Family Moving to Columbus (Franklin, Tipton: big house, neighborhoods, buying)

[amm240]

Hi everyone. We are more than likely going to be relocating to Columbus next spring. We are looking for the perfect neighborhhod/place to live. My husband is a trail runner and we have three kids (a 3year old, a 9 month old, and one on the way). I want to be able to walk my kids to school (or the bus stop) and just live in a very kid-and-family-friendly area. I'll be attending IUPUC most likely, when we move, so somewhere close to there would be great. Any suggestions are welcome. We are living in a big city now and are not very rural people (aside from my husband's running). Thanks!

[plaidmom]

It sounds like the Parkside area would fit ~most~ of your needs. You could even walk or ride a bicycle to IUPUC.

The bad news, for your husband, is that there are not many dirt trails in Columbus proper. Plenty of paved People Trails for quick in-town runs though (here is a map):

http://www.columbus.in.gov/pdf/parks...trails_map.pdf

The (#1 in the Nation!) Columbus North CX team uses Noblitt park for training, and a few trails run through the woods there. Columbus East also has some trails in Clifty Creek Park.

Just to the west is Harrison Lake Country Club. Adjacent to the club is a small nature preserve with maybe 3-5 miles of more rugged trail.

All of the really great trails for running are out in Brown County. In the state park, the Hoosier National Forest and Yellowwood State Forest. Drive time is ~15-45 minutes depending on where you decide to live in town and traffic.

Here are some links he may find useful:

DINO Indiana: Mountain Bike, Trail Run, Off-road Triathlon, and Adventure Racing
Hoosier Hikers Council - Trail Race/Walk Info
Dances with Dirt in Gnaw Bone, Indiana - Home

Good luck!

[amm240]

Thanks. I will pass this on to him. I had not heard of the Parkside area. Was looking at Donner Park, Tipton Lakes and Forest Park. Any insights?

[domergurl]

Forest Park in in the parkside elementary school district (where I live ). Other neighborhoods in the Parkside district are Broadmoor, Broadmoor North, Breakaway Trails, The Woods and other neighborhoods without names along River Road. One of the reasons we chose our house is because we are in a no bus zone ... we bike or walk ... sometimes drive when IT'S FREAKING 11 DEGREES (like today!)

You can get to IUPUC via the people trail.

Trail running ... get ya's a state park pass ... Brown County state park isn't far away. One of my fellow parkside parents is an ultra marathoner who trail runs ...

Donner Park kids go to Schmitt, Tipton Lakes goes to Southside .. not sure if you need private school info, but St. Bartholomew, St. Peters, Columbus Christian all have grade schools (CC goes through grade 12) ... ABC Stewart and Northstar are Montessori schools.

Of course, now you'll get me and Plaidmom sparring with each other over which neighborhood is better Bring it Plaidmom!!!! Forest Park RAWKS!!!

As for the big city vs rural aspects ... well, Columbus is about as John Mellencamp song as you can get. It's an interesting town for it's size. We have a huge blue collar population because of the factories (Cummins, Dorel, Enkei, Faurecia, etc.), but the folks who run those companies also live here. It's an interesting mix where you get what you give. We had a rather disturbed person on here a couple years ago for whom Columbus didn't live up to her high standards (she said that ... what was it ... happiness and affluence weren't mutually exclusive for her .. she's moved onto Nashville since, thank god). I lived in Chicago for the better part of a decade and love it very much, but I love the family friendly and slower pace of Columbus ... it's so very easy to get involved in activities, school stuff ... parent groups ... it's a "to each his/her own" place.

Welcome to Columbus!!!!

[amm240]

We are not interested in private schools, no. We need a pretty big house and we'll need something that's also close to a preschool (I plan on sending all my kids to part-time preschool after the age of 3). I really want an area that's not too new (i.e. I want a lot of people to live around us, so my kiddos can have playmates). When looking on a map, it seems like The Woods is almost in the middle of nowhere by iteslf.

[domergurl]

No, The Woods is between Central and Middle Road, on Rocky Ford, across from Broadmoor North .. busy area.

Broadmoor North and Breakaway Trails are newer subdivisions. The neighborhoods off River Road (where I live) are older ... big huge trees ... lots of young families moving buying the houses that another family raised their kids in ... how big of a house ... there's one around the corner from me

As far as preschools, there's a kindercare near Parkside. Also, Northstar and ABC Stewart have great pk programs. I sent my son to First Presbyterian's preschool and cannot say enough great things about it ... it's downtown on 7th & Franklin.

[jon1987]

My aunt and uncle live in a new part of Tipton Lakes, its nice area.

[domergurl]

There are some very lovely neighborhoods at Tipton Lakes! You should definitely check it out! The only issue is that you can't bike or walk to Southside Elementary school. The people trail system does go out there though.

[amm240]

I think we are generally looking near IUPUC, but we will certainly check out Tipton Lakes too.

[domergurl]

I sent you a pm with a list of houses ... the nice thing about living here is that you can get to IUPUC from Tipton in 15-20 minutes ...