Central Park Officially Underway
Neal Communities' ceremonial ground-breaking took place on August 7th, 2008, marking the official beginning of Central Park, the first residential village in Lakewood Ranch north of State Road 70. The 372-acre project is located in Lakewood Ranch, north of SR-70, south of the 44th Avenue extension, east of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, and west of the future Pope Road extension. Area residents will recognize the area as the property across the street from B.D. Gullett Elementary School.
The site plan calls for 787 home sites for single-family detached residences and 150,000 square feet of commercial land use. The first model homes are scheduled to open in January 2010. Prices have not been announced but the goal is to have homes starting at prices affordable to a couple with a household income comparable to two Manatee County School Teachers, or about $80,000.
Guided by Frederick Law Olmsted’s vision for its New York namesake, Neal Communities’ Central Park will consist of five neighborhoods, Great Lawn, East Meadow, Cedar Hill, East Garden and Conservatory Garden, that were inspired by areas within New York’s Central Park. All the homes will focus on the vibrant park areas which will feature two separate picnic areas, a covered pavilion, sports fields for baseball and soccer, and an amphitheater framed by shaded walkways with a fountain. Lush medians, meandering walkways, sidewalks lined with shade trees, benches and streetlights will also add to the character of the community.
In a similar arrangement as the Neal section of The Country Club, Neal Communities owns the land and designed the project while Schroeder Manatee Ranch manages the builders and the marketing. Central Park is designed to be similar to the Greenbrook villages that have already proven to be so popular in Lakewood Ranch.
“As we always do, we will have a focal point, or strong central amenities center, which is unique to Lakewood Ranch and Neal: it will be our Central Park. It will be a beautiful and expensive landscape and recreational facility. Our property will have the famous Neal attention to detail, quality, service and design.” As with the very popular Greenbrook community, residents with school age children won't have far to travel to get the kids in class on time. This new village is also strategically located near Lakewood Ranch High School, Manatee Technical Institute and the Lakewood Ranch YMCA.
No announcement has been made regarding the builders who will participate. It is widely expected, however, to include many of the same builders who were involved in Greenbrook. Pat Neal has hinted that a national builder new to the area may also be involved. These builders will provide a wide array of options to homebuyers, and homes from 1,484 to 3,900 sq. ft. will be available.
All of the Central Park new homes will meet Florida Green Building standards.
Updated 8/11/08 
As more information becomes available about Central Park, you'll find it posted here. Be sure to check back often. If you'd like more information about Lakewood Ranch new homes, current listings on resales and rentals, or general real estate issues, please visit my website, www.BobBronston.com. You can also call me at 941-705-0811 or email me at Bob@BobBronston.com.
After 10 years, the vision of Lakewood Ranch as a place to live, work, play, learn, shop and worship has become a reality...and continues to grow with the planned addition of 800 Central Park homes. The community has exceeded expectations and received national commendation as Florida's premier master-planned community. The 7,000-acre development is now home to more than 5, 000 families in five residential villages. Each offers a wide variety of both housing and lifestyles. There's also a vibrant commercial component that includes 8,000 employees working in more than two million square feet of commercial, retail and office space in the Town Center and Corporate Park areas.
Health care facilities located in Town Center include Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, which opened in 2004. This 120-bed hospital provides emergency, obstetric and acute care in a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility. Opportunities for education abound for all ages and needs. This includes a high school and new elementary and middle schools. The Out of Door Academy, located just off University Parkway, is a highly acclaimed private school. Other educational institutions at the Ranch include Manatee Community College, Manatee Technical Institute, Keiser College and Everglades University. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) welcomed its first class in the fall of 2004.
The community features many natural attractions and recreational facilities for children, adults and even pets. There are six recreational parks, including an adventure park for teens, a 100-acre nature preserve and 420 acres of man-made lakes. Walkers and bikers enjoy more than 100 miles of sidewalks and trails. The Paw Park provides a large, safe area for dogs to romp and play and show off their agility skills. In 2001, the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club opened its' 42,000 square-foot Clubhouse. Arnold Palmer's course design company created a total of 36 holes of golf in two separate phases of development. The Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club Clubhouse and courses have received numerous awards and accolades. To complement the private golf experience, the Palmer-designed Legacy Golf course is available on a daily fee basis. This course, which opened in 1997, is now owned and operated by Troon, Inc., a highly recognized operator of upscale golf facilities headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. There are more private golf opportunities under construction in the community and adjacent developments. Tom Fazio has designed a course for The Ritz Carlton's new golf club just north of Lakewood Ranch's newest development, The Lake Club. Jack Nicklaus has designed the Concession Course, which is just a few miles east of Lakewood Ranch.
Lakewood Ranch is recognized as one of the most successful master-planned communities in the country. Lakewood Ranch is conveniently located on the Manatee/Sarasota County boundary. It is just minutes from the Sarasota cultural arts district and less than one hour from both Tampa and St. Petersburg. It's ideally situated in the Tampa Bay area, close to the services and entertainment venues of a major metropolitan area but outside of the congestion and hectic pace of city life. Truly, Lakewood Ranch offers the best of Florida living within a setting distinctly its own.
