Giddy-up on over to Parkland, partner, the finest equestrian lifestyle community in exciting and dynamic South Florida! A unique and rural region of a bustling metropolitan area that includes renowned tourism destinations like Fort Lauderdale with its world famous Atlantic Ocean beaches, Parkland feels like a world away and works hard to stay that way.

Nestled in the northwest corner of Broward County, set amidst piney woods, Parkland is an almost totally residential city of 10 square miles and 14,000 residents, which zealously protects and preserves its rural nature. Practically every home features horse facilities and many residents ride through the forested town on horseback rather because miles of riding trails traverse the community. The Ranches neighborhood, featuring old-fashioned farm style spreads is particularly renowned as the premiere place to live for the horsy set.

Yet Parkland is more country squire than cowboy. It is an upscale community boasting multi-acre lots many featuring gorgeous estate quality homes with lush, manicured landscaping. Residents are affluent, homes are built far back from the street and offer sophisticated country living in settings of exceptional privacy. No matter your architectural preference, from traditional to contemporary, Tudor to Colonial, there's a property in Parkland to fulfill your dreams.

In addition to numerous riding trails, Parkland features a civic equestrian center with corrals, rinks and dressage facilities. There are 6 parks comprising over 96 acres of land and the city is currently constructing a new park with 4 soccer fields and two basketball courts. Parks and Recreation provides a summer camp program for children from ages 6 to14, a year-round camp program during winter and spring breaks, a full service tennis program at the Terramar Park tennis facility as well as organized sports leagues. Look for special events in city parks like concerts, an Easter egg hunt, Parkland Days Festival and Fourth of July celebrations.

Crime is almost totally non-existent, bumper-to-bumper traffic is unheard of, quality medical care is minutes away and local schools are so good that residents say it's like sending your kids to private school without having to pay for it.

Despite its serene and sublime natural setting, Parkland offers easy access to all the best of South Florida's cultural and historic attractions. There are excellent museums in nearby Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton as well as regional opera and theater companies. World class dining and shopping is just minutes away while Miami, boasts some of the most exciting nightlife on the planet just an hour away.

Your recreational pursuits are certainly not limited to the equine variety because South Florida flaunts the finest opportunities anywhere to get outside and have fun. Enjoy spectacular sugar sand beaches on the Gold Coast, championship golf courses, boating, deep-sea fishing and aquatic recreational activities of every type imaginable, all easily accessible and beyond compare. And best of all, you can do it under blue skies because the sun shines almost every day and the temperature averages a balmy 77 degrees.

So whether you're looking for the perfect property to share with Old Paint or just a spacious and gracious luxury home on a large plot of land where you can spread out and enjoy life, Parkland is primed to welcome you home.

LOCATION

Parkland is a rustic and rural equestrian town, tucked up in the piney woods of Broward County 's northwest corner, with Palm Beach County