Barrie’s Ardagh neighborhood is a highly sought-after neighborhood for family living. Getting its name from for the Ardagh Bluffs natural area that’s situated within, it’s located South of Dunlop Street and North of Harvie Road.
The Ardagh Bluffs nature preserve boasts over 17 kilometers in trails and spans over 518 acres. This network of trails is great for anyone who loves the outdoors. The kids will have plenty of options to enjoy the outdoors as there are nine different parks scattered throughout the small community. The Bear Creek Eco Park is another great option for a family excursion and kid friendly learning experience as you walk along the boardwalk searching for wildlife that live there such as frogs, turtles, and herons. There are informational boards talking about the history of the area and provide fun facts for kids to learn about the animals.
As you enter the neighborhood you will see its filled with tree line streets Housing styles vary but are mainly detached single homes with some townhomes and multi-unit housing options as well. This neighborhood is newly developed and continues to grow with new developments happening such as the Aspen Woods development near the Ardagh Bluffs Public School that recently finished and some of the nicest condo developments in Barrie with trendy interiors.
During the Winter months the parents in the neighborhood come together to make and maintain an outdoor skating rink for kids and families in the neighborhood to enjoy. This is a great way for the whole family to get outside and have fun during Winter.
More importantly there are plenty of public, catholic, private schools, and French schools to choose from in the area. Some local options for Elementary schools are Holly Meadows, Ferndale Woods, and Ardagh Bluffs. Ferndale Woods and Ardagh Bluffs both have French immersion options and Ardagh Bluffs was ranked second in elementary schools in Barrie for the 2017-2018 Fraser Institute’s school rankings. Some French focused schools within the neighborhood are Elementaire La Source and Nouvelle Alliance Secondaire.
St. Joan of Arc is the only high school situated inside the Ardagh neighborhood, but there are quite a few students in the neighborhood bussed to nearby high school Bear Creek.
For those who are commuting to the city for work this neighborhood has easy access to the highway 400 at Essa Road. The new Harvie Road bridge connects the Ardagh and Holly neighborhoods to Big Bay Point, linking the community to commercial and employment areas across the highway. Additionally, for those who rely on public transit there are many stops throughout this neighborhood and the Allandale Go Station is not far, acting as another mode of transportation for commuters.
There’s an abundance of amenities on and around Essa and Ardagh Road for shopping, coffee runs and gas fill-ups. There is a Starbucks and plenty of Tim Horton’s locations to choose from to satisfy you coffee fix, and Shoppers Drug Mart and Zehr’s will serve your grocery needs. If you’re looking for a great local restaurant for a date night or to bring the family, Sicilian Gourmet Pizza and Pasta is a great option.
Elementary Schools:
High Schools:
Independent Schools:
– The BDAR Team