Chestnut Ridge

Moving from the city, Chestnut Ridge reminds me of a rural/suburban Park Slope. It consists of eco-conscious parents who are focused on raising their children in a very thoughtful manner.

I particularly love the Hungry Hollow food Co-op as well as the coffee shop and Yoga studio down the street. Best of all, Chestnut Ridge is a 5 minute drive from wonderful shopping in NJ, Spring Valley, and Nanuet. The express bus makes commuting into the city a breeze.

Chestnut Ridge, a hamlet of Ramapo in Rockland County, NY, is sometimes known as “South Spring Valley” due to its confusion with postal addresses using the nearby Spring Valley as its destination. However, Chestnut Ridge is very unique and not to be confused with Spring Valley---particularly special because of its very own Little Red Schoolhouse, which was built in 1890 and is now used as a museum. Students from throughout the area take field trips to the museum, which is now open to the public; the last it was used was in the 1970s, where pre-kindergartners had there classes.

Chestnut Ridge is also special for its private schools, including Green Meadow waldorf School, which is now the pre-kindergarten-through grade 12 school, the Sunbridge Institute, which is a teacher-training site, and the Pfeiffer Center, an agricultural and biodynamic gardening center for training those who wish to work in agriculture for their future careers. Chestnut Ridge also offers many different places of worship, including the Mosque of the Jerrahi Order, the Christian Community, the Congregation Shaarey Tfiloh, and the Faith Assembly of God. (This just goes to show how religiously diverse Chestnut Ridgeis). East Ramapo School District is a well-rated school system. Chestnut Ridge is very diverse, and it should be no surprise that the students attending the school system are too: for instance, 65% of those students attending Ramapo High School are Black, 17% are Hispanic, and only 10% are White, with 9% Asian or Pacific Islander; less than 1 % are Native American or other. Spring Valley High School and Ramapo High School have a very famous marching band that was used in the film from 2004, “The Manchurian Candidate”.

Chestnut Ridge has much to offer, including the nearby Harriman State Park---rich in local flaura and fauna and the history of the Revolutionary War. You can also take farming classes at the Jessup Learning Center, where you can learn about the world of agriculture and enjoy their exhibit of agricultural-centered artifacts. (Jessup Learning Center can be found at Duryea Farm at 101 Ackertown Rd., part of the Fellowship Education Foundation, a Chestnut Ridge Fellowship Community. Nearby shops and restaurants can be found in in the wonderful neighboring town of Spring Valley.