If you’re considering a place in the northeastern part of the U.S. to retire, New Castle, PA, has its benefits. The city has a population of around 20,000 people and enjoys a family-friendly community that’s less than an hour’s drive away from the big city of Pittsburgh.
According to the official New Castle website, some benefits of living in town include:
- Richly diverse population, which leads the city to be known as “Little New York City”
- Low crime rate
- Full range of municipal services
- Low cost of living
- Historic, beautiful neighborhoods
There are many reasons why retirees choose New Castle as their place to call home. Read on to learn more.
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1. Parks and Green Spaces
There are lots of community parks in New Castle, which offer picnic shelter rentals for group gatherings. There are also various events that take place in these community spaces. Residents can visit:
- Cascade Park: One of New Castle’s most prominent nature spots is Cascade Park, which spans more than 70 acres and where visitors can see waterfalls among boulders and wildflowers. Visitors can head to the park to walk and hike on the fitness and hiking trails, fish or play on the horseshoe or bocce courts. There are also jungle gyms for little ones, concession stands, an off-leash dog park, a dance hall and picnic pavilions. Each year, the park also hosts an annual Back to the 50s classic car show event.
- McConnells Mill State Park: The Lawrence County McConnells Mill State Park is more than 2,500 acres big and is a National Natural Landmark that includes the Slippery Rock Creek Gorge. The park includes a historic gristmill available for tours, as well as has a covered bridge that was built in the 1800s.
- Moraine State Park: The 16,725-acre Moraine State Park in nearby Portersville features rolling hills, forests and the 3,225-acre Lake Arthur that’s open for swimming, kayaking, boating and canoeing. Visitors can picnic, hike, bike, birdwatch, cross-country ski and horseback ride in the park, which also features lakefront cabins for rent and several concession stands.
- Riverwalk Park: Riverwalk Park in downtown New Castle provides pedestrian access along Neshannock Creek and the Shenango River. It’s also the home to an annual outdoor Concerts Live! Series, where residents can listen to live local music as they shop local businesses.
- Darlington Park: This small community park and playground features a gazebo for concert performances.
There are dozens of other green spaces, playgrounds, ball fields, basketball courts and parks in the New Castle area. These include: Ashland playground, Bell Avenue playground, Bolinger playground, Cascade Street Park, Clayton Street playground, Dean Park, Gaston Park, Deshon Sports Complex, Flaherty Field, Gunton Park, Long Avenue playground, Park Avenue playground, Progressive & South Liberty playgrounds, Wood Street playground, Public Square, Greenwood Memorial Park, Statue of Liberty Memorial Park, Jackson Memorial Park and Zambelli Memorial Park.
2. Golf
There are several public golf courses open in New Castle, as well as the nearby private Avalon Golf & Country Club in Warren, OH. Public golf courses in New Castle include the following.
- Sylvan Heights Golf Course is an 18-hole golf course in New Castle that’s operated by the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation and that’s one of the oldest municipal golf courses in Pennsylvania. The course features 18 holes, a putting green, a pro shop and daily golf specials.
- Castle Hills Golf Course is an 18-hole course that includes lakes, streams and rolling fairways, as well as has pavilions with charcoal grills and a fully stocked beer and snack bar.
- Tanglewood Golf Course in nearby Pulaski is a public golf course surrounded by trees and rolling hills.
For seniors who enjoy the leisurely sport of golf, there are plenty of opportunities to hit the links in New Castle.
3. Arts
New Castle has a prominent community arts center, called the Hoyt Center for the Arts. Established in 1965, the organization resides on 5 acres and includes art galleries, classes in art studios, dance studios and performance and concert halls.
Residents who have a passion for art can enter local juried exhibitions. Art classes include subjects like photography, watercolor painting, drawing, tile mosaic, stained glass, pastels and ceramics.
The center also offers musical instrument classes, voice lessons, dance classes and yoga classes. There’s a rotating schedule of visual art exhibits showcasing both local and national historical artists.
Theater lovers can also visit the New Castle Playhouse, a theater spotlighting local talent and national productions performed by local actors. The playhouse also frequently features youth and teen actor productions starring local talent.
4. Rich History & Culture
New Castle is a unique area, as it’s close to the Amish countryside in Lawrence County. Residents can book tours to see how locals in the Old Order Amish community live, and visit local stores selling quilts and crafts. Tours show attendees backroads of Amish villages that feature horse and buggies, dairy farms, greenhouses, furniture shops and schoolhouses.
The Lawrence County Historical Society is another rich resource for New Castle history. The society maintains a museum that features antique furniture, exhibits on subjects like fireworks and sports, Shenango China and other local artifacts. The historical society continues to preserve local history and foster a tight-knit community in New Castle.
5. Central Location
For residents who want access to even more attractions and entertainment, they can head around 50 miles south to the city of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is known for several major league sports teams (Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Penguins), nationally renowned dining and the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh: the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Carnegie Science Center and the Andy Warhol Museum.
New Castle is also close to Youngstown, Ohio, around 20 miles away. Places to visit in Youngstown include the Butler Institute of American Art, Lanterman’s Mill, Mill Creek Park and the Fellows Riverside Gardens. For residents who desire a close proximity to both Ohio and Pittsburgh, New Castle offers a central location.
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Visit Clen-Moore Place in New Castle
Seniors also have access to Clen-Moore Place in New Castle, a senior lifestyle community offering personal care while fostering independent lifestyles. This senior residence provides everything residents need, including housekeeping and up to three chef-prepared meals a day, as well as offers a full schedule of daily programming activities. Residents can attend happy hours, puzzle and brain game groups, meditation classes and more.
Find out more about Senior Lifestyle, or schedule a tour today.