Victoria Park

tucked away from the bustle

CORPUS CHRISTI - Hiding behind Wooldridge Road off of Rodd Field Road is a small, established neighborhood of Victoria Park where many of the streets are named after Canadian provinces or cities.

What makes the neighborhood a stand-out is the elementary school that residents say is the neighborhood's best asset.

Hollie Borchers has been living in the area for four years and she and her family chose the area mainly because of Ella Barnes Elementary School, located on Oso Parkway, right across from the Oso Bay.

"The school had a lot to do with it," Borchers said. "We heard a lot of good things about the school, and wanted to be close."

She said half of the time, she and her third-grade son walk to school since they live within a mile.

"It's a great school and the teachers are wonderful," she said.

Borchers is looking forward to this fall because her three-year-old daughter will then be four and will be able to attend the school's pre-kindergarten program. Ella Barnes also has a regional day school program for children with hearing impairment.

The homes were built in the 1990s and early 2000. They are mostly single family homes with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage. Their square footage is about 1,200 or more. Middle school students attend Kaffie and King High School.

Some of the streets including Whistler, Quebec, Edmonton and Victoria Park have a scenic view of the bay and quick access to the wide sidewalks of Oso Parkway.

Luisito Capupus has been living in Victoria Park for 16 years with his family.

"I like it here because it's quiet," he said.

He and his family live near the hilly, neighborhood park. The Sgt. J.D. Bock Park is kid-friendly with swings, slides, benches and a cemented basketball court for the older kids. It also has covered tables, a gazebo and a barbecue grill.

Borchers said there are a lot of children in the neighborhood. She said she and her husband spend a lot of time outside sitting on lawn chairs watching their children play.

"They are good kids here and everyone comes and goes," she said. "They play basketball and ride their bikes up and down the street."

It's obvious kids are basketball players here. Several basketball hoops can be found on some streets and they face the street inviting all to play.

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