Summerlin prioritizes resident recreation with community parks

More than 100 community and neighborhood parks are located in Summerlin. Parks range from small neighborhood "pocket" parks of less than 1 acre to major community parks of more than 20 acres, including the master-planned community's largest -- Cottonwood Canyon Park, which spans nearly 70 acres.

The Summerlin Centre Community Park has two full-size, lighted soccer fields and a practice field. The Trails Park is home to the Summerlin Little League with three lighted baseball/softball fields.

The Arbors Tennis and Play Park features five lighted tennis courts, including a stadium court and a pro shop. Cottonwood Canyon Park is a linear park that offers trails for walkers, joggers and cyclists.

According to Julie Cleaver, director of design and planning for The Howard Hughes Corp., developer of Summerlin, the community's parks are designed to accommodate a variety of social and recreational needs.

"The parks are gathering places for residents who enjoy outdoor activity, social interaction and scenic park-setting views," she said. "They are one of the core components of the master-planned concept and consistently rank as one of our most popular amenities among residents of all ages."

To date, Summerlin is home to 22 major community parks. When The Mesa Park opens in summer 2008, that number will bump to 23.

The Mesa Park is a 19-acre community park located on Town Center Drive and Mesa Park Drive. It features tennis courts, three Little League baseball fields (one with stadium-style seating), a basketball court, tot lot, covered picnic ramadas and a large open play area.

"Parks are consistently under development in Summerlin," Cleaver said. "As one park is nearing completion, we are typically breaking ground on yet another."

In fact, planning for a new park in Summerlin Centre is well under way.

"Summerlin is committed to providing all residents -- regardless of their location in the community - with a variety of social and recreational amenities," she said.

In addition to tennis, basketball, baseball and soccer facilities, amenities featured at Summerlin parks include swimming pools, playgrounds; community centers, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, bocce ball courts, shuffleboard courts, a tricycle course, interactive water play areas, motorized toy areas, football fields and barbecue/picnic areas.

Developed by The Howard Hughes Corp., an affiliate of General Growth Properties Inc., Summerlin began to take shape in 1990.

Located along the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley, Summerlin encompasses 22,500 acres with about 9,000 acres still remaining to accommodate future growth within the master plan, including the community's urban core of Summerlin Centre.

The community is home to more than 95,000 residents. Amenities include more than 100 neighborhood and village parks, more than 150 completed miles of the Summerlin trail system, nine golf courses, a dozen houses of worship, shopping centers, medical and cultural facilities, business parks, 22 public and private schools and more than 100 actively selling floor plans.

Single-family homes to townhomes, condominiums and lofts are available, priced from the mid-$200,000s to more than $2 million.

Custom home sites in The Ridges Village are priced from the $500,000s. Luxury apartment homes offer monthly rents starting from the $900s.

For more information on Summerlin, visit summerlin.com or call 888-898-5015.