specific Ashland neighborhoods for family with kids? (best neighborhoods, rental)

[vanman james]

i'm getting more and more familiar with ashland, recently was there for a visit which turned more into job interviews so didn't do as much neighborhood research as we would have liked... can anyone help with:

best neighborhoods for young family with small kids? we're thinking railroad district or cottage district (north and west of RR district).

what we're looking for:

greatest density of kids playing in the streets
friendly neighbors, porch sitters
walkable to co-op, etc
quiet area off main streets

which streets/blocks specifically? we have a 3 year old and a newborn, will be looking for schools/preschools soon, would love to be able to walk to them if anyone has experiences.
we'll be there in a month or so, looking for a rental in case anyone knows of something coming available! looking to rent a small cute cottage with yard.
thanks

[AbbieM]

The best neighborhood for kids, IMHO, is Quiet Village. Helman School is solid, with (from what I hear) no danger of closing. In fact, they are just completing construction of a brand new gymnasium! Helman has a huge field that the neighborhood uses for playing, star gazing, and so on. It also has (free) tennis courts, basketball courts, barbeque and picnic tables, and a great playground, all open to the neighborhood outside school hours. B/c of the school there are lots of kids in the area, which you can see by the kids walking and playing outside.

QV is below the RR tracks, which means no slipping and sliding in the snow, too. There are some dull ranch houses here, but also lots that people have fixed up. I've lived in several Ashland neighborhoods, and like this one the best. We are walking distance from downtown (a real boon for parades, when everyone is trying to drive downtown!), from the Ashland Co-op, and (for me, but I like to walk) from the library.

Good luck finding your new home in Ashland! I have a neighbor on Willow Street who is putting her house on the market in the spring, one with a huge fenced yard, front and back. I'm sure you will find what you are looking for!

[Dean Trails]

Originally Posted by AbbieM

The best neighborhood for kids, IMHO, is Quiet Village. Helman School is solid, with (from what I hear) no danger of closing. In fact, they are just completing construction of a brand new gymnasium! Helman has a huge field that the neighborhood uses for playing, star gazing, and so on. It also has (free) tennis courts, basketball courts, barbeque and picnic tables, and a great playground, all open to the neighborhood outside school hours. B/c of the school there are lots of kids in the area, which you can see by the kids walking and playing outside.

QV is below the RR tracks, which means no slipping and sliding in the snow, too. There are some dull ranch houses here, but also lots that people have fixed up. I've lived in several Ashland neighborhoods, and like this one the best. We are walking distance from downtown (a real boon for parades, when everyone is trying to drive downtown!), from the Ashland Co-op, and (for me, but I like to walk) from the library.

Good luck finding your new home in Ashland! I have a neighbor on Willow Street who is putting her house on the market in the spring, one with a huge fenced yard, front and back. I'm sure you will find what you are looking for!

Hi,
Does Ashland have much to do? IT seems so isolated from the rest of the State and even California. Do you have movie theaters and other entertainment? Any nice restaurants in the area? What do the locals do for fun? Can I ride my dirt bike in the hills or is it restricted?

Thanks for any info.