Kendale Lakes

Welcome to Kendale Lakes, a large, well-loved suburban community with gorgeous parks and excellent schools. You'll find this gem of a neighborhood just over 10 miles west of Miami, right off major north-south highway Ronald Reagan Turnpike.

"Kendale Lakes has amazing schools," says Lessie Franco, a local Realtor with Florida Capital Realty. "It's great for families and has a reputation for being a very safe neighborhood. A lot of retired police officers and firefighters live there year-round. Many people in these communities have been homeowners there for 20 or 30 years, but I know a lot of young adults and glam people have been moving there recently, too. It’s just an amazing community."

Students can get their academic start at Bent Tree Elementary, rated with a B-plus on Niche, before attending Howard D. McMillan Middle, which was also rated with a B-plus on Niche, before finally graduating from G. Holmes Braddock Senior High, rated with a B by Niche. This school offers various academic programs, such as the Cambridge Global Studies Magnet Academy, which allows participating students to graduate with an Advanced International Certificate of Education. Other programs offered include the information technology magnet academy, as well as the visual and performing arts academy. Alternatively, Kendale Lakes students can complete kindergarten through 12th grade at the private Calusa Preparatory School, a faith-based institution.

Kendale Lakes is a great alternative for those interested in areas such as Coral Gables or Coconut Grove but want a little more bang for their buck. The average lot size for a single-family home in this area is about 7,000 square feet, and the average amount of living space is typically between 1,700 and 2,000 square feet. Across all of Kendale Lakes' communities, you'll find ranch-style homes and bi-level homes that example Minimal Traditional, Spanish eclectic and, more rarely, contemporary or modern architecture. Many of these properties date back to the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Prices for homes along these lines range between $650,000 and $800,000. HOA fees are relatively low if there is one. Take the Winston Park subdivision, for example. "Everyone loves Winston Park," Franco says. "The HOA is around $60 a month. There are no restrictions, but it allows access to the gym, the basketball and pickleball courts — there's no crazy application process — it's very relaxed. You pay online like you would a gym membership." That said, you can find one-acre or multi-acre properties in communities like Horse Country, located in the northeast corner of Kendale Lakes, that can cost anywhere from $1.95 million to $8 million. Additionally, townhouses and condominium complexes reside in Kendale Lakes as well.

As for shopping, dining and entertainment, Kendale Lakes has plenty of commercial areas with the usual big-box stores, fast-food joints and restaurant chains along the main road, Kendall Drive. In one of these strips, there's the Regal Kendall Village movie theater, which folks flock to on weekends to catch the newest flicks. Down the road, Macondo Coffee Roasters comes to life in the morning with breakfast sandwiches, smoothies and delectable espresso beverages. This Miami-based specialty coffee roaster and café is a local favorite with a menu infused with Latin and American flavors. Grab an empanada, or if you're craving something new, glance at their vegetarian menu for some funky twists on classic morning meals.

Home to green spaces galore, there is no shortage of places to have fun under the South Florida sun in Kendale Lakes, whether that's by scheduling a tee time at community staple Miccosukee Golf and Country Club, taking a dive into Winston Park's community pool or kicking the ball around at Millers Pond Park. With more than five parks in the community, you're sure to find plenty of picnic-perfect lawns and playgrounds in this slice of suburbia.

Filled with friendly neighbors, great schools and a plethora of parks, Kendale Lakes has everything you could want and more in a suburb. Not to mention, you're less than an hour away from the iconic, sandy stretches of Miami Beach.

Written By

Micaela Willoughby

Photography Contributed By

Daniele Giuseppe Del Gaudio

Video By

Bradley K Cornelius