Grand Prairie

With a Spanish name translating to "view of the lakes," Mira Lagos certainly lives up to its moniker. Waterside living is one of the top draws to Mira Lagos, encased by the nearly 7,500-acre Joe Pool Lake on the southside of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Containing an abundance of homes and nifty amenities on the lake's peninsula, locals enjoy a quiet suburban atmosphere with nature in their backyard while still being a less-than-30-minute drive from both downtown Dallas and Fort Worth. Mira Lagos primarily features larger New Traditional and ranch-style homes with Tudor and Queen Anne elements in master-planned subdivisions, though townhouses can be found in the Grenadier community. Apartment hunters can also rent at Evolv or Mansions of Mansfield, offering one-bedroom units for around $1,500 per month. Most homes price between $300,000 and $600,000, but larger estates with ample square footage can sell for more than $1 million. Served by the Mansfield Independent School District, Mira Lagos residents have access to some of the best schools in the DFW Metroplex. Kids from prekindergarten through Grade 4 may go to Cora Spencer Elementary School before advancing to Mary Lillard Intermediate School for Grades 5 and 6. Danny Jones Middle School, serving 7th and 8th graders, shares a campus with the intermediate school. Meanwhile, teens attend Mansfield Lake Ridge High School, which offers a wide range of extracurricular clubs and organizations from National Honor Society to a ceramics club. Each school earns overall grades of A from Niche. Outdoor recreation is key for many of Mira Lagos' residents. Locals can camp, hike and swim while taking in scenic lake views at Loyd Park, but that's not the neighborhood's biggest draw. "I think it's Hawaiian Falls Water Park," says local Realtor Becky Hearne of Re/Max Pinnacle Group Realtors, who has nearly 30 years of experience in real estate. According to Hearne, golf is another major pastime in Mira Lagos. Mansfield National Golf Club is one of the area's top destinations for weekend tee times since its opening in 2000. Meanwhile, Little Leaguers round the bases at Mansfield Complex for Sports. Mira Lagos isn't known as a haven for foodies, though there are some local favorites contained within the neighborhood on East Broad Street. Jakes is a regional chain serving burgers and cocktails to the Metroplex since 1985, while 360 Brunch House is the place to go for mimosas and all-day breakfast. Four Sisters, opened in 2018, is another top spot known for its Vietnamese fare. To make a home-cooked meal, residents often gather ingredients from the nearby Kroger or its adjacent Market Street just west of Highway 360. More shopping options can be found at Mansfield Town Center or Mansfield Towne Crossing, which contain numerous big-box retailers. Locals can get around Mira Lagos on foot with a network of paved walking paths meandering throughout the neighborhood, but with such easy access to major roads and highways, many resident choose to get around by car. Highway 360, which feeds directly into Arlington, serves as Mira Lagos' western border, while those commuting to Fort Worth can get downtown within 30 minutes by heading west on Heritage Parkway and merging onto Route 287. Public transportation is virtually nonexistent, though, so locals will need vehicle access for longer trips.

A master-planned community, Westchester sits at the southern edge of Grand Prairie, Texas, along the shores of Joe Pool Lake. Sandwiched between Fort Worth, Irving and Dallas, proximity to amenities and the entire metroplex is an attractive part of Westchester’s appeal. "It's a perfect location if you want to go to Downtown Fort Worth or Downtown Dallas; it's super accessible," says Tanika Donnell, Broker and Owner of TDRealty, serving the area for over 10 years. "You have all the amenities you would want in a big city, and it's growing." Twenty miles outside Dallas, the community is also 7 miles from Historic Downtown Grand Prairie and 9 miles north of the quaint Main Street charm of Downtown Cedar Hill. Beyond urban conveniences, Westchester is surrounded by outdoor recreation, top-ranked schools and is home to the city’s largest homeowners’ association that ensures the community stays tight-knit. “That's one of the best characteristics of this area,” says Donnell. “They're big on families and education, and that's drawing a lot of retailers and companies." The quiet, tree-lined community has 17 subdivisions enclosed by green spaces and cradled by a lake. Westchester is filled with ranch-style houses, traditional brick two-story homes and custom-built Craftsman-style homes. Most were built in the early 1990s. Prices range from the high-$200,000s for an 1,800-square-foot three-bedroom to the high-$600,000s for a 3,400-square-foot five-bedroom. "Compared to the northern side of town— Capel, Carrollton, Lewisville, Frisco, all of those areas — you can get a little bit more for your money,” says Donnell. “You get larger lot sizes, and your price per square foot isn't as high.” Most properties have rear garaging parking or