Garland/Rowlett Area (Dallas, Plano, Irving: houses, neighborhood, construction)

[EnKsMom]

Hi!
My family is relocating to Dallas area within the next couple of months. Last weekend we visited the cities that we were told to live in for great schools and shopping. We are concerned my husband's commute time from the Frisco/McKinney/Plano area to Dallas/Irving area. Found some houses online in the Garland/Rowlett area. Having never been there, I would greatly appreciate anyone's opinions on the city, schools and activities for young children and stay-at-home moms.
Thanks!
Carey

[momof2dfw]

I live in that area. If you use the search feature at the top and put in "Garland" and then another time for "Rowlett" you will find everything that has been posted about the two areas. PLENTY of info out there just on this site alone. Even though we share a school district I prefer Garland over Rowlett and I've lived in both (Garland then Rowlett then back to Garland). Right now the road construction in Rowlett alone is enough to turn anyone away from the place not to mention the other negatives.

As for meeting other young moms that is not a problem. Some areas have "mom's clubs" (Firewheel in Garland does) then there is the early childhood PTA organization that is REALLY strong here in Garland along w/ several MOPS groups (Mothers of Preschoolers). Lots of stay at home moms in the area w/ kids of all ages. Local sports organizations, dance studios, gymnastics, etc. Join or find just one of these interests and in no time you will have a calendar full of activities. Even our church has a play date for the summer at area parks for moms of toddlers & preschoolers. Then for older kids there are a TON of summer camps offered from different areas w/ even the Garland ISD having a "Camp GISD" (garlandisd.net) that has all kinds of classes for the kids to do for one of two weeks (or both w/ a different class for each, lol). Our just take them to the play area at Firewheel Town Center and meet a TON of other moms and kids (our outdoor mall).

As for the commute to "Dallas/Irving"........ is he going to be working in downtown Dallas? North Dallas? Far North Dallas? Or more in Irving? Highway 190 really helps to head from the Northeast Garland area to the Irving/DFW Airport/Las Colinas area. If your farther south then it may be better to take 635/LBJ. If he is more in the downtown Dallas area or headed that way down 75-Central then he could EASILY take the DART train. There are two DART train stations in Garland (downtown Garland and the Forest/Jupiter station) and over on Plano Rd/Renner/75-Central that is easy to get too also from N.E. Garland.

[EnKsMom]

Thank you so much for your quick reply! I actually was trying to figure out how to message you as I saw your previous post with pictures of Garland! That was so great to find!!! My husband found a house on the net in Lakewood Pointe-we no absolutly nothing about the actual neighborhood, etc. We get some more days to drive down and check things out, but trying to do as much on the web first. Are you familiar with that neighborhood?
My husband will be commuting somewhere around the 35E and Hwy 183? (I am looking on a map at a dot!!) As far as I can tell it is bordering Irving and North Dallas.