Is Society Hill a kid-friendly neighborhood? (Philadelphia, Washington: for rent, daycare, house)

[AngelaH]

Since finding out on Wednesday that we're moving from DC area (Bethesda) to Philadelphia, we took a whirlwind tour of city neighborhoods and Main Line suburbs and we've been scouring the internet for house listings. We finally decided that it's best for us to rent right now, and there is a house in Society Hill for rent that looks great.

We have a 3 year old and a 9 week old and a dog (german shepherd mix). We drove and walked around Society Hill on Sunday and loved the feel of it (for my husband and I), but it's hard to tell from just wandering around how kid friendly it is. We'd like to find a preschool nearby for our 3 yr old, and a nanny (we both work). Are there lots of young kids in the area? What about playgrounds, library, parks and maybe even swimming pools?

We would rent for maybe 1-2 years, so we don't need to worry about schools yet. Unless of course, we love it there and want to stay, but by then we would know more about schools in the city.

Lastly, is Society Hill pretty racially diverse (We're a Jewish-Asian family)? From what I've read about the area, it seems like it is, but just wanted to get some more perspectives.

[AngelaH]

I can't figure out how to edit my post, but I wanted to add Rittenhouse Square as another area that we would be interested in

[newmarlig]

I would suggest you look in Queen Village, it's a bit south (walkable) of Society Hill, but you will find more families there. There is a park at 3rd and Catherine and Seger Playground is within walking distance.

Seger Playground Philadelphia, PA - Seger Playground Parks & Outings - Seger Playground Reviews.

There is a library in the vicinity, and there would be no problem with diversity.

[Bookmen]

Society Hill has everything you're looking for. Three Bears Park is charming, the branch library that serves the neighborhood is the Independence Branch, there are good daycare centers, and I see many nannies out with kids.

[john_starks]

Lastly, is Society Hill pretty racially diverse (We're a Jewish-Asian family)? From what I've read about the area, it seems like it is, but just wanted to get some more perspectives.

i think it is. center city on the whole is pretty racially diverse. especially with society hill being nestled between old city and south street. although, i don't really know too much about society hill residents..just an assumption.

[NintyFresh]

I used to live in Queen Village when I was much, much younger, and we were able to walk to Three Bears Park and all around Society Hill all the time (we lived on Moyamensing Ave, right after it split off 2nd), we'd even walk to South Street since my father worked at, and my uncle co-owned, the Monte Carlo Living Room there. There was also a playground by the water tower that you can see off of 95, but I have no clue how that place is now, I haven't been there in years. I know when I lived there (1989-1994), there was a nursery/kindergarten on Moyamensing, right before Washington Ave, that I and my cousins went to and got to meet a lot of kids.

[bryson662001]

Society Hill is a lot like Georgetown in DC except more residential and less commercial and with more familys and fewer singles. It is a pretty fancy, upscale as well as sophisticated neighborhood.