Walkable, safe, family-friendly area in Springfield?

[J4S0N]

Originally Posted by western mass and love it

Just a note about Forest Park area of Springfield. It is fast becoming the worst section of the city in terms of crime. Really the best parts of the city are the eastern most areas. Everything along the river is bad. As you go east it tends to get better and better.

Yes but they are asking about walkable areas with sidewalks. Eastern Springfield is comparatively safer with crime, but are newer secluded suburban communities with very poor walkability. Most neighborhoods don’t even have side walks.

A neighborhood is what you make of it. There is so many long time home owners in and around Springfield who have remained where they are despite the “riffraff”. A lot of people raise families in Forest Park.

[J4S0N]

Hello. I know this is super late. But I would like to add to the discussion for anyone looking to move to the Pioneer Valley.

The core of Northhampton is fantastic. Highly walkable, dense, lots to do and various supported means of getting around. Westfield core is very similar and is a shorter commute to Springfield. Both cities are comparatively “safer” in terms of crime compared to the other urban cities in western MA.

Springfield-Chicopee-Holyoke is the considerably dense urban core of the Pioneer valley. Most residents live here. All three cities offer cheaper housing and boast a lot of urban feeling neighborhoods. I grew up in a “suburban” neighborhood right outside of the highly walkable and compact Chicopee Center. My childhood home has a walk score of 65, which is almost “very walkable”. A tree lined street with a network of sidewalks and a mixture of housing types. Certainly doesn’t feel suburban, but also not big city. You will find this vibe in the residential neighborhoods all around the center, down Front street, Fairview Ave, and up Springfield st near Elms college. Chicopee developed as five distinct compact settlements. The established neighborhoods of Chicopee all offer an urban feel and considerable walkability with sidewalks.

I also really like the northern Springfield neighborhoods right around the Chicopee border. Mix of single family-homes and multifamily housing. All streets are connected by a network of sidewalks. Comfortable density. Tree-lined streets. You also have the historical McKnight neighborhood which was a planned neighborhood. Residential with comfortable density but also in short walking distance to many amenities. Tree-lined streets, sidewalks, mostly single family homes but does include multi-family as well. Forest Park, East Springfield, Indian Orchard to me are fine urban feeling places to raise a family. The residential neighborhoods around the core of Holyoke center are fine too and offer an urban feel.

Neighborhoods ultimately are what you make of it. These cities do have areas of severe concentrated poverty that certainly are rough around the edges. But I do not believe that ruins all neighborhoods in these cities. All three cities have been seeing revitalization efforts in the last 30 years.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by J4S0N

Yes but they are asking about walkable areas with sidewalks. Eastern Springfield is comparatively safer with crime, but are newer secluded suburban communities with very poor walkability. Most neighborhoods don’t even have side walks.

A neighborhood is what you make of it. There is so many long time home owners in and around Springfield who have remained where they are despite the “riffraff”. A lot of people raise families in Forest Park.

Is this considered Forest Park?


Police investigating deadly Springfield shooting on Walden Street


https://www.wwlp.com/news/crime/poli...walden-street/



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paQnOKd9_3c

[tovarisch]

I say go with the Northampton idea! That's where I live, and it's great. The commute is not a big deal (I did it for years) except for maybe two or three days each winter. You'll have plenty of company along I-91. Schools may also end up being a concern, and you'll want to consider Northampton when that becomes a priority.