciate in the next few years for sure.

[Anonymous]

Takoma, DC is very good for young kids. Schools are an issue for middle school/high school, but solvable.

[Anonymous]

I posted this in another thread- but thought it might help you too.

We live in Brightwood, North of Missouri but East of Georgia. Have been here almost 6 years. It has been a great place to raise kids while still being in the city. As others have stated, the community center, pool, playground, and library are all easy to get to and really nice. We love going into Takoma Park for eating out and for kids activities. We can get into Silver Spring, Bethesda, downtown DC easily. For things like Kids activities and Camps, this means we have access to a lot more options. The kids enjoy the green space, and we pop over to Rock Creek Park Nature center/trails a ton. There are a lot of kids in the neighborhood, but they don't all attend the same school (may be a pro or con for you). We haven't had issues with crime, and in all this time I have only had one package theft. Mostly the neighborhood has young families and older retirees.

If you want to stay in the city but prefer a bit more space/yard, it is a really great compromise.

[Anonymous]

We moved recently with a toddler blocks away from Whittier Education Campus and love it here. We spent all summer going to the park and meeting friendly neighbors with kids (with proper social distancing measures.) It's a leafy, serene and family-friendly area.
Our row house is bigger than the apartment we were renting and has a nice patio area in the back. I do wonder if we'll outgrow it when we have a second kid, our place is def on the smaller side for row houses. The upside is that the maintenance costs of the house have been surprisingly low and we are very happy about that. It's manageable, easy to keep tidy and clean and it looks beautiful. It has allowed me to focus on other things such as improving the garden and planting some nice plants.
Our street has a self-proclaimed "street president": an adorable retired woman who keeps bringing toys and presents to my child and commands the respect and love of the neighboring houses. "We watch out for each other here," was the first thing she told me when we moved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I posted this in another thread- but thought it might help you too.

We live in Brightwood, North of Missouri but East of Georgia. Have been here almost 6 years. It has been a great place to raise kids while still being in the city. As others have stated, the community center, pool, playground, and library are all easy to get to and really nice. We love going into Takoma Park for eating out and for kids activities. We can get into Silver Spring, Bethesda, downtown DC easily. For things like Kids activities and Camps, this means we have access to a lot more options. The kids enjoy the green space, and we pop over to Rock Creek Park Nature center/trails a ton. There are a lot of kids in the neighborhood, but they don't all attend the same school (may be a pro or con for you). We haven't had issues with crime, and in all this time I have only had one package theft. Mostly the neighborhood has young families and older retirees.

If you want to stay in the city but prefer a bit more space/yard, it is a really great compromise.

Very similar experience here - we're on the border of Takoma DC and Brightwood and have been here 5 years and have loved it. I like to think of it as a walkable close knit small town with big city amenities and easy public transit to downtown. The kids are thriving here.

[Anonymous]

Agree with everything posted here. I'll add that Fort Stevens rec center west of georgia ave in Brightwood is also amazing. Our kids take (free city run) tennis lessons with Coach Kenny at the beautiful courts there and they really enjoy it, have made friends and gotten to exercise and learn a new skill. Our kids actually prefer the playground there to the one at Takoma rec, but they are both excellent and we love being able to walk 5-10 minutes to both. Plus with rock creek park a 15 minute walk away and the pool reopened, it's been an active summer and fall for us, really nice during the pandemic to have all the open recreation space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Our street has a self-proclaimed "street president": an adorable retired woman who keeps bringing toys and presents to my child and commands the respect and love of the neighboring houses. "We watch out for each other here," was the first thing she told me when we moved.

That is so cute

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Our street has a self-proclaimed "street president": an adorable retired woman who keeps bringing toys and presents to my child and commands the respect and love of the neighboring houses. "We watch out for each other here," was the first thing she told me when we moved.

That is so cute

Yes, she deserves to be profiled in a local newspaper. She carries the oral history of Brightwood, told me a lot about the neighborhood's history. Loves to care for her garden and has showed me how to take out pesky weeds. Always willing to help neighbors and has a great sense of humor.

[Anonymous]

Would the neighborhood be good for a family that does not want to risk the DCPS lottery or try charters and cannot afford private schools? I hear a lot of people on this thread talking about how great their charter is but none talking about the neighborhood schools.