Living in Paradise, NL: Neighbourhoods, Schools and Costs

Paradise at a glance

• Incorporated: Paradise became a town in 1971. In 1992 it joined with St. Thomas, Topsail Pond, Three Island Pond, Elizabeth Park and Evergreen Village to form today’s town.
• Growth: one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Atlantic Canada — the 2021 Census put it ahead of Mount Pearl as the province’s third-largest community.
• Who lives here: the Town says Paradise has the youngest average age in the province.

Neighbourhoods at a glance

Elizabeth Park

The most densely built part of town, with sections dating from the 1980s alongside newer subdivisions. It has its own road link to Kenmount Road, Elizabeth Park Elementary, and a Metrobus stop.

Karwood and Donovan Terrace

Two of Paradise’s main residential areas. Karwood Drive connects straight to Kenmount Road, and Paradise Elementary is on Karwood. Donovan Terrace has the Milton Road ball field and a Metrobus stop.

Adam’s Pond

An area that has been building out for two decades as water and sewer were extended, with the 2.7 km Adam’s Pond trail.

Octagon Pond

The town’s main recreation area, with a 3.7 km loop trail and paddleboarding on the pond. Newer development has been approved west of the pond, and Octagon Pond Elementary is here.

St. Thomas and St. Thomas Line

The former Town of St. Thomas, along one of the area’s oldest roads, running north toward Portugal Cove–St. Philip’s. The Town has been upgrading water and sewer service along St. Thomas Line.

Topsail Pond, Three Island Pond and the Bluffs

Larger lots with a rural feel, which the Town plans to keep rural. Homes here generally use private wells and septic systems rather than town water and sewer, so check the servicing for any home you’re considering.

Schools

Paradise has five English public schools, and all of them offer French Immersion:

• Elementary: Paradise Elementary (Karwood Drive), Octagon Pond Elementary, Elizabeth Park Elementary and Holy Family Elementary.
• Intermediate: Paradise Intermediate, on Dianne Whalen Drive.
• High school: there’s no high school in Paradise yet, so students go on to high school in Mount Pearl or CBS, depending on their feeder schools. A new Paradise high school is planned.
• French first-language schools: the nearest are the CSFP’s two schools in St. John’s.

Always check the zoned school for the exact address. Our school zones guide shows how.

Getting around

Topsail Road is Paradise’s main street, with access to the Outer Ring Road. Karwood Drive, McNamara Drive and Elizabeth Park all connect to Kenmount Road, and Paradise Road and St. Thomas Line run north. Topsail Road also continues west into CBS.

Driving times from the middle of Paradise, outside rush hour (estimates):

Estimated with OpenStreetMap routing. Expect longer at rush hour.

• Bus: Metrobus connects Paradise with the Avalon Mall, through Donovan Terrace and Elizabeth Park. Check Metrobus for current routes and times.

Recreation and the outdoors

• Paradise Double Ice Complex: two NHL-size rinks and a fitness centre.
• Rotary Paradise Youth and Community Centre: next door, with a climbing wall, skate park and gym.
• Paradise Park: beside the arena, with an accessible playground, splash pad, beach volleyball, a stage and two fenced dog parks.
• Trails: including the Octagon Pond loop (3.7 km), Paradise Trail (5.3 km), Mitchells Pond (5.6 km), Adam’s Pond (2.7 km) and Neil’s Pond (1.9 km), plus a section of the T’Railway.
• Peter Barry Duff Memorial Park: a 30-acre park on Topsail Pond with a beach and trail.
• Playgrounds: 17 playgrounds and 12 tot lots around town.
• Swimming: Paradise doesn’t have its own pool. The Town arranges swim lessons at pools in St. John’s, Mount Pearl and CBS.

Most shopping is along Topsail Road, with the big-box stores on Kenmount Road and the Avalon Mall a short drive away in St. John’s.

Costs and town rules to know

Property tax

Property tax and water and sewer fees are set each year in the Town’s budget. See this year’s rates, and how they compare with neighbouring towns, in our property tax by town guide, or try the property tax calculator. The Town also offers tax reductions for some low-income owners — check the Town’s website for who qualifies.

Water and sewer

Most of Paradise is on town water and sewer, supplied by the regional system from Bay Bulls Big Pond. Some streets and the rural pond areas still use wells and septic. The Town keeps a public priority list of streets waiting for services. New wells and septic systems need provincial approval.

Garbage and recycling

Garbage is collected at the curb and recycling every second week, and glass goes to a Green Depot. Collection rules change from time to time, so check the Town’s garbage and recycling page for the current schedule.

Snow

Plows go out once about 5 cm has fallen, and sidewalks near schools are cleared first. You can follow the plows on the Town’s online Plow Tracker. There’s a winter overnight parking ban on town streets, and no parking during a snowfall or for a day after; vehicles can be towed. Check the Town’s winter parking ban page for this year’s dates.

Permits

• Need a permit: decks, fences, sheds and garages, pools and hot tubs, retaining walls, heat pumps and wood stoves. Replacing windows, doors or siding also needs one.
• No permit needed: shingles, painting and cosmetic interior work.
• Fences can be up to 1.8 m high.

Basement apartments

Paradise allows a subsidiary apartment in a single, semi-detached or row house, as long as it’s smaller than the main unit and has its own parking space. See our two-apartment homes guide for what else to check.

Health care

There’s no hospital in Paradise. The nearest emergency departments are at the Health Sciences Centre (with the Janeway children’s hospital) and St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital in St. John’s, both about 20 minutes away. If you need a family doctor or nurse practitioner, register with Patient Connect NL, and call 811 for health advice.

Questions people ask