The areas I’m looking to buy are all gated track homes unless I can afford a lot more to buy a non-track. They got multiple tot lots and a community pool both only 10 houses away and I saw a lot of young kids playing on the streets (within the gated community). I don’t like track homes and HOA but my options are limited. Are tot lots and community pools almost as good as having your own yard and pool? Do the gates make the street safer for kids? It sounds like silly questions but I never lived in a gated place or a place with community pool before.