City Recommendations? (Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora: insurance, rent , hospitals)

[NeedAChangeFromFL]

Ok, so we are looking at CO as a possibility for our move. Since I am not terribly familiar with CO (I only know the larger cities) I would appreciate any city recommendations based on the following criteria (NOT in order of importance):

1. low crime rate
2. good schools (we have 3 boys ages 2, 4, and almost 6)
3. school with a special needs program (2 y/o and 6 y/o are special needs)
4. Within 30 minutes of either an exclusively childrens hospital OR a hospital that has a good pediatric wing
5. Within 30 minutes of grocery stores and basic shopping needs
6. Preferably a small/medium sized city...looking for a slower pace
7. Would love a mountain view, but not absolutely necessary
8. We would need to be able to rent a 3 bedroom house in the $1100 range
9. Kid friendly- playgrounds, museums, etc
10. lots of outdoor activities

Thank you for any help!!

[Mike from back east]

You can get all that in Colorado Springs. Lots of info in that Forum. Only thing not sure about is Ped Hosp, but I think Penrose - St Francis Hosp has a wing set aside.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by NeedAChangeFromFL

Ok, so we are looking at CO as a possibility for our move. Since I am not terribly familiar with CO (I only know the larger cities) I would appreciate any city recommendations based on the following criteria (NOT in order of importance):

1. low crime rate
2. good schools (we have 3 boys ages 2, 4, and almost 6)
3. school with a special needs program (2 y/o and 6 y/o are special needs)
4. Within 30 minutes of either an exclusively childrens hospital OR a hospital that has a good pediatric wing
5. Within 30 minutes of grocery stores and basic shopping needs
6. Preferably a small/medium sized city...looking for a slower pace
7. Would love a mountain view, but not absolutely necessary
8. We would need to be able to rent a 3 bedroom house in the $1100 range
9. Kid friendly- playgrounds, museums, etc
10. lots of outdoor activities

Thank you for any help!!

You won't find anyplace in Colorado that meets ALL of those criteria. You will have to make tradeoffs and decide which are more important to you. Because the major children's hospital in Colorado is--well, Children's Hospital, formerly near downtown Denver, now moving to the CU Med Center campus in Aurora--that will limit you pretty much to the bigger cities on the Front Range. Children's does have satellite facilities in other places in metro Denver, as well as Colorado Springs and Pueblo, but they may not have all the facilities or specialties at those that they do at the Aurora facility. Most anywhere on the Front Range, you can forget the slower pace part--it's a big city. Schools can be hit or miss, depending on the area. Same with crime.

[NeedAChangeFromFL]

I don't mind having to drive a little way to the hospital...as long as I can get there in about 30 minutes or so I would be ok....

How is Parker?? Isn't that close to Aurora?

[COflower]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

You can get all that in Colorado Springs. Lots of info in that Forum. Only thing not sure about is Ped Hosp, but I think Penrose - St Francis Hosp has a wing set aside.

Actually Mike, that would be through Memorial Hospital:

In March 2004, Memorial officially received its designation as one of the nation’s estimated 250 children’s hospitals from the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI).

Memorial Hospital Colorado Springs Children's Hospital Opens - 12/15/04

They've been advertising it quite a bit in the last month or so. How extensive it's childrens program is compared to the one up in the Denver Metro area, I don't know. I would assume that it would have to be top notch in order to gain that designation.

More info here: Memorial Hospital for Children

[HighlandsGal]

Castle Rock might fit your needs

[NeedAChangeFromFL]

Thanks, I will check that out. I really appreciate the suggestions a lot.

Originally Posted by HighlandsGal

Castle Rock might fit your needs

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by COflower

Actually Mike, that would be through Memorial Hospital:

Memorial Hospital Colorado Springs Children's Hospital Opens - 12/15/04

They've been advertising it quite a bit in the last month or so. How extensive it's childrens program is compared to the one up in the Denver Metro area, I don't know. I would assume that it would have to be top notch in order to gain that designation.

More info here: Memorial Hospital for Children

COFLOWER: Thanks for the correction.

There is news in today's paper about the new children's addition, at the downtown location.
- Headlines: Patient-friendly design | hospital, memorial, building - Gazette.com

[NeedAChangeFromFL]

I have read up on Denver Childrens hospital and would move out there just because of the hospital....not only is it ranked #4 nationally, but it has a whole center with special programs dedicated to my sons condition. He is two years old and while we get help for him because he is disabled, the specialty care he receives here is subpar.

The Jewish Medical Center is there also (which I honestly had never heard of) for my older son (4 yrs), who has asthma & food allergies. We currently see an allergist who is over an hour away (closest that takes our insurance) and who barely speaks understandable English...as you can imagine I don't think he gets the full care he should.

Thank you all again for your suggestions!!

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

COFLOWER: Thanks for the correction.

There is news in today's paper about the new children's addition, at the downtown location.
- Headlines: Patient-friendly design | hospital, memorial, building - Gazette.com

[Katiana]

Basically, the action in pediatrics is at Children's, known as TCH (The Children's Hospital). I would suggest googling their website. They do have several satellite clinics, but those are mainly medical offices, I believe.