Placemakers get back to nature with parks and recreation-informed community design.
By Chris Wood | Builder
When it comes to today’s master planned communities, the one thing you’re not going to get away from is nature. Not looking for miles of hiking and mountain bike trails, preserved open space, woods, meadows, and parkland? Go buy a high-rise condo. For the MPC set, New Ruralism defines the day, and developers are keen to maximize density and streetscape design in order to minimize both the visual and environmental impact on nature, all while offering residents front-door access to the great outdoors.
Case in point is Sterling Ranch in Douglas County, Colo., where builders including Lennar, David Weekley Homes, and Richmond American Homes will participate in the 20-year roll-out of 12,000 homes across 3,400 acres. If 30 miles of trails wasn’t enough to help Sterling own its marketing tagline for buyers to “live the nature of your surroundings,” connected trail access to two bordering state parks and three regional parks probably seals the deal.
