Anonymous wrote:A block away, sure. Across the street no.

No thanks. Not one block, not three blocks.

I would not mind living near a park generally, but not across the street from that park. It is very busy.

Anonymous wrote:Do heavily wooded parks lead to increased crime? I think busy parks, would usually reduce them, unless they became open-air drug markets. But I'd guess houses abutting say, Rock Creek Park, get more break ins than those a few blocks away.

It didn't when I lived across the street from one--but it was well patrolled and bounded by relatively busy streets.

A block away, sure. Across the street no.

If you want to live in a (relatively) more walkable area with amenities, you have to accept that the street outside your home is not yours to command.

Anonymous wrote:Do heavily wooded parks lead to increased crime? I think busy parks, would usually reduce them, unless they became open-air drug markets. But I'd guess houses abutting say, Rock Creek Park, get more break ins than those a few blocks away.

+1000

When we lived near a park, in quite a high end neighborhood, there were often car and house break ins - same times every year. The park provides shelter for the thieves. No thanks.

Don't have to worry about sex offenders

Do heavily wooded parks lead to increased crime? I think busy parks, would usually reduce them, unless they became open-air drug markets. But I'd guess houses abutting say, Rock Creek Park, get more break ins than those a few blocks away.

So interesting to read all the negative responses. I live across from a park and it is a huge plus for me. It can be loud, kids screaming, splash pad, basketballs thumping, and people do party there one weekends, but the noise doesn't bother me. I love being able to take my daughter across the street to play without a big effort, and we can see from the window if any of our friends are at the park.

I used to live across the street from Lacey Woods Park (that's the one at the intersection of George Mason and Wash Blvd). We loved it. We faced the "woods" part of it, and could easily walk to it when kids were little. Saw no drawbacks.

YMMV, of course, since it's a different park.

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with people parking in front of your house? That's normal.

Yeah. If you have a driveway, no big deal at all.

Anonymous wrote:Deal-breaker

To each his own. For us, being near a park was a big selling point. Like having an extra big backyard.

Deal-breaker

What's wrong with people parking in front of your house? That's normal.

I know that park. When my kids were toddlers that was their favorite place. The location wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. You can expect people parking in front of your house, but that street doesn't get a ton of traffic otherwise.