Barrhaven is a newer community, located south of Ottawa’s Greenbelt, that’s been growing since development stepped up in the 1980s and 1990s. In fact, it is predicted that the population of Barrhaven will be approximately 95,000 by 2021.
Barrhaven is definitely a suburban bedroom community, with very few major employers in the immediate area at this time. While this makes it great for families who want more space and a quieter atmosphere, Barrhaven is not ideal for those who want to walk to work, or be in close proximity to amenities or entertainment.
The neighbourhood is 22 kilometres away from downtown Ottawa, and surrounded by farmland and greenspaces, so you get a nice mix of the rural/urban feel.
While the distance from downtown to Barrhaven doesn’t sound long, rush hour traffic can make your commute difficult. If you can get to work without using Prince of Wales Drive, however, you’ll find it much easier.
What really sells people on Barrhaven are the newer, nicer houses that easily become long-term homes, the strong sense of community, and the abundance of outdoor spaces for kids and activities.
The homes are predominantly townhomes and single-family homes, ranging in size from cozy 1,000+ square feet (great for couples just starting out) to larger homes perfect for growing families.
Many of the homes you find for sale will be newer builds, only a few years old. This is perfect for buyers who aren’t interested in renovating and want modern features.
Prices in Barrhaven range from homes in the $200,000’s to the low $400,000’s, with many listings in between. This makes it great for a variety of budgets – but we recommend using a realtor to find the right listings for you.
Andy Moffitt Trail: This is one of the best places in Barrhaven to walk – great for photographers who love getting nature shots.
Burnett Park: Great play structure and lots of wooded area for shade.
Calaveras Park: Tucked right into a subdivision, this park is wide open green space. You can lay down a blanket, bring a frisbee, and have a great afternoon.
Clarke Fields Park: This is a big park, with multiple sports fields, a playground, a bike path and a BMX racetrack. This park is home to a lot of events throughout the year, including Barrhaven Canada Day. It’s also close to a plaza with coffee and snacks.
Half Moon Bay Park: This park has a cool space theme that is sure to please kids. The play structure is situated amidst plenty of wide open, well-manicured green space and paths for walking/biking.
Houlahan Park: This is an amazing park for dogs because of all the space away from the play structures. Locals have taken to donating toys for kids to play with, and it’s a great place for a stroll in the fall.
Ken Ross Park: Splash pad, lots of trees, a ball park, soccer field, and plenty of parking.
Larkin Park: Small park with lots of open space, an ice rink in the winter, and a great place to exercise with your dog.
Mancini Park: Great for casual walks in nature, includes a splash pad and tennis courts.
Mowat Farm Park: A jungle gym for the kids, walking paths for pooches, and plenty of extra space for activities and soccer games.
Mulligan Park: Play structures for kids of all ages, soccer field, well-maintained and great for walking dogs.
North Harrow Park: Dog-friendly with a small jungle gym and swing set – perfect for quick trip when your kids just need to blow off some steam.
Panda Park: You can really burn off some energy in these wide open spaces and on the jungle gym.
Rodeo Park: Located right off Rodeo Drive, this small park is well-kept and a great place to spend time with your family, play on the jungle gym, or have a picnic.
Stinson Park: Play structure, a walking path, and a soccer field – plenty of space to play with the kids.
Stonecrest Park: There’s an impressive play structure, a giant splash pad, and a small hill that is perfect for safe sledding in the winter.
Utman Park: Wide open green spaces, great hills for sledding in the winter, and a playground.
Water Dragon Park: Picnic benches, soccer field, splash pad and play structure – a fun place to spend an afternoon.
Weybridge Park: Well-kept area with a jungle gym, walking paths, a ball field, and plenty of space for the pups!
Barrhaven’s suburban layout means it really pays off to have a car – it makes getting around easier and much quicker. The 416 and Strandherd Drive connect you to other parts of the city, and a car is especially helpful if you just have some quick errands to run in the area.
If you rely on public transportation, OC Transpo has several routes in Barrhaven that include the 270 series of buses with endpoints at MacKenzie King in downtown Ottawa.
You can view current routes here.
Barrhaven is home to many events that are attended by people from across Ottawa. This includes:
Not to mention the many clubs and activities. Check out the Barrhaven BIA’s events and club calendar to see if there’s something that piques your interest.
Barrhaven also has several public facilities you and your family can use, including:
Barrhaven is predominantly residential, so most residents don’t live right next door to amenities like downtown Ottawa.
But just a short drive or bus ride away, Barrhaven has plenty of amenities to offer.
You have your Sobeys, Loblaws, and M&M Food Market for grocery shopping. There are several health centres located in the area, not to mention pharmacies where you can stock up on home necessities.
There are four main shopping areas in Barrhaven: the Barrhaven Town Centre, Chapman Mills Marketplace, Strandherd Crossing, and Barrhaven Mall. These have a variety of stores that make it easy to run errands.
Barrhaven is also home to the Cineplex Odeon, perfect for date nights, family movies on half-price Tuesdays, or as a destination for a rainy day.
Just because Barrhaven is made up of suburbs doesn’t mean there aren’t fabulous restaurants for you to try. These are some of the most popular places in the area.
This Italian restaurant started as a place to grab take-out. You could grab fresh sauce and homemade pasta on the way home from work, and pretend you’d made it yourself. They quickly expanded to include a dine-in restaurant, and have been going strong for 13 years. Diners describe both the food and the atmosphere as cozy and authentic.
Sometimes you need a slice of ‘za, and when the craving hits, you’ve got to try San Marino. They’ve been making pizza for over 30 years, and not much as changed since then. The pizzas are handmade using traditional, fresh ingredients. Your family will love pizza night in Barrhaven.
Lauded as some of the best Greek food in the city, Pinelopi’s Greek Kitchen is perfect for all your special occasions. The atmosphere is cozy but modern, with attentive service. The people behind this restaurant believe that food is one of life’s greatest delicacies, and you’ll feel the same way when you dine there.
For fresh, fantastic Filipino fusion food, Ka Familia is the place to go. This relatively young restaurant is bursting with flavours – so don’t be fooled by the strip mall location. Diners are as much in love with the presentation of the food and the amazing service as they are with the meals themselves. Chances are you won’t eat here just once.
If you’re looking to add some entertainment to your dinner, Greenfield’s is a great place to do it. This gastro-pub has rich, scrumptious food that you can enjoy on the patio or near the live music stage. This is a great spot if you want to get together with friends for an evening out, or have a nice date night.
Barrhaven is hands-down one of the hottest areas in the city. If it sounds like the place for you, your next step is to call us.
Our agents have years of experience finding homes that check off the items on your wishlist. When you find that dream home, we can handle the negotiations and handle the paperwork when it’s time to close.
Paul Rushforth Real Estate Inc
3002 St Joseph Boulevard
Orleans, Ontario K1E 1E2
Phone: 613-788-2122
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Paul Rushforth Real Estate Inc
45 Didsbury Road
Kanata, Ontario K2T 0C2
Phone: 613-788-2122
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