Idlewood, Kitchener

Idlewood is a green east-end neighbourhood where crescents and greenways lead to big parks. On a summer afternoon, you hear splashing and laughter from the outdoor pool in Idlewood Park, while the dog park nearby is busy with running dogs. The Idlewood Greenway winds from Oldfield Drive to Brierdale Drive under the trees. Springmount Park spreads across about 15 hectares of open space. In winter, the Chicopee ski hill and the Lyle Hallman indoor pool are both a short drive away.

The City's 2021 estimates count about 1,900 homes in the Idlewood planning community. More than four in five are single detached houses. Semi-detached houses make up about one in fourteen, and low-rise apartment buildings most of the rest. In the 2021 census, about two in three homes in the surrounding area were built between 1981 and 2000, about half of them in the 1980s.

Grand River Transit's 23 Idlewood route runs between Stanley Park Mall and Fairway. Stanley Park Mall, at 1005 Ottawa Street North, is about 1.2 km away. The nearest ION station, Fairway, is about 3 km away.

Springmount Park is at 27 Springmount Drive. Idlewood Park, at 5 Thaler Avenue, has its outdoor pool and leash-free dog park about 1.1 to 1.2 km from the centre of the neighbourhood. The Idlewood Greenway runs from Oldfield Drive to Brierdale Drive, and the Daimler Drive walkway links more streets to the parkland. Briarfield Park is a natural area, and Casey Park a small neighbourhood park. Natchez Woods, about 8.7 hectares, and the Idlewood Creek natural area are on the east side. The Lyle Hallman indoor pool is about 0.9 km away, and the Grand River Arena about 1 km away. The Stanley Park Community Centre is about 1.5 km away. The Chicopee ski hill is about 1.6 km away.

• Lackner Woods Public School — JK to Grade 6. A public elementary school for part of Idlewood.
• Chicopee Hills Public School — JK to Grade 8. A public elementary school for part of Idlewood and the middle-school grades for most of it, with French immersion from Grade 2.
• Crestview Public School — JK to Grade 6. A public elementary school for part of Idlewood, with French immersion from Grade 2.
• Grand River Collegiate Institute — Grades 9 to 12. The public secondary school for Idlewood, with extended French.
• St. Patrick Catholic School — JK to Grade 8. The nearest Catholic elementary school.