Youth activities in Soddy vs. Cleveland vs. Ringgold (Red Bank: apartments, private school)

[luvshelties]

My 11 yr old son is active and adventurous so I keep him busy with alot of activities. He's not into organized sports. We love the three areas and can't make up our minds. We plan to spend alot of time in the parks, he loves rock climbing but is too young to do it alone, is used to swimming in the pool daily here so I worry about his adjustment w/o one, and he's incredibly social. I would love to hear from those with their opinions on the above towns. We are friendly laid back people, ride Harley's and enjoy a good relaxed church environment. Please advise me!!! thanks..

[k350]

Well my opinion.......Cleveland has loads of churches, but I would not ever consider it laid back, mostly uptight people whose existence is based around church and walmart. A very boring place indeed, as far as kid stuff goes, never see them out, they keep them locked away to play video games all day long. I am sure they have organized events but I do not see why entertainment whether for kids or adults has to onyl come by some sort of official means. We have a park but mostly Mexicans and old people frequent the park as outdoor activites seem to be too much trouble for most other people.

Friendly? if you like the fake smiles and laughs and not so caring small talk, people have done it so much here they do not know how to act any other way so to them its normal. The apartments I live in for example when someone comes out of their door like myself or someone else and another person is coming out at the same time, they will close the door real quick just to avoid having to say hello or confront the other person in some way, it reminds me of some sort of wierd cult town.

Good for kids? If you want your kids to grow up in an environment like this than okay I guess, out of towners I know that reside here pay for private schooling rather than have their kids intermingle with the local kids here. The local tweens and teens know of only a few things, sex and, well...sex. Seems every other teen girl has a kid, my college is full of single mothers and you can see them out and about at the local hotspot.....walmart. Plus people are boring here, they all dress and act the same, like a little town of robots walking around.

As far as soddy goes, an ex-coworker of mine lives there and as far as I could tell it is a good place. He rides a harley and his 2 kids are very active in many things there, plus the place does not have the **** poor attitude Cleveland seems to share among its people.

[jkmewright]

As far as Soddy goes, you won't find a public pool up that way BUT there is one in Red Bank that you can get to fairly quickly or you can take him to Soddy Lake or Chester Frost Park which we love. There is also a great hiking area that's park of the Cumberland Trail that is a blast with children that age and you can watch the kayakers. There's a nice community feel to Soddy Daisy that I just loved in the years I lived there. You would also be within 20-30 minutes of downtown for the skate park, indoor soccer, Coolidge Park (w/a climbing wall), and other fun kid activities. OH and we have a great venue every Friday downtown with music and TONS of bikers called Nightfall that you guys might just love!

As far as church, we have enough that you surely won't have any trouble finding the perfect fit

Unfortunately I am not familiar enough with Cleveland or Ringgold to offer comparisons but maybe someone will chime in.

[luvshelties]

WOW, K350, you seem like you need some therapy. Where are you from? While I appreciate your opinions, I will take them with a grain of salt until I hear from others about Cleveland. You come across bitter and a bit prejudice. Thank you though for giving me some things to consider and look into. Like the teen pregnancy rate!

[k350]

Your the one who asked, not me, so don't get all offended and start with the name calling because I or who ever else that might come along tells you something that you seem to not like hearing.

You should take all news whether good or bad with a grain of salt because what is good to some is bad to others and vice versa.

So sorry I did not give you the head in the sand details of Cleveland, perhaps I should have just lied about my own opinions and just broadcasted how great and lively the place is and the things like STD rates and such are just so much lower than the rest of the country. I should have just said how great it is that Applebee's is the most happening place here and the parks are all but dead empty except for some teens looking for a place to smoke dope and Mexicans walking around with their families. Oh yes, they do have that wonderful sidewalk that runs along Keith st, great that you can drive to a place to walk, most normal places a person does not have to drive to a place to walk.

Plus I am glad I did not mention downtown, or lack of it, the abandoned buildings and general run down look makes downtown Cleveland a very nice place, glad they build things as far away from housing as possible, like the new Target place, so everyone is forced to drive everywhere because everything is thrown in the outskirts of the city.

When you ask for things, you have to take the good and the bad, sorry but that is life.

Plus what does where I am from have to do with anything? Years and years in the military have put me in a great variety of places. Fortuntly/unfortuntly that has given me great insight to compare things on a greater scale in which I derive my opinions from.

[luvshelties]

First things first, I never call people names!! I always appreciate another's opinion, but I am concerned with the amount of venom that came across in both of your posts. Enough said, I have my first negative opinion of Cleveland and will consider your concerns. thank you for taking the time to inform me.