front-facing multi-car garages and spacious paved driveways for boats or other toys. Higher-priced homes have in-ground pools, pergolas and large backyard entertaining spaces. Lot sizes are large, most averaging around 10,000 or 11,000 square feet, but some stretch over a half acre. All residents are within walking and biking distance of multiple parks, schools, convenience and grocery stores. The housing market in Westchester is relatively competitive, with many homes being sold within four to five weeks. Westchester Homeowner’s Association, which oversees maintenance and other community upkeep, is the largest of the 61 HOAs in Grand Prairie, with over 2,300 homes. Dues are voluntary. Community enhancements are also handled by the Westchester Public Improvement District (PID), a public-private partnership with the city council to maintain and upgrade public lands and areas. The gated Mariposa at Westchester is a 55-plus subdivision within the community. It features 93 one- and two-bedroom apartments, with a pool, clubhouse, a rose garden, a pet spa and a pavilion. Prices range from $544 to $2,400 a month. The 20-acre Friendship Park is at the heart of Westchester and has basketball and tennis courts, a playground, a pond and shaded walking paths. One street west, Parkhill Park features soccer and football fields and 26 acres of picnic space. Freedom Park is a few blocks west and includes baseball and softball fields and pavilions to rent. On the eastern side of Westchester, Mountain Creek Soccer Complex stretches 116 acres and sits on the western edge of Mountain Creek Lake, boasting over six lit fields. Prairie Lakes Golf Course sits directly above the soccer complex on the lake. The public venue offers 18-hole and 9-hole courses and the largest practice area in Texas. Less than 2 miles north, Fish Creek – Dallas County Nature Preserve provides 37 acres of heavily wooded forest to explore and several multi-use trails. Westchester hugs the northern shore of Joe Pool Lake, a popular boating spot and place to catch largemouth bass and catfish. Cedar Hill State Park is 5 miles from the community and sits on the lake’s southern shore. The 1,800-acre park provides swimming, 350 campsites and 45 miles of hiking and cycling trails. Its DORBA Trail spans 1,200 acres and is one of the top mountain biking trails in the state. Cedar Mountain and Cedar Hill Park Reserve trails are two other popular routes that weave through the Dallas County Nature Preserve. On the northern shores of Joe Pool Lake, Lynn Creek Park covers nearly 800 acres and includes a sandy swimming beach, boat ramps and a volleyball court. The park is also a holiday favorite for “Prairie Lights,” a 2-mile-long display with 4 million lights and 500 decorations illuminating the night sky. "When you go through it, it's just a forest full of Christmas lights, so it's a big draw for families," Donnell says. Grand Prairie Independent School District serves the area, which is ranked the 10th-best district in Dallas County. It’s also the city’s top employer. Students can attend Mike Moseley Elementary, which has an A-minus rating and offers regular planetarium community nights, followed by the B-plus Ronald Reagan Middle. Kids can finish their education at the B-rated South Grand Prairie High School, which has a coding club and wrestling and soccer teams. Westchester also has the John Nance Garner Fine Arts Academy, an A-minus-rated school with a curriculum focusing on dance, music, theatre and visual arts. Most shopping and dining options are along Highway 360 and Interstate 20. Pizzaiolo’s Pizzas and Pasta is a popular small local chain known for its New York-style slices and cheesesteaks. Tom Thumb and CVS are also in this strip mall. Ton’s Mongolian Grill BBQ is a favorite for all-you-can-eat stir-fries and soups. The Finch is a restaurant for a more upscale meal, where locals rave about its oysters, steak frites and espresso martinis. For a sweet treat, Andy’s Frozen Custard serves up sundaes, milkshakes and other frozen treats in various flavors. Walmart is off 1-20 for essentials, and EpicCentral and Epic West Towne Crossing are 4 miles north for more shopping and dining options. Grand Prairie Premium Outlets is 3 miles in the other direction and features a diverse array of retail shops and boutiques. Historic Downtown Grand Prairie is 7 miles south for a quaint mom-and-pop shopping experience. Established in 1987, Westchester HOA oversees maintenance, landscaping and community events. The group hosts an annual Christmas party, yard of the month contests, holiday lights contests, a spring festival and a yearly block party. The community has no public transit, but Interstate 20 runs along Westchester’s northern edge, connecting to State Highway 161 and Texas 360 Toll Road. These routes provide access to the rest of the area. Historic Downtown Grand Prairie is 7 miles north, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is 16 miles away and Dallas is a 20-mile drive. Medical City ER Grand Prairie is the closest hospital, 3 miles away, and the closest major medical facility is Medical City Arlington, an 8-mile drive.