1414 KING Street E Unit# 201, Kitchener, N2G4T8
1414 KING Street, Kitchener, Ontario N2G4T8
1414 KING Street E Unit# 1206, Kitchener, N2G4T8
1414 KING Street, Kitchener, Ontario N2G4T8
92 PLYMOUTH Road, Kitchener, N2G3G5
92 PLYMOUTH Road, Kitchener, Ontario N2G3G5
92 PLYMOUTH Road, Kitchener, N2G3G5
92 PLYMOUTH Road, Kitchener, Ontario N2G3G5
1414 KING Street E Unit# 305, Kitchener, N2G4T8
1414 KING Street, Kitchener, Ontario N2G4T8
Read More About Rockway in Kitchener
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Rockway Area in Kitchener
The next entry in WRX Property Group’s ongoing series on the neighbourhoods of Kitchener-Waterloo is: Rockway, in central Kitchener. Let’s get started!
See Homes for Sale in the Rockway Area in Kitchener
Overview
There are a few neighbourhoods in Kitchener that truly offer the best of both worlds: they have close proximity to the bustling downtown core, yet the neighbourhoods themselves offer the quiet suburban streets that some homebuyers find preferable. Rockway exemplifies this mix perfectly; indeed, as we’ll see, it has one of the most versatile – and ideal – locations in all of Kitchener.
Location
Rockway is fairly centrally-located within Kitchener. Its boundaries are made up approximately by Ottawa Street South in the northeast; King Street East in the northwest; The Conestoga Parkway in the south; and Schneider Creek in the west.
Before we take a closer look at what there is to see and do here, it’s worth noting that having local access to the Conestoga Parkway (Highway 7 and 8 at this point) makes getting around Kitchener-Waterloo quite quick and easy. Residents can also follow the Conestoga Parkway south to the 401, from which Toronto, London, and more are within reach.
Rockway will also be close to the Borden Station stop on Kitchener-Waterloo’s LRT system, meaning it’s quite easy to take public transit either north to Conestoga Mall in Waterloo, south to Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener, and several other parts of the cities (like both Uptown and Downtown).
Activities
With initiatives like ‘Love My Hood,’ the City of Kitchener has recently revealed its intention to support the various communities living throughout the city, and to foster a sense of connection and identity within individual neighbourhoods. One of the best ways for neighbourhoods to come together is through the work done by Neighbourhood or Community Associations, often centred around Community Centres.
Rockway is quite fortunate to have a rather active community centre within its borders: the Rockway Centre. The Rockway Centre has a wide range of services and amenities, including public computers, a puzzle and book-lending library, meals (‘Dine at the Rock’), and more. There are also numerous events hosted here, including the summer’s ‘Rockin’ It at Rockway’ patio concert series (learn more here). The Rockway Centre is both helpful and fun, and it is notable for being one of Kitchener’s most senior-oriented community centres. There are programs available for adults and older adults, including Arts, Fitness, and Health.
Shopping and Attractions
Rockway is essentially right in the middle of two of the most exciting areas in Kitchener: Downtown Kitchener is to the northwest, and the Fairview Park Mall area is to the southeast. We’ll delve into each of these in turn, but first there is one other commercial area Rockway residents should be aware of. Just west of Rockway (follow Ottawa Street) is the Kitchener SmartCentre (Laurentian Mall), which has a wide range of stores, small and large.
Access to Kitchener Hotspots
One of Rockway’s greatest assets is its close proximity to Downtown Kitchener. Residents can simply follow along King Street East to get to the energy and opportunity in the city’s urban heart, passing such sites as the Kitchener Farmer’s Market and Kitchener City Hall, and many shops, restaurants, cafés, bars, and more. Alternatively, Rockway residents can follow along Courtland Avenue West to get to Victoria Park, the large, beautiful green area adjacent to downtown.
For the past several years, Downtown Kitchener has been the site of rapid growth, development, and revitalization, and it will be for several years to come. The Innovation District, with the Lang Tannery building, Communitech, and the Google Headquarters, is a major Regional employer and significant factor in Kitchener’s economy. Additionally, new Condos and ambitious transit plans (including a massive new building being built at King and Victoria) mean Downtown Kitchener is truly on the rise.
Speaking of areas on the rise, let’s move slightly southeast of Rockway to the Vanier / Kingsdale neighbourhood. All along Weber Street East and Fairway Road South are an incredible number of shops and restaurants, all quite close to Rockway. This is also the location of Fairview Park Mall, which is going to be the site of impressive new developments over the next few years, transforming into the Grand Market District.
Did Someone Say Golf?
You can’t talk about Rockway without mentioning Rockway Golf Course. This beautiful, 18-hole course has been a popular Kitchener attraction for a long time now (it was built in 1935), and it’s yet another benefit to living at Rockway: never miss tee time again! The rippling waters of Schneider Creek run through the golf course (though hopefully your ball will land nowhere near it).
Other Local Attractions
The AR Kaufman Family YMCA stands within Rockway’s borders. As does the beautiful Rockway Gardens park – a fine place for a stroll, or even a picnic, and something of a hidden gem. Across from Rockway’s eastern border (King Street East) is a commercial area with several restaurants and shops. Perhaps most notably is the Schwaben Club, one of Kitchener’s five traditional German clubs. The Schwaben Club is a fabulous place to visit, have a meal, or check out around Oktoberfest! You can read more about it here.
Education
Rockway’s quiet location, which is also quite close to nearby attractions, makes it ideally-suited for a wide-range of buyers. These factors (suburban streets, walkability, etc.), along with the Rockway Centre’s range of events and services oriented toward older residents and seniors, does indeed mean Rockway is a popular place for retirees and anyone looking to enjoy their golden years in comfort and style.
However, Rockway is not only for an older crowd. Indeed, this neighbourhood can be a fantastic place to raise a family. So: what schools serve Rockway?
For students in the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB), they will attend Rockway Public School for Kindergarten to Grade 6, and Sunnyside Public School for Grades 7 and 8 (both of them are very close to the neighbourhood). Rockway students are zoned for Eastwood Collegiate Institute (also quite close) for high school. You can find out more about Eastwood here.
Rockway students in the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) are zoned for nearby St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School for Kindergarten to grade 8. For secondary school, students will move on to St. Mary’s High School, which is just south of Rockway (on the other side of the Conestoga Parkway). You can learn more about St. Mary’s in our article on the school here.
Finally, Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, a private school for students ranging from Grades 7 to 12, is located within the Rockway neighbourhood. Though around 40% of its student population are from Mennonite families, students from all faiths (or no faith) are welcome.
Conclusion
Rockway is a Kitchener neighbourhood with a long list of positive attributes. It’s close to downtown, and Fairview Park Mall, but separate enough to be quiet and calm. It has local access to the Conestoga Parkway. It’s a perfect neighbourhood for seniors, but many people – families, couples, and individuals – can benefit from its wonderful location. Indeed, Rockway is poised to see a fair bit of development over the next few years.
If you’re looking to buy a home in Kitchener, and Rockway seems like a solid choice, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We’d love to help you find the home of your dreams –contact us to find out more!
Written by Will Kummer