SARASOTA, FLORIDA, May, 24, 2013 – It would be an apt choice for searchers of Sarasota County homes for sale in kid-friendly communities to start looking for options in the city of North Port, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports, noting that this city was named anew this May as a “Playful City USA.” This marks the fourth consecutive year that the city, located in southern Sarasota County, earned the distinction which was also extended this year to 216 other awardees across the US. A total of 32 emerged as choices in Florida, the most number among the 43 states which host play-friendly towns and cities. Tampa and Fort Myers were also among the notable honorees in Southwest Florida.
Now on its seventh year, Playful City USA is national recognition program sponsored by the Humana Foundation, the social development arm of Humana Inc., one of the leading health benefits companies in the US. The project seeks to recognize cities and towns which have developed and implemented local action plans to provide more access to play in their respective communities.
The recognition given to North Port highlights the park improvements that the city officials have put emphasis on. For instance, many of the playground equipment in its parks are not more than five years old. Bathroom amenities have also been added to local parks, thus encouraging day-long visits among family members. In recent years, other park improvements, such as signage and landscaping, have also been completed.
Noting that North Port has over 10,000 school-age children and a median age of 40, Sandy Pfundheller, the city’s parks and recreation manager, said that the local government understands that play is an important in community life. She also emphasized that “play isn’t just for children” and that they are working to extend their programming to young adults and seniors as well.
With the recognition, the Playful City USA communities also become eligible for grants on playground construction as well as other nationwide funding programs encouraging family-oriented recreational activities. In a related development, the city has received a grant from KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit seeking to provide playgrounds at walking distance for every child in America. Installation of the North Port KaBOOM! playground is now being completed at the George Mullen Activity Center, perfectly in time for the mid-June start of the city’s summer camp program.
The 676-acre golf community of Heron Creek is one neighborhood quite close to the activity center and hosts some of the best golf links in the area. Popular among searchers of Golf community homes for sale, this subdivision currently has some 50 available properties, many of which are already on the pending list. There are several newly listed residences for sale too with their asking prices set at the $300s, featuring three bedrooms and two baths in their floor areas measuring up to 2,400-plus square feet.
Some Heron Creek sales listings have their quoted prices reduced, with one now quoted in the mid-$100s for its 1,666-square-foot floor area designed with two bedrooms and two baths. Needless to say, play is also one of the selling points of this golf community where the amenities likewise include a clubhouse, a fitness center, tennis courts, and a swimming pool.
SARASOTA, FLORIDA, October 7, 2019 – Property values of communities in the Sarasota-Manatee region now face lesser threat from neighborhood eyesores brought about by abandoned, foreclosed homes. Known in the real estate trade as zombie foreclosures, these properties have shrunk significantly in the region. According to an August report of ATTOM Data Solutions, abandoned […] more>>