Harmony Park

In Harmony Park, residents live in accord with their surroundings. Children walk to school, neighbors waive to one another on walks to the local brewery, and families ride bikes together, shoot hoops or gather with friends at a local park. This neighborhood of Westminster, about 20 miles north of Denver, has “all the amenities at a fraction of the cost of living in Denver,” says Francisco Padilla Jr., a Realtor and broker-owner of Home Brokers LLC.

“These are spacious homes in a family-friendly community," Padilla says. One of his listings in the Village of Harmony Park is a good example — a two-story contemporary home featuring five bedrooms, 3,000 square feet and loft space that could be used as an extra bedroom or office. Priced between $600,000 and $800,000, Harmony Park homes were built in the early 2000s and set on wide suburban streets with well-maintained sidewalks. Garages face the rear of the homes, making for fewer parked cars and obstacles for kids to navigate as they bike through the subdivision.

Casa Estates nearby is a manufactured home park with properties that start at $60,000. This quaint subdivision has narrower streets with tree-lined medians, and most homes sit close to the street, giving the community a more intimate feel. Tanglewood, the newest subdivision farthest east, offers three-to-five-bedroom ranch and contemporary houses for between $700,000 and $900,000. Built within the last few years, Tanglewood homes are fresh and new, and construction is ongoing.

The schools that serve Harmony Park all received above-average grades from Niche. Arapahoe Ridge Elementary is walkable from most homes and scored a B. Its fourth and fifth graders can join an innovative Battle of the Books club, which challenges them to read 10 books during the school year. At Silver Hills Middle, a B-minus school, students can participate in over a dozen clubs and organizations, such as creative writing, jewelry and crafts, anime and podcasts. Over two dozen sports are offered at Legacy High, an A-minus school, including soccer, golf, lacrosse, swimming and diving, and track and field.

If you’re a biker or walker, you’ll love exploring the neighborhood on the Big Dry Creek Trail. This nearly 12-mile bike path begins at Standley Lake Regional Park and runs east to Interstate 25 and beyond, crossing streets and underpasses. Next to the elementary school, Amherst Park is a 6.4-acre green space that invites children with its jungle gyms, monkey bars, swings and slides. Parents can look on from conveniently placed benches or join in the fun on the park’s skating rink, basketball and tennis courts. The park's open grassy areas also double as soccer fields. Just below it, Big Dry Creek Park is an 18-acre recreational area with even more to offer. Bring your four-legged friends to the dog park, which is fenced-in and has multiple obstacles and platforms to train your pup. Young children will enjoy the nearby playground, and older kids can hone their skills on the park’s baseball and soccer fields.

For everyday needs, you’ll find a Lowe’s and a Walmart Supercenter on either side of West 136th Avenue. The Shops at Quail Creek is close, too, anchored by King Soopers (a fun way of writing “supers”) grocery store, a subsidiary of Kroger. South of there, the Frolic Brewing Company features an extensive beer and food menu all set in an industrial interior with exposed rafters and a covered patio that is dog-friendly and heated in the winter. At North Side Tavern, you’ll find classic tavern fare with a Colorado twist, like their black and blue burger loaded with blue cheese, or their cast iron barbecue pulled pork mac and cheese. In this relaxed sports bar, you’ll also find an ever-changing selection of Colorado tap beers, local spirits and drink specials.

“Homebuyers drawn to Harmony Park want the two-car garage, nice-sized yard and big, open Colorado experience,” Padilla says. And they find it less than 20 miles outside Denver. For the amenities and price tag, Harmony Park is hard to beat.

Written By

Christopher Kopczynski

Photography Contributed By

Alex Dickerson

Video By

Kristen Wilson