Trails blaze to the top

The Summerlin trail system was recently named the best place to walk or jog by editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal in its annual "Best of Las Vegas" poll.

The community's trails consistently rank as the most popular amenity among residents in annual community polls, according to Julie Cleaver, vice president of design and planning for The Howard Hughes Corp., developer of Summerlin.

"The Summerlin trail system has become one of the community's hallmarks," Cleaver said. "It was designed to serve many purposes, both recreational and social. The trails are not only great places to walk, jog, stroll, cycle or skate, they are also a great place to bump into friends and neighbors."

The trails also play a role in connecting major amenities and villages throughout the community, according to Cleaver.

"The trails make it possible for children to ride their bikes to school without having to be on the street, and they allow folks to walk to the local coffee shop from the trail accessible from their backyard," she said. "Summerlin's extensive trail system truly distinguishes it from the competition and goes a long way to enhance the quality of life for which the community is known."

The system measures more than 150 miles long, encompassed in three different types of trails: street-side, village and bicycle.

Street-side trails are a major part of the trail system and are always landscaped on both sides. Varying in width from 5 to 8 feet, they are set back several feet off the road.

Village trails are 8 feet wide and are often located in arroyos or man-made open space corridors. They are located in off-street areas and are designed to serve long-distance walkers and runners, as well as cyclists and skaters. The Pueblo and The Trails Villages and Cottonwood Canyon Park all feature trails.

Bicycle trails are on-street dedicated bike lanes located on the arterial and connector roads that link the villages in the community. These trails serve both the competitive and recreational long-distance bicyclists and skaters. In 2007, The Howard Hughes Corp. and the city of Las Vegas completed a 13-mile bike lane that runs along Alta Drive from downtown Las Vegas to Red Rock Canyon with Summerlin serving as the major connection between the two landmarks.

Eventually, fourth and fifth types -- regional and natural trails -- will be created along the Western Beltway, along flood control channels and in the undeveloped areas of the community to connect to the planned regional trails in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The Howard Hughes Corp. is providing design assistance and financial support to expedite and facilitate the creation of these trails.

Developed by The Howard Hughes Corp., an affiliate of General Growth Properties Inc., Summerlin began to take shape in 1990 and is located along the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley. The community 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, 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, townhomes, condominiums and lofts are available. Prices range from the mid-$200,000s to more than $2 million. Custom home sites in The Ridges 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.