Why Berwyn

Ten Great Reasons to Live in Berwyn

Parks and Recreation Areas

Berwyn Neighborhood Park is a quaint and well maintained neighborhood park in the center of the community which includes basketball and tennis courts, as well as areas for young children to play and picnic facilities. Bordering on the east side of our community is the beautiful Lake Artemesia. In addition, the old trolley track line that use to run through the community has been converted into a bike trail that connects to other local area trails.

Neighborhood Diversity

The houses in Berwyn are very diverse and it is not unusual to find a historic home more than 100 years old alongside a recently built home. While much of the neighborhood is comprised of detached single family homes, there are town houses and a small business district. The residents that live in Berwyn are equally diverse with families raising children living alongside students attending the University of Maryland.

Public Transportation

The community is served by two nearby Metrorail stations (College Park and Greenbelt), and regular bus service with stops along the perimeter of the neighborhood. There is also a nearby Maryland rapid transit train station. In addition, University of Maryland students and residents may utilize the University's "Shuttle UM" bus service, with an expansive schedule and numerous routes radiating out from College Park.

Active Civic Association

Founded in 1885, the Berwyn District Civic Association (BDCA) is possibly the oldest active civic association in the State. The BDCA Board meets monthly, and a public meeting is held on the third Thursday of each month as well. BDCA also publishes a monthly newsletter, plans community-wide events, and advocates for or opposes any legislation that affects the welfare of the community.

Numerous Community Events

The oldest event has been the Berwyn Day celebration. This event includes great food, arts, crafts, and games for the children. More recently, the Berwyn Bonfire has become one of the community's most popular events. There are many other community-wide events held throughout the year such as pot luck dinners, a holiday party, neighborhood cleanup days, National Night Out, and a community-wide yard sale event.

Access to University of Maryland Events

Berwyn's famous neighbor is the University of Maryland. The University of Maryland's main campus is walking distance from our community, making it quite easy to attend numerous cultural arts performances, athletic events, and educational lectures. The University also hosts the annual Maryland Day celebration in the spring, which has a great number of activities for children of all ages.

The People

Most of the residents feel a strong attachment to the neighborhood. This is quite evident when one considers the large number of long term residents and multi-generational families living in Berwyn. This is even more impressive when one considers the transient nature of most college towns and of the Washington D.C. region in general. This more than anything shows how people like living in Berwyn and like the people they live with.

College Park City Services

Since Berwyn is an area within the City of College Park, the community benefits from the services provided by the City. The community is located entirely in College Park's District 2 and is well represented in the College Park governing body with two active College Park council members.

Great Job Opportunities

Besides easy access to downtown Washington D.C., Berwyn is located within minutes of several major employers. There is an industrial park by the train tracks that is actually part of the Berwyn neighborhood, as well as the University of Maryland flagship campus, United States Food and Drug Administration, and the National Archives. The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is just down the street in neighboring Greenbelt.

Local Schools

Like many other urban areas, the public schools in the Washington D.C. area have struggled in getting the results most parents want for their children. The public schools in the Berwyn area have recently been seeing an improvement in their students test scores. For those who would prefer not to send their children to a public school there are several highly rated private schools in the City of College Park, including Holy Redeemer which is in the neighborhood. Berwyn is also a catchment area for the prestigious College Park Academy that accepts both middle school and high school students. Also, many residents succeed in having their children placed in a specific public school program which tends to provide more schooling success.