Larchmont: Essential Things Parents Must Know

What was a 19th-century playground for New York’s elite now prides itself on maintaining a family-friendly, small-town atmosphere. Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering moving to Larchmont.

By Katelin Walling
    

In the 19th century, the Village of Larchmont, a 1-square-mile area located within the Town of Mamaroneck in Westchester County, was known as a summer playground for New York’s elite, and summer residents chose to incorporate it as a municipality in 1891. Today, the village prides itself on maintaining a friendly, small-town atmosphere. This quaint town is nothing to scoff at, though, with its abundance of family-friendly options. Plus, if you move to Larchmont, you’re basically moving to the beach—this charming village is located on Long Island Sound. Another bonus is the Larchmont Newcomers Club, a membership-based group that organizes playgroups for families and adult-only events to help new residents make friends and ease their transition to small-town life. 

Here’s everything you need to know if you’re considering moving your family to Larchmont.  
    

Schools in Larchmont

Public Schools Serving Larchmont

Students who live in Larchmont will attend one of the six public schools in the Mamaroneck Union Free School District, including:

  • Central School, Larchmont: kindergarten through fifth grades
  • Chatsworth Avenue School, Larchmont: kindergarten through fifth grades
  • Hommocks Middle School, Larchmont: sixth through eighth grades
  • Mamaroneck Avenue School in nearby Mamaroneck: kindergarten through fifth grades
  • Mamaroneck High School in nearby Mamaroneck: ninth through 12th grades
  • Murray Avenue School, Larchmont: kindergarten through fifth grades

   
The STEM Alliance of Larchmont-Mamaroneck is a nonprofit organization that enhances kindergarten through 12th-grade STEM education and initiatives to the schools in the district. This organization hosts after-school programs at Hommocks Middle School, summer camps, MHS Talks—Career Roundtables at Mamaroneck High School, and an annual STEM-tastic event.

STEM Alliance of Larchmont-Mamaroneck
Patrizia Marsura

A mother and daughter get a lesson in soldering from MacInspires owner Travis Sluss, at STEM-tastic Saturday, one of STEM Alliance of Larchmont-Mamaroneck’s public events.
     

Private Schools Serving Larchmont

There are a handful of private schools in the Larchmont area, including preschools, a bilingual school, and religious schools.

   
Private preschools
serving Larchmont include:

  • Children’s Corner Learning Center
  • Discovering Me Nursery School
  • Larchmont Avenue Church Preschool
  • Larchmont Temple Nursery School
  • St. John’s Nursery School
  • Westchester Jewish Center’s Early Childhood Center in nearby Mamaroneck 

   
The bilingual private school serving Larchmont is French American School of New York, a French-English academic program accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organization with three campuses in the area: Preschool (nursery through kindergarten) in Scarsdale, lower school (first through fifth grades) in Larchmont, and Upper School (sixth through 12th grades) in Mamaroneck 

   
Private religious schools
serving Larchmont include:

  • Saints John and Paul School: A Roman Catholic school offering pre-k through eighth grades
  • Westchester Day School, Mamaroneck: A kindergarten through eighth grade modern Orthodox coed school
  • Westchester Hebrew High School, Mamaroneck: A modern Orthodox coed school offering ninth through 12th grades
        

Public Transportation: Metro-North Railroad

For parents who commute into New York City on a daily basis for work, or if you want to take the family into the city for a show or to explore, the Metro-North Railroad has a stop in Larchmont on the New Haven Line (1 Railroad Way, Larchmont). The commute is approximately 40 minutes from Larchmont to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan.
    

Houses of Worship in Larchmont

There are a handful of churches and synagogues at which families can practice their faith in Larchmont, including:

  • Church of St. Augustine (Roman Catholic)
  • Congregation Sulam Yaakov (Jewish)
  • Larchmont Avenue Church (Presbyterian)
  • Larchmont Temple (Jewish)
  • St. John’s Church (Episcopal)
  • Westchester Jewish Center in nearby Mamaroneck
          

Things to Do with Kids in Larchmont

Though the Village of Larchmont is only 1 square mile, there is an abundance of kid- and family-friendly fun including the local library, parks and playgrounds, sports leagues, and more.
     

Beaches Serving Larchmont

Manor Beach

Part of Larchmont Manor Park, this beach is for those who live within the 10538 zip code only, though residents must apply for access each year, and patrons must rent a bathhouse or locker to use the beach. Open Memorial through Labor days, the beach offers swim lessons, junior lifeguarding, and yoga classes for an additional fee.
     

Kids’ Sports Leagues Serving Larchmont

While many kids in elementary school want to start playing a sport, their schools don’t have sports teams. Don’t despair: There are a few kids’ sports leagues serving Larchmont, including:

  • Larchmont-Mamaroneck Basketball Association: A coed program for first through 12th grades
  • Larchmont-Mamaroneck Little League: A coed program offering T-ball, baseball, and softball for ages 4-18
  • Larchmont-Mamaroneck Youth Lacrosse: Offers boys’ and girls’ house leagues for kindergarten through sixth grade, as well as a travel league (by tryout) for boys in third through eighth grades and girls in fourth through eighth grades
  • Larchmont Soccer Club: Offers a recreational program for boys and girls in kindergarten through 12th grades, and a travel program for ages 9 through high school
  • Mamaroneck Youth Football League: Offers programs for boys and girls in first through eighth grades
          

Museums in Larchmont

Larchmont Historical Society

The nonprofit educational corporation discovers, preserves, and shares information concerning the history of Larchmont, and promotes the preservation of historical sites and structures. The society maintains an archive, offers regular programs for community members, and conducts tours for children and adults. The LHS also hosts an annual House Tour during which participants walk or ride a trolley along Larchmont Avenue and visit some of the area’s most historic homes.
    

Sheldrake Environmental Center

Though it extends into neighboring towns, the Sheldrake Environmental Center is based in Larchmont and offers nearly 60 acres of green space, including woods, meadows, a pond, a lake, and wildlife, and the walking trails are dog-friendly as long as dogs are kept on leash. The center also offers educational programs for kids, adults, and families, as well as school trips and summer camps.

sheldrake environmental center
Courtesy Sheldrake Environmental Center

Sheldrake Environmental Center hosts a variety of programs to help connect the community with nature.
      

Parks and Playgrounds in Larchmont

The Village of Larchmont is home to many parks and green spaces for picnicking and relaxing, including Addison, Constitution, Kane, and Plaza parks. The village also has a handful of parks that offer playgrounds, sports fields, and more, including:

  • Larchmont Manor Park: A privately-owned (doesn’t receive monetary assistance from the Parks Department) 12½-acre park with 5,000 feet of shoreline along the Long Island Sound, the park features walking paths, benches, and gazebos. Plus, dogs are welcome as long as they are on leash.
  • Flint Park: As the largest park in the village, it’s used for sports play, tennis, and walking nature trails. The park has a play area for kids, and hosts a summer concert series.
  • Lorenzen Park: This space is home to the village’s primary baseball field.
  • Pine Brook Park: The park’s playground is designed for older children.
  • Vanderburgh Park: Also known as Turtle Park, this space has one of the last sandboxes in Larchmont and a playground designed for toddlers and younger children.
  • Willow Park: This play area is used mostly for unstructured play and offers a small playground.
         

Sports Facilities in Larchmont

Bonnie Briar Country Club

Founded in 1921, this family-oriented country club offers a 19-hole golf course, four Har-Tru tennis courts, two red clay tennis courts, an Olympic size swimming pool, a children’s pool, and dining facilities. The club also offers youth golf and tennis programs.
    

Hommocks Park Ice Rink

An enclosed public skating facility, this rink offers hockey leagues, public skate times, birthday parties, ice-skating lessons, youth hockey, and special events.
    

Hommocks Pool

Though it’s restricted to pool permit holders and their guests, the pool offers memberships for residents and non-residents. The pool offers swimming classes for infants, toddlers, and children ages 3-12, as well as swim teams, water fitness classes, and lifeguarding classes.
    

Horseshoe Harbor Yacht Club

Founded in 1888, this club, located in Manor Park, promotes sailing, seamanship, casual racing, kayaking, and camaraderie for members through its many social activities, including community and moonlight sails, an annual scavenger hunt, potlucks, and picnics.
    

Larchmont Yacht Club

Founded in 1880, this club provides a family-oriented social environment for members with facilities such as a clubhouse with dining room, marina, pool, beach grill, tennis courts, and paddle tennis.
     

Memorial Park Tennis Courts

While a permit is required to access the courts, the facility also offers tennis lessons for adults and various lessons for children ages 4 and older.
     

Shopping in Larchmont

Grocery Stores in Larchmont

There are a handful of grocery store options in the Village of Larchmont, including:

  • Auray Gourmet
  • Cocoa Chocolate Shop
  • DeCicco & Sons
  • Larchmont Meateria
  • Mrs. Green’s Neighborhood Market
  • Stop & Shop
  • Trader Joe’s

   
If shopping locally is more your style, Larchmont’s Down to Earth Farmers’ Market is held in the Metro-North Parking Deck off Chatsworth Avenue on Saturdays, 8:30am-1pm, from the end of April through mid-December. You’ll find plants and flowers, ciders, pastas, coffee beans, pickles, stews, sauces, jams and jellies, baked goods, fruits and vegetables, eggs, dairy, honey, and fresh meat and seafood.
    

Everyday Shopping in Larchmont

There are a variety of local shops to choose from for your everyday needs in Larchmont, such as:

  • Anderson’s Book Shop
  • Avenue P: women’s clothing
  • Clutch Palmer & Purchase: women’s clothing and accessories
  • Foley True Value Hardware
  • Golden Shoestring: thrift shop
  • Love Shoes
  • Pink on Palmer: cosmetics
  • Stephanie’s Kloset: clothing for tween/teen girls
  • Village Paint Supply
  • The Voracious Reader: bookstore
  • Write On!: stationary

   
There are also a handful of local retailers and shops in nearby Mamaroneck, including Miller’s and Toy Box, two mom-and-pop toy stores.
    

Restaurants in Larchmont

Larchmont has a variety of restaurants and cuisines that the family will enjoy, including:

  • Anna Maria’s: Italian
  • Bradley’s Desserts & Cafe
  • Chat 19 American Grill
  • Coriander: Indian
  • Encore French Bistro
  • Fuji Mountain: Japanese steakhouse
  • Hunan Larchmont: Chinese
  • Larchmont Tavern: American pub fare
  • La Riserva: Italian
  • Lenny’s Seafood & Steakhouse
  • Lusardi’s: Mediterranean
  • Madison Kitchen: New American cuisine
  • Nicky’s Pizzeria & Restaurant
  • PLATES: seasonal menus
  • Polpettina: Italian
  • Sherwood’s Restaurant: Barbecue
  • Turquoise: Turkish and Mediterranean
  • Villa Maria Pizza
  • Wasabi: Japanese and sushi

  
Additional popular restaurants and eateries are located in nearby Mamaroneck including the perennial favorite, and nationally registered historic landmark, Walter’s Hot Dog Stand.

Main image: The Larchmont Public Library opened in 1926 after Edward F. Albee donated the land, and St. Clair Bayfield and Florence Foster Jenkins staged A Midsummer Night’s Dream to raise funds.
Courtesy Randi Robinowitz