Clinton

Calm hikes through the woods, seasonal produce picking, and games played in the park. Windbrook, located in the southwest of Clinton, Maryland, provides recreation and respite with its collection of single-family homes in a rural setting saturated with trees stretching as far as the eye can see. Between the dense tree line are winding, unpredictable patterns of streets. This unplanned community features two main residential clusters, one east and one west of Piscataway Road. Yard sizes vary, but they all have a healthy, deep green patch of grass. Well-paved roads give way to interconnected sidewalks and two-car driveways. Homes are typically in the colonial or neoclassical style, with small, shuttered windows, brick facades, pitched roofs and the occasional porch column or two for added flare. Some homes have attached garages to protect your car from the elements or use as a workshop for hobbies and DIY. Home buyers on a budget looking into Windbrook have an advantage. The average cost for a revival-style home is $400,000, and that includes renovations already made, making it a great option if you don’t want to make changes yourself. “If a home is $300,000, that means it hasn’t been renovated,” Susan Park, Realtor at Coldwell Banker Jay Lilly Real Estate, says. Entry-level buyers can benefit from snagging a home in the older section of Windbrook for the price point and the small-town feel. Windbrook’s flight of schools equips students with academics as well as other tools to help them navigate social and mental health challenges. Fort Washington Forest Elementary earns a C overall from Niche. Students are cared about with a bullying awareness and prevention program. When they move on to Isaac J. Gourdine Middle, a C-minus-rated school, Lions have access to virtual mental health support should they need it. Friendly High School is also rated a C-minus by Niche. After a long week of work and school, residents of Windbrook can head to Cosca Park. You can play a game of baseball at one of the five diamonds or take your furry friend for a walk. Hikers rejoice because there are roughly seven miles of trails to traverse. When the weather gets warmer, cast a line at the edge of Lake Cosca for some local fishing. For a special indoor experience, the Clearwater Nature Center hosts programs to familiarize you with rehabilitated wildlife such as eagles, hawks, and owls, making for a fun and educational Saturday afternoon. The lower cost and access to parks isn’t the only benefit of living here. “It tends to be quieter. You’ve got the benefits of rural, like fresh produce. Miller Farms make their own ice cream and doughnuts,” Parks says. Miller has seasonal events for all ages, from strawberry picking to hayrides. Their produce market is a fresh source of nutrition for those who want to shop local and farm fresh. For a quick dinner when you are out, grab a rack of ribs or a set of wings from RC’s Ribs and Soul at the intersection of Piscataway and Temple Hill Road. They primarily do take-out, but get in quickly because the line can be long. Despite being a rural town, shopping here actually isn’t far or inconvenient. For your weekly grocery needs, Costco and Target are six miles down the road. That said, having a car is a necessity because of the lack of public transportation. In the same shopping center is an Xscape Theatre, where you can kick back in a leather recliner and catch new releases on the big screen. If you’re looking for a quiet, calm place to settle down or are simply a first-time home buyer, discover Windbrook. And don’t forget to pick some produce while you’re there.