Pros And Cons Of Living In The Washington Park Neighborhood Denver | Moving To Beautiful Colorado
Denver’s Washington Park neighborhood looks like Shangri-La come to life. Affectionately known as “Wash Park” by the locals, this stunning Denver neighborhood fills the senses and the soul. At its center lies Washington Park, a pond-enriched, joy-enhanced open space of natural wonder set against a soundtrack of birdsong and happy laughter.
In light of the pristine beauty of the neighborhood’s park and eclectic collage of architectural styles, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Wash Park neighborhood is perfect. Those who love it here say that it is. However, for you as the potential home buyer, it’s best to look at the neighborhood with eyes open, considering both the pros and the cons of living in the Washington Park neighborhood before moving to the area.
The Pros of Living in Washington Park Neighborhood
The Park at Wash Park
Much of the character of this neighborhood comes from the park at this Denver neighborhood’s center. This green oasis includes two ponds, a boat house, a garden filled with an explosion of scented blossoms, walking and biking paths, play areas, and lots of green.
In total, the park in Washington Park spans more than 160 acres, and on any given day, it is filled with the locals playing a mean game of basketball, taking kayaks and canoes out on the water, taking a dip to cool off, power-walking or biking one of its winding paths, and generally doing something to combine fun in the sun with a bit of physical fitness. If you love outdoor exercise, this is definitely the place for you.
The Craft Beer Experience
It probably comes as no surprise that some amazing craft breweries call Denver home, and Denverites, being a crafty bunch – pun intended – take the best advantage of this by following the Denver Beer Trail, part of which meanders its way through Wash Park.
Get to Downtown Denver in 10 Minutes
For those who don’t do the work-at-home thing, being able to get to work and to downtown Denver is a big deal. The Washington Park neighborhood sits just 10 minutes from downtown Denver, making your commute easy (and beautiful to boot).
The South Pearl Street Farmers Market
Denver, as a whole, has a lot of farmers markets throughout the city, and one of the best ones, the South Pearl Street Farmers Market, sits in the heart of Wash Park. For residents, Sundays in the summertime equal fresh fruits and produce, as well as the hospitable people that Wash Park is known for.
Cons of Living in the Wash Park Neighborhood
Pretty Much Everyone Loves the Park in Wash Park
This may seem like an advantage – and mostly, it is – but there are going to be days where you’d like to experience the beauty of the park in Wash Park without all the crowds.
And on some days, you’ll find that everyone else has the same idea. In other words, the park in Wash Park can get crowded on really nice days and on the weekends. Even people who don’t live in the neighborhood find their way to this park because it’s just a great place to get your exercise on.
We’d like to offer our best advice here on how to get around this challenge. Take a tip from the travel industry. In the travel industry, there’s a term known as the “shoulder season.” That’s travel speak for the off-season.
In this case, it may mean that you spend time in the park at Washington Park during the week when most people are at work. You also have the option of going just after lunch when people have returned to work for the day.
During the summertime, you may also have some luck during the dinner hour. While everyone else in Wash Park sits in their homes at 5:30 p.m., waiting for supper to get served, you can take your jog around one of the park’s two ponds in relative peace.
You Might Have to Shop for a While to Find a Home
This relates to the issue above, but it applies directly to the challenge of finding a home for sale in Wash Park. The law of supply and demand comes into play here. Because the Washington Park neighborhood enjoys a great deal of popularity, lots of people want to live in this stunning place.
It’s also important to note that people who move into the neighborhood tend to stay. This means that the homes for sale in Washington Park may be fewer and farther between than in other areas of Denver.
This opens up the possibility of bidding wars when you do find a home for sale in Wash Park. For this, you have a couple of options. You can try to outbid other home buyers. You can also try to wait it out or think about getting a rental until something opens up.
Or, I can help you look for unlisted homes for sale in Washington Park. Some sellers, for various reasons, are considering selling their homes but don’t want to list them on public sites. They may want anonymity, or they may be concerned about a listing getting old.
And sometimes, sellers are just on the fence, meaning they know it would benefit them to sell their home, but psychologically, they’re just not ready yet. This is where I come in to help you find the home of your dreams in Wash Park when your dream home isn’t as forthcoming as you’d like.
Final Thoughts on the Pros and Cons of Living in Wash Park
For many people, living in a place like Denver’s Washington Park equals a dream come true. With its numerous boutiques, a folk center music store, craft beers, amazing eateries, and, of course, the stunning park that gives the neighborhood its character, it’s just an all-around great place to be.
That said, it does have a few disadvantages, which we’ve discussed, as well as some ways to overcome them. Working with a real estate agent can help you navigate the challenges you may encounter as you try to find a home for sale in Washington Park.
If you’re thinking of moving to Denver’s Wash Park and would like a bit of guidance, send me an email. I’d love to help you find the home of your dreams in this stunning neighborhood. Or, click here to explore another stunning Denver neighborhood.