Summerlin's recreational amenities draw residents outdoors

Residents of Summerlin have many options for getting fit.

Recreational amenities within the master-planned community include 105 miles of trails, more than 100 parks, and eight golf courses. In addition, it is close to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, where many valley residents go rock climbing and cycling.

"Nearly every day, cyclists are making their way from Summerlin up Charleston Boulevard toward the conservation area. There's no better place to cycle and climb," said Dan Van Epp, president of The Howard Hughes Corp., Summerlin's developer.

Van Epp, an avid climber, said the community was planned as a place where residents could play, as well as live and work.

"It's that time of year when many are recommitting themselves to getting or staying fit. For those who live in Summerlin, there are many outdoor options for exercise thanks to the community's varied and numerous amenities," he said.

The trail system is one of Summerlin's most popular features, according to resident surveys.

"In addition to providing miles of uninterrupted and varied scenery for jogging, walking, Rollerblading or cycling, the trail system serves to connect the community and enhance social interaction by providing a place for neighbors and friends to bump into each other," Van Epp said.

Originally planned to extend about 100 miles, the trail system has been revised to be more than 150 miles long when complete.

Parks are another place for fitness and fun, Van Epp said. More than a dozen parks are considered major, covering a combined 160 acres. The facilities are home to six league-play soccer fields, four basketball courts, two swimming pools, 17 playgrounds, 17 tennis courts, six ball fields and two T-ball fields.

The community is home to two Tournament Players Club golf courses, which host a PGA golf event each year. Golfers also can play at Bear's Best Las Vegas, which features replicas of famous holes designed by Jack Nicklaus.

Many of community's special events also are geared toward fitness, said Kristi Overgaard, marketing director for Hughes Corp.

"The Tour de Summerlin, scheduled for April 5, is one such event that capitalizes on the community's ideal layout and location," she said.

Fitness classes and organized sports leagues for all ages are coordinated through The Summerlin Council.

Summerlin has ranked as the nation's best-selling master-planned community for nine of the past 10 years, according to independent surveys. Situated along the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley, the community is being developed in villages and is home to 17 schools, houses of worship, shopping centers, medical facilities, cultural facilities, business parks and nearly 165 model homes.

Single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums are priced from the mid-$100,000s to more than $700,000. Custom-home sites ranging from one-half acre to three-quarters of an acre are priced from the $400,000s to more than $1 million. Predesigned custom homes are priced from $500,000 to more than $1 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 head east to Town Center. The center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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