Quality of Life

Manchester's motto, "The City of Village Charm", succinctly conveys our quality of life. The "city" aspect of Manchester refers to its full range of services and amenities. Manchester's government offers police and fire protection, emergency medical services, public water and public sewer services, sanitation services, and all of the basic infrastructure necessary for healthy and convenient living.

Manchester's educational system includes ten public elementary schools, two public middle schools, and one high school. In addition, several parochial schools and a charter school also provide elementary and middle school educational opportunities. Supplementing this educational system are the Manchester Community and Technical College and the Manchester Community College, the largest community college in the State's system.

From its historic Main Street, to community shopping centers, to the largest regional shopping district in Connecticut, Manchester offers a full range of opportunities for entertainment, services, and shopping.

 

Recreational amenities includes an 18-hole public golf course, soccer fields, tennis courts, baseball and softball fields, 15 miles of public biking and walking trails, six outdoor swimming pools and one indoor swimming pool, and over 1,000 acres of park land and open space land throughout the community. Our residential neighborhoods reflect the historical development of the community from the 1880's up to today.

 

Urban design and architecture spans the Victorian Era through the streetcar suburbs to the post WWII period, up to the new single-family developments and luxury market rentals being built today. These neighborhoods offer ownership and rental housing opportunities affordable to a wide range of families and incomes, and the physical design contributes to the "charm" of a classic New England industrial village turned small city.

The community's population is socially, economically, and culturally diverse. This diversity is viewed as a strength of our community. Our residents take pride in their neighborhoods, in their town, and in their institutions. It is a community that is generous and supportive of each other. The Manchester Area Conference of Churches, the Manchester Social Services Council, the Rotary Club, Lion's Club, and other fraternal organizations are all part of a community-wide network providing services and support in volunteering for important civic projects. It is this social network and diverse and warm population that creates the "village" aspect of Manchester.