Summer's end marked in Summerlin

Summerlin children and their parents marked the end of summer with an old-fashioned sleepover. The event was sponsored by The Summerlin Council, the nonprofit branch of the Summerlin Community Association dedicated to providing social, cultural and recreational activities for residents.

More than 30 children between the ages of 6 and 10 participated in the 14-hour party at The Willows Community Center, and it included a pizza feast, games, movies and evening swim.

Lezlie Barnson-DeNardin, director of community relations for the council, said this is the fifth consecutive year for Kids' Night Out.

"This event is traditionally held the weekend before the start of the new school year to give parents a much-needed break, while capping off the summer with a fun, memorable event for the kids," she said.

Barnson-DeNardin said a dozen staff members and volunteers were on hand, giving them a 4-1 ratio of children to supervisors.

"The emphasis was definitely on fun, but when we're entrusted with precious young lives, safety takes top priority," she said.

The council sponsors seasonal celebrations, as well as clubs, classes and recreational sports leagues, and has planned 26 resident-only events this year. Among the annual activities are an egg hunt, Hometown Holidays, Patriotic Parade, family campouts in community parks, Snow Day, outdoor concerts and summer "Dive-In" movies.

"The first resident events were held when there were only a few hundred families living in the community," Barnson-DeNardin said, adding that activities now attract thousands of residents.

Developed by The Howard Hughes Corp., Summerlin has ranked as the nation's best-selling master-planned community nine of the past 10 years, according to independent surveys.

Situated along the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley, it is being developed in villages, each with a major park or golf course. The community is home to eight golf courses, nearly 100 parks, nearly 100 completed miles of trails, 16 schools, houses of worship, shopping centers, medical facilities, cultural facilities, business parks, and nearly 100 model homes.

Single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums are priced from the mid-$100,000s to more than $700,000. Custom lots ranging from one-half acre to three-quarters of an acre are priced from the high $300,000s to nearly $1 million, and predesigned custom homes are priced from $1.5 million. Apartments offer monthly rents starting from the high $700s.

To visit the community's home finding center, travel west on Sahara Avenue, past Hualapai Way, to Town Center Drive and turn north. Or, take Interstate 215 to Sahara Avenue and turn north on Town Center Drive.

The center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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