Ottawa’s Best Neighbourhoods: Merivale Gardens
If you dream of quiet, small-town life but don’t want to face a lengthy commute, this hidden gem of a community is for you! Tucked in a secluded clearing in Pinhey Forest, Merivale Gardens is the nicest neighbourhood you probably don’t even know exists. With large lots, mature trees and quiet streets, this idyllic community feels like stepping into a small town without ever leaving the city.
Where is Merivale Gardens?
Merivale Gardens is a mature neighbourhood located in Ottawa’s west end just south of the Nepean Sportsplex. This quiet community sits between West Hunt Club Road and Slack Road and is bordered by Woodroffe Avenue to the west and by Pinhey Forest on the three remaining sides. The only access to the neighbourhood is via Woodroffe Avenue or Slack Road, keeping the community completely secluded from the bustle of the city.
Convenient Ottawa Location
With direct access to Woodroffe avenue and Slack Road, Merivale Gardens is in such a convenient location. It’s an easy 20-minute drive to downtown or Kanata, and only 15 minutes to the Ottawa Airport. OC Transpo runs through the centre of the neighbourhood on Vaan Drive, offering quick access to nearby Woodroffe station, while keeping bus traffic to a minimum.
Living in Merivale Gardens
Merivale Gardens is a mature residential suburb with comfortable single-family homes on large lots with quiet streets. Merivale Gardens Park sits in the centre of the neighbourhood and offers a variety of play structures, swings, slides, and picnic benches. There is also a sports field, baseball diamond and community skating rink in the winter. Streets are narrow and traffic is limited to residents, making it is a safe community for children to play and ride bikes.
The Merivale Gardens Community Association serves the needs of the neighbourhood and brings community members together through annual events and a community-wide communications chain. Community events include a corn-roast, neighbourhood garage sale, Halloween parade, and social drop-ins.
Nearby Amenities
There are no businesses or restaurants located directly in Merivale Gardens, but the neighbourhood is just minutes away from a great selection of restaurants and shopping on Woodroffe Avenue. College Square Mall at Baseline & Woodroffe offers, a grocery store, popular restaurants, LCBO, Home Depot, and a selection of clothing stores. Anything you can’t find there, will be available on nearby Merivale Road.
Merivale Gardens Recreation
If you’re looking for a neighbourhood that supports and active lifestyle, Merivale Gardens should be on your list. Nestled in the heart of Pinhey Forest the neighbourhood offers direct access to the Pinhey Sand Dunes and the NCC walking paths that meander through the Greenbelt.
Walking paths also lead right to the nearby Nepean Sportsplex which features a wide range of sporting fields and indoor facilities. The complex includes an aquatic centre, three full-size rinks, a 10-sheet curling centre, four squash courts, a gymnasium, weight room and fitness centre as well as baseball diamonds, a soccer field, a turf field, and a lawn bowling turf and pavilion. For golf enthusiasts, the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club is only 10 minutes away.
Schools in Merivale Gardens
While there are no schools directly in the Merivale Gardens community, nearby schools that children in the neighbourhood can attend include:
Grades JK – 6: Meadowlands Public School, Regina Street Alternative School, Carleton Heights Public School, St. Monica Catholic School
Grades 7 – 8: Fisher Park Public School/Summit Alternative School, Frank Ryan Intermediate School, Merivale Intermediate School
Grades 9 – 12: Merivale High School, St. Pius X High School
Visit the Ottawa-Carleton District Schoolboard or the Ottawa Catholic School Board websites to learn more about the school of your choice. The neighbourhood is also just minutes away from Ottawa’s Algonquin College making it ideal for families with adult children or those wishing to continue their education.
Houses for Sale in Merivale Gardens
There are approximately 160 homes in Merivale Gardens. The neighbourhood features large single-family houses with spacious yards and an abundance of mature trees on each property. The original brick bungalows that started the neighbourhood were built by Armstrong Construction in the mid-1950’s with new, larger homes replacing some of them as original families moved out of the neighbourhood.
Homes don’t come up for sale often in this coveted Ottawa neighbourhood. If you’re interested in buying a home in Merivale Gardens, contact us today to get set up with a custom search. We’ll make sure you’re the first to know when your dream home hits the market.