Severndale Community Is In The Heart Of Severna Park

Developed in 1962 by the Washington Lumber Company and built by the Flatt Realty Company along Truck House Road, the Severndale community is right in the heart of Severna Park.

With five cul-de-sacs and 133 houses, Severndale always has a spot for impromptu court pizza parties, happy hours, pickup games for the kids, and parent socialization.

Community events include everything from picnics with barbecue, a moon bounce and DJ to a Halloween parade and Easter egg hunt.

There is a community beach with a dock, grill and kayak/canoe rack.

Residents enjoy fishing, crabbing, kayaking and quiet time along the Severn River.

Jen Nowakowski
Resident for Four Years

Jen Nowakowski and her family moved to Severna Park four years ago when they outgrew their row house in Canton. Severna Park served as the perfect location for their work commutes.

“My husband and I house-hunted for months. A colonial with water access and sidewalks was high on our priority list,” Nowakowski said. “Now that we have a school-aged child, we love that our house is within walking distance to Oak Hill Elementary School.”

The family also looks forward to the community silent auction and outdoor family movie night every year. Nowakowski called Severndale unique because it’s a down-to-earth, family-centered community.

“The sense of community here is amazing, and you can’t beat the location,” she added. “There is never a shortage of things for our children to do, whether it’s playing outside at Kinder Farm Park or spending the day kayaking out on the Severn.”

Naturally, Nowakowski recommends Severndale to anyone looking to move into the area.

“My family and I have made lifelong friendships with many of our neighbors,” Nowakowski said. “It is something I really hoped for when we moved here. There is always a cookout, outside movie night or happy hour that someone is hosting.”

Nowakowski has been the secretary of the community association since 2018.

Karen Cropper
Resident for 26 Years

A job relocation from Long Island, New York, brought Karen and Jim Cropper to Severna Park. The family looked in Columbia, but didn’t feel a sense of home until a house in Severndale caught their eye.

“We liked that it was a little bit smaller community, which makes it easier to meet neighbors and to form friendships,” Karen said. “It’s impossible to walk down our streets or work in our yards without seeing people and stopping to say hi. We are multi-generational, and neighbors interact with each other to form family-like bonds. Many people have raised their children in the community and stayed because they continue to feel connected.”

The Croppers feel Severna Park is a great place to live because of their small-town feel, close-knit community neighborhoods, local parks, access to waterways and top-notch schools.

As for her neighbors, Karen said she cannot ask for any better.

“We take pride in working together to keep our neighborhood clean, safe and a great place to live. Older neighbors offer friendship, share their stories, and offer advice to new homeowners,” Karen said. “Newer residents return the favor of friendship and take up the task of doing the work needed to keep our community running. Everyone looks out for each other.”

Karen and Jim have served on the community association board, chaired neighborhood events, and were active in the school when their children attended.

Christy Decosmo
Resident for 10 Years

Christy Decosmo moved to Severna Park (Berrywood) when she was just 10 years old. After a brief time living in Glen Burnie, she married and had her first child in 2008. It was then she felt the pull back to Severna Park.

“My husband and I longed for a family-centered community with great public schools. Our search brought me back to Severna Park,” Decosmo said. “After many, many showings and open houses, we found ‘the one’ in Severndale.”

Severndale provided the couple’s top three home requirements – a yard big enough for kids to play in, a community that had sidewalks, and a community with water access.

“Severndale is unique because it resembles a neighborhood of past times. It has that old-school neighborhood feel,” Decosmo said. “Neighbors look out for each other and their kids. As we pass each other in our vehicles, we wave hello to each other. Neighbors are quick to lend out a power tool or a missing recipe ingredient to each other. On nice days, kids are outside playing together or riding their bikes. Neighbors are often seen taking walks with their dogs.”

A decade after moving in, Decosmo still believes her family made the right choice for them.

“My neighbors are wonderful people. They have helped Severndale feel like home ever since we moved in. We all look out for each other and offer each other support in any way we can,” she said. “We often stop and have friendly conversations with each other as we’re coming and going.”

Decosmo added that a sweet neighbor remembers her children’s birthdays and each year, without fail, brings the kids a present picked out from Franklin’s Toys.

“My kids love him like a grandfather,” she said. “My son once flew a paper airplane message to him over our fence and into his yard. The next day, he responded with a message back via his own paper airplane flown into our yard. I seriously thought my heart may burst.”