Summerlin celebrates 20 years, more development planned

Twenty years after starting development in the master-planned community of Summerlin, the community attracted more than 100,000 residents who live in 40,000 homes including single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, lofts, custom-home sites and apartments.

"The size and magnitude of Summerlin wasn't easily comprehended during the initial planning stages," said Kevin Orrock, top division executive for The Howard Hughes Corp., developer of Summerlin.

"We presented a plan in the late 1980s of a project that was larger than the city of San Francisco that would ultimately be home to 200,000-plus residents, thousands of homes, hundreds of parks, dozens of schools, office parks, retail centers and houses of worship. There wasn't anything like Summerlin in Southern Nevada at that time -- nor has there been anything comparable to the community since its inception two decades ago."

Summerlin offers amenities including 150 miles of completed trail system, more than 150 parks of all sizes, more than 75 restaurants, 25 public and private schools, 24 playgrounds, 20 office parks, 16 tennis courts, 15 shopping centers encompassing more than 2 million square feet of retail space. Other amenities include 15 baseball fields, 14 houses of worship, 11 basketball courts, nine golf courses, seven child care facilities, six medical facilities including Summerlin Hospital Medical Center and Nevada Cancer Institute, five institutions of higher education, five senior living centers, four community centers, three sand volleyball courts, three resorts and cultural centers including Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center and Nevada Ballet Theatre.

According to Orrock, these amenities are essential to a true master-planned environment. "And more amenities are planned for the remaining 7,500 acres that have yet to be developed here in Summerlin. The community will continue growing for years to come," he said.

For more information on Summerlin, visit summerlin.com, call 791-4500 or become a fan of Summerlin on facebook.