Garrett Park

If you’re looking for a small-town vibe with the convenience of big-city life, Garrett Park might just be the place for you. A 154-acre residential community, an arboretum and a historic place all in one, this town in Montgomery County got its start in 1898 when the B&O railroad decided to build a train station here.

“It’s a great little neighborhood of about 300 homes,” says Todd Harris, longtime Garrett Park resident and Realtor with Long & Foster. “It’s a tight-knit community—the kind of place where you know everybody and everybody knows you.”

Homes in Garrett Park include an eclectic mix of architectural styles; no single home is like another. You’ll find everything from small 1920’s “Chevy-style” houses (a Sears Catalogue home sold with a car in the driveway), ramblers, Cape Cods and cottages, to colonials and Arts and Craftsman styles, to beautiful historic Victorian homes complete with turrets, spires and wrap-around porches. The average sales price here is $500,000, but price points can vary from the mid $400,000s to over four million dollars depending on the age, size and condition of the property.

In addition to Garrett Park’s unique architectural styles, there are a few other intriguing qualities that add to this town’s small-town feel. For one, there’s no residential mail delivery. Yes, you read that right. In Garrett Park, everyone has to go in person to the local post office to retrieve their mail. Housed in the historic Penn Place building on Waverly Avenue, Penn Place also serves as the town’s “headquarters,” a restaurant (Black Market Bistro), an art gallery and the mayor’s administrative offices. Mayor? Yep. “We have our own mayor and our own town council,” explains Harris, who oversees the town’s budget and operations. For all other public services—think schools, police, fire and social services—the town defers to the county.

Another perk of living in Garrett Park? The trees! “If you take a look at Google Earth, the aerial view, you’ll see just how many trees we have here,” adds Harris. With official status as an Arboretum, it should come as no surprise that this community is home to trees of all shapes, sizes and species. Mature trees line the community’s streets and many residents maintain gardens and lush landscaping.

Students here attend Montgomery County Public Schools, like Garrett Park Elementary, Tilden Middle, and Walter Johnson High School. Ranked as the second-best school district in all of Maryland, it should come as no surprise that all three schools received a rating of “A” or higher on Niche.com. For those looking for alternative options, Garrett Park is also located within minutes of multiple private school options like Georgetown Preparatory School (an all-boys Catholic high school) and The Academy of the Holy Cross (an all-girls Catholic high school).

For all of your daily essentials, residents won’t have to travel far. Garrett Park’s convenient location—situated less than 10 minutes from neighboring North Bethesda and Rockville—offers abundant shopping, dining and entertainment options. For groceries, residents can shop at Giant, Safeway, Aldi or Whole Foods. Or for a full one-stop-shop, pop over to the Wildwood Shopping Center off Old Georgetown Road. This modern upscale shopping center features a Balducci’s Food Lovers Market (gourmet grocery), a CVS pharmacy, casual eateries, a Starbucks and several clothing outlets. For additional retail options, another prime shopping spot is Westfield’s Montgomery Mall. A short 15-minute drive from Garrett Park, Montgomery Mall offers more than 200 stores and dining options, plus a movie theater too.

For some time outdoors, the community of Garrett Park offers residents plenty of green spaces to enjoy. For the athletes in your household, check out Cambria Park, which includes the area’s public swimming pool, baseball fields and a playground. Or for communal fun, the Garrett-Waverly Park space is often used as a gathering place for neighborhood celebrations or events, like the Fourth of July. Feeling more like a night out? Then walk on over to the Strathmore Music Hall, and enjoy a performance of your choosing.

And when its time for a change of pace, remember Garrett Park is connected. Commuters can take the Metro, MARC train or the highway to get where they need to be.

Offering all this and more, Garrett Park is the perfect place to put down roots.

Written By

Michelle Goshen

Photography Contributed By

David MacNeill

Video By

Jacob Cardwell