35 Professional female looking for safe running trail (Denver, Windsor: real estate, apartments)

[tolife]

Hello everyone,

I'm a 35 yrold single female professional from Baltimore, who is in Denver this week to check out some potential neighborhoods for a relocation. I want to rent to start and I would love to be around other 30 somethings, intellectual singles. Thanks to this forum..and a crime density map from the Denver Police I think I have narrowed it down to several potential neighborhoods.

Washington Park
Belcaro
University Park
Platte Park
Rosedale
Overland
Wellshire
University Hills
Southmoor Park
Hilltop
Montclair
Lowry Field
Windsor

My top priorities would be to be around other 30 something singles and close to a relatively safe running trail. Any recommendations?

Rent range I am hoping for is under $900 for a one bedroom that takes cats.

I'm going to be exploring these neighborhoods this week!

Thank you.

[dj32]

I think 900 can fit most of the neighborhoods that have condos for rent. Belcaro, Southmoor, University Park, WEllshire are mostly single family so I'm not sure about rentals. I think Platte Park, Wash Park would be most appealing based on your lifestyle. Platte Park in particular will be most affordable. good luck... these are great, convenient, social neighborhoods. I'm not familiar with rosedale, overland and windsor. Lowry may have some rentals but not that convenient for jogging. Hilltop is way too expensive and again, no real running trails.

[hello-world]

denver can often seem almost ANTI-intellectual, so, the intellectual part may be subject to your own subjectivity. denver's known to many, it would seem, for it's weather and recreation rather than it's cultural and intellectual bredth and depth. my own bent is you can find a bit of that in a few nooks such as maybe congress park and near city park (maybe along 17th to say 11th from say race on over to near cherry creek, near-ish the hospitals and CU HSC med school and some more art-ish types), though probably far, far less than in a chicago, NY, boston, seattle, san francisco, or maybe even baltimore or DC. wash park, e.g., (and some of the others you mention like platte park) has never struck me as "intellectual", though is nice for running; more of a sporty professional money motivated crowd vs "intellectual" crowd seems to be the tendency over there. city park is nice for running, as is cheezman. denver tends to seem much safer than many parts of baltimore or some other eastern cities' neighborhoods can be/seem.

good luck with the move!

[tolife]

Thank you to both of you for the great recommendations! I'm so thankful to get this info from locals. I'm looking for active singles too (I have a Subaru), so the intellectual thing is subjective, as you say. Otherwise, what is the point of moving to Denver? I spent the weekend in the mountains and it was fantastic. I'm a beginner skier and I can't wait to take lessons this winter. I've got a lot of backpacking gear too, so I'm ready to hit the trails. I even have a bear canister.

I already looked at Chessman/Congress Park, but crossed them off my list because the crime density is higher in those areas. I was thinking the DU area would be great for me because I might want to start a second masters in the next year or so.

I'm very curious about Platte Park. Where do people run in that area? Is there a tree-shaded running trail? I'd like to look at the trail this week.

I'm also curious about Lowry because it seems safer than other areas, but you mentioned that running might not be good in that area. Are there any running trails in Lowry?

Thank you so much, you'all rock.

[MobyLL]

Originally Posted by tolife

Thank you to both of you for the great recommendations! I'm so thankful to get this info from locals. I'm looking for active singles too (I have a Subaru)...

I'm very curious about Platte Park. Where do people run in that area? Is there a tree-shaded running trail? I'd like to look at the trail this week.

Here is a link to some photos i took of the platt park neighborhood back in May: http://www.city-data.com/forum/denve...uth-pearl.html

I'm not a runner so i don't know about a running trail, but I assume there is one along the Platte River, which is nearby. All the streets have sidewalks and there is Platt Park (small) and Harvard Gulch Park (larger) that you could run to/around.

BTW -- it seems that the neighborhood is Platt Park without the "e", while the river is the Platte River. Don't know why.

Regarding the subaru... i've never seen a higher ratio of Subarus to other vehicles as what exists in Platt Park.

[dj32]

Wash Park- best 2.5 mile loop around. Convenient to run to from Platte Park, DU area and west and east wash park. I think that is the ideal place (i live here so I'm biased). also very convenient to light rail.

Lowry is ok. Lots of families although I know a few singles and couple who live over there in condos/lofts. There is walkable shopping but you would be running on sidewalks. I can't think of any running trails but it is pretty close to Cherry Creek (nightlife, shopping). Although Wash Park is only about 2 miles to cherry creek.

Congress/ Cheeseman is safe but I feel safer in WAsh Park area.

[tolife]

Amazing..you don't know how many hours of work you have saved me!

Okay, I'm convinced. Lowry is off my list. I'm off to check out Wash Park, Platt Park, and DU area now.

many thanks!

[MobyLL]

Originally Posted by dj32

Wash Park- best 2.5 mile loop around. Convenient to run to from Platte Park, DU area and west and east wash park. I think that is the ideal place (i live here so I'm biased). also very convenient to light rail.

Good point. I didn't even think of Washington Park b/c it is north of 1-25 from Platt Park... but it is easy to get across the expressway on several streets with sidewalks, it's not too far, and it is a beautiful, large park.

[kwk722]

Denver will probably seem very safe in comparison to Baltimore. The DU area is nice, mostly older homes and apartments.
There are biking and jogging trails throughout the area. Cherry Creek and Highline Canal Trail are popular for biking and jogging.

[tolife]

Thanks to all of you, I saw Platt park, Wash Park and Lowry today. Here are my first impressions.

Wash Park

My favorite and I hope I can find something in that area. People were out and about, unlike many of the other Denver neighborhoods i have driven through. I couldn't believe how many runners were on the trail around the park. I loved that it is a dirt trail b/c that is much better on your knees than asphalt or concrete. I'm not sure how to find rentals in the area--so any tips would be appreciated. Should I consult a real estate agent?

Platt Park

I liked the east side over the west side of Platt park. Lower crime density on the east side according to the crime density map I have. Cool, funky feel on Pearl street. Reminds me of Hampden in Baltimore.

Lowry

Eerie and weird to me. It was like a ghost town when I drove around it during early evening. I finally found a few people in the town center. The Lofts are intriguing. Too well planned for my tastes, but I will live there if I can't nail down something in Platt or Wash park.

One thing worries me about Wash & Platt parks--I saw mostly single family homes. Are singles renting these homes or are they getting roommates? Are there any apartment or condo communities at all? I didn't see any in Platt of Wash park.

I'm too old for roommates!