Life in Park Slope

sabella1223

I was wondering if Park Slope would be recommended for a young couple (late 20's) looking to start a family soon? I'm from Long Island, but have lived in FL for the last 5 years going to college, etc. I need to get back to some sort of "neighborhood feel" with intelligent people!

I love brownstones and parks, but I am concerned with my wife liking the area. What are the closest areas for a woman to feel safe walking around town?

Appreciate any input.

Thanks!

flux

Life is Park Slope is great. I am sure that you and your wife will have an amazing time. NYC in general has become much more safer then in previous years. Park Slope is full of young professionals raising a family...so you will be in good company.

doldrums

having lived in Fla for 5 years in the early 90's I know from what you speak. Yes, I would say PS is what you are looking for. Intelligent people, many amenities, big park, safe, yet the cost of housing may be an issue. While cheaper than Manhattan, those benefits come with a bit of cost.

longtimesloper

Park Slope is a safe neighborhood-your wife would be fine here

stella

Just remember that it's going to be crazy expensive.

flux

Stella........Don't you mean "stupid expensive"?!

brookfetish

Subject: Re: Life in Park Slope

sabella1223 wrote: I was wondering if Park Slope would be recommended for a young couple (late 20's) looking to start a family soon?

That's like asking if a bar is a good place to get a cocktail.

stella

flux wrote: Stella........Don't you mean "stupid expensive"?!

Is there a difference?

obamanut

I'll make you a deal - I'll give you all the advice you need on Brooklyn neighborhoods, and you give me some financial advice!!!

I would love to know what kind of rackets so many people are in that allow them to move to a neighborhood like Park $lope on a whim.

veets

I understand where you are coming from Obamanut! What lucky star is shining upon someone in their 20's that provides them to move to PS at this point in time and pay out over 30 thousand a year in rent?

booklaw

Sabella, not only is this a neighborhood where your wife will feel safe, it is also a neighborhood where children can feel safe even when not accompanied by adults.

We raised two kids here, and (notwithstanding our fears deriving from news stories about children disappearing elsewhere in the city) allowed them to walk to and from their schools by themselves... as long as they were together, or with friends. We had introduced them to shopkeepers, and let them know which shops were "safe havens" if they ever felt insecure.

We also allowed them to play outside on the block with older kids who would keep an eye on them. Eventually, they became the older kids looking out for younger children.

It is simply a wonderful place to grow up.

wtgirl

booklaw wrote:
We also allowed them to play outside on the block with older kids who would keep an eye on them. Eventually, they became the older kids looking out for younger children.

That sounds like the Park Slope of 20 years ago. I never saw kids playing on my block in the 10 years I lived in the slope (I see that in Windsor Terrace but not there). There is either an overprotective mother around hovering or the kids are in the park with a nanny or at an after school enrichment program. Times have changed....and people aren't hanging on the stoops while the kids play stickball anymore.

luvbklyn

Subject: young couple/family in PS

If a young family cannot be happy in Park Slope, all money issues aside, they cannot be happy anywhere in New York's five boroughs. The neighborhood has absolutely everything a young family could want.

sabella1223

Obamanut wrote: I'll make you a deal - I'll give you all the advice you need on Brooklyn neighborhoods, and you give me some financial advice!!!

I would love to know what kind of rackets so many people are in that allow them to move to a neighborhood like Park $lope on a whim.

I'm a CPA, so financial advice may be right up my alley! LOL. I understand the rents are very expensive, but it's either Park Slope or Hoboken (my wife likes it there), so I guess I have no choice but to work hard and make the money to afford a lifestyle I want. Excuses are not an option.

Thanks for the help from everyone so far.

pitu

WTGirl wrote: [quote=booklaw]
We also allowed them to play outside on the block with older kids who would keep an eye on them. Eventually, they became the older kids looking out for younger children.

That sounds like the Park Slope of 20 years ago. I never saw kids playing on my block in the 10 years I lived in the slope (I see that in Windsor Terrace but not there). There is either an overprotective mother around hovering or the kids are in the park with a nanny or at an after school enrichment program. Times have changed....and people aren't hanging on the stoops while the kids play stickball anymore.

Yesterday afternoon I saw a war game going on Union between 7th and 8th Aves (or maybe it was hide and seek) . . . it may be a schmancy two-way street, but there were pairs of nine year old kids* hiding behind cars on both sides of the block.

I see wobbly training wheels and football games all the time. When the kids were that age on my block, I wished their parents would let them go (or take them) to the park since it's much nicer and safer than street football but whatever.
Never seen stick ball or spaldeens or those other golden age games, but there are still kids and they play outside.

Just reporting what I see...


*I don't know these kids, and I'm guessing at their ages.

longtimesloper

WTGirl wrote: [quote=booklaw]
We also allowed them to play outside on the block with older kids who would keep an eye on them. Eventually, they became the older kids looking out for younger children.

That sounds like the Park Slope of 20 years ago. I never saw kids playing on my block in the 10 years I lived in the slope (I see that in Windsor Terrace but not there). There is either an overprotective mother around hovering or the kids are in the park with a nanny or at an after school enrichment program. Times have changed....and people aren't hanging on the stoops while the kids play stickball anymore.

then you should come to my block in the Slope because that is still going on here also. The kids aren't playing stickball **rolls eyes** But, come the nice weather, they will be out on the sidewalk in force playing and running through sprinklers or pools and there will be parents outside watching them, or, as stated above, older kids too.

sabella1223

doldrums wrote: having lived in Fla for 5 years in the early 90's I know from what you speak. Yes, I would say PS is what you are looking for. Intelligent people, many amenities, big park, safe, yet the cost of housing may be an issue. While cheaper than Manhattan, those benefits come with a bit of cost.

Then you understand the Florida mentality and what I am looking for. Not to bash florida, but there's a different mentality down here relating to family and energy of the people, everyones a little too laid back for me. It's a retirement community and always will be.

doldrums

Exactly right about Fla.. Nobody there goes out during the week; nobody walks, sidewalks are few and far between. Gated communities are very popular sucking energy out of the communities. On Friday and saturday the flocks all go out to eat at the big restaurants followed by a movie. Monday the hibernation starts again. Plus the public schools are deporable. Yup, that's the Florida I recall. I only went to the beach when company was in town and August and September weather I wouldn't wish on anybody. The fish was good , though.

sabella1223

doldrums wrote: Exactly right about Fla.. Nobody there goes out during the week; nobody walks, sidewalks are few and far between. Gated communities are very popular sucking energy out of the communities. On Friday and saturday the flocks all go out to eat at the big restaurants followed by a movie. Monday the hibernation starts again. Plus the public schools are deporable. Yup, that's the Florida I recall. I only went to the beach when company was in town and August and September weather I wouldn't wish on anybody. The fish was good , though.

Too funny! You took my thoughts and wrote them down. If I hear another person tell me how good Olive Garden is (I'm an italian from NY) I'm going to go crazy! The humidity is the killer for me, walking to my mail box and having to shower when I get back in the house...... Uh!