Dover Plains

I've spent a bit of time in Dover, and I like a lot of parts of Dutchess County I checked it out before moving nearby to see if it would be a good place to live. I ultimately decided against living in Dover because my first few trips through had a few too many homes in disrepair. The places I was checking out seemed nice, but there were a lot of buildings that needed at least a fresh coat of paint, and some looked like they needed a lot more than that.

This isn't to say the whole town is suffering from bad housing, as there are some beautiful country homes in Dover. Thing is, there are beautiful country homes in almost every town of Dutchess County. I need more.

I have the impression that Dover is a nice place, and while I generally feel welcome, the community feel isn't as developed as other towns. You still see a lot of small town touches, but it's not the same.

One place that Dover does shine is its parks, especially the Thomas J. Boyce Park. I've lived in big cities where the need for a quality local park is an absolute necessity, and while you don't have quite the same level of need for a park when you live in these smaller towns, its still one of the first things I look for. Thomas J. Boyce Park has a nice mix of stuff for kids and adults. There are basketball and tennis courts as well as a playground, so if you're active and have kids this is definitely going to be spending time here. Soccer fields and baseball diamonds are also pretty well kept up, so teaching your son to play ball is going to be great fun in Dover. If you don't have kids but still love spending time outdoors, the Thomas J. Boyce Park is still an excellent place to go hiking, and the trails can lead to some great views. From time to time I'm the quiet sort who just wants to get away from it all, and I've hiked here a few times and loved it.

I may not think of Dover as the perfect place to live, but it's certainly worth checking out and spending a restful yet high energy Saturday playing tennis or hiking the trails.