Small-town charm meets city convenience in Westfield
Residents enjoy the experience and convenience of city living with the atmosphere of a small town in Westfield. "People in Westfield truly care about each other," says Kristine Cook, a Westfield resident and Realtor with William Raveis Real Estate. "You see a lot of neighbors helping neighbors." This city sprawls a leafy landscape less than 10 miles west of downtown Springfield, straddling the Westfield River with mature flora and quiet residential streets. Westfield is also home to a foodie-friendly downtown known by locals as the Gas Light District.
Westfield’s “great range of houses”
"You get a good deal of house for your money in Westfield," Cook says, "There's a great range of houses available here." In the heart of Westfield, in the Gas Light District, historic single-family homes sit on lots around a fifth of an acre. Many of these properties were built in the mid-to-late 1800s. While most adhere to the Colonial Revival style, Victorian and National Folk influences can be seen. These older homes cost between $200,000 and $300,000. Around the high-$300,000s and mid-$400,00s are midcentury ranch-style homes and bungalows with driveways, garages and larger, half- or quarter-acre lots. Four- to five-bedroom Minimal Traditional residences built after 1990 can cost between $500,000 and $800,000.
STEM at Westfield High
Students in Westfield attend Westfield Public Schools. Those living on the city’s north side may start school at Southhampton Road Elementary, rated B-minus on Niche. They can move on to Westfield Intermediate, also rated B-minus on Niche, for grades 5 and 6, before going to Westfield Middle, rated C-plus on Niche, for grades 7 and 8. Westfield High School is the last stop on this academic line. This high school has a B-minus rating and is ranked No. 22 on Niche’s list of the Springfield area’s best high schools for STEM. During STEM week, high schoolers enjoy a change of pace with certain educational activities, such as doing science experiments with local kids at a preschool.
Stanley Park
From small pocket parks to riverfront sprawls, Westfield has a variety of green spaces. The privately owned Stanley Park is a city staple that’s open year-round. It spans 300 acres on the city’s west side with wooded trails, picnic areas and 11 gardens, such as the Rose and Flower Garden, where visitors can smell over 30 types of roses. Visitors can also take a step back in time around the duck pond, where the park’s scenic Colonial-Era Village, featuring historic structures and replicas, lies.
The Gas Light District
Westfield’s downtown, the Gas Light District, comes to life on the weekends, full of pedestrians walking to their favorite restaurant, bar or boutique. Trendy businesses inhabit historic low-rise brick buildings, giving the area a hometown feeling even at its busiest. Take the Maple Leaf Pub, for example. Housed in an 1800s-era building, this local pub also serves subs, burgers, burritos and — of course — good drinks. Two blocks up the road, Circuit Coffee’s full espresso bar and seasonal drinks help get folks’ mornings started. For dinner, reservations are recommended to get a table at Emma’s Everyday Gourmet. This quaint and cozy restaurant serves Italian comfort food.
As for grabbing groceries, convenient stores like Big Y World Class Market and Stop & Shop fan out around the Gaslight District.
WOW: Pumpkinfest
Westfield on Weekends (WOW) is a non-profit organization focused on bringing the community together. “We recently celebrated 20 years,” says Kathi Bradford, Director of WOW Creative Arts Center and a Westfield resident since 1981. “Basically all of our programs are free to attend unless they’re fundraisers. Every weekend, there’s always something going on. We do classes, trips, gallery showings and children’s programs. Then there are our large-scale events like Pumpkinfest and Decemberfest.” Westfield’s Pumpkinfest draws more than 10,000 folks everything. This harvest celebration lights up the community with family-friendly fun. There are pumpkin carving stations, live music, vendors, food trucks, a big rig rally and much more.
Interstate 90
With I-90 running through the center of town, Westfield residents have quick access to the surrounding area, allowing them to head west to the countryside or east to Springfield at a moment's notice. Westfield is mainly car-dependent, but there are Pioneer Valley Transit Authority bus stops along Main Street, which turns into Springfield Road.
Photography Contributed By
Brandon Schulman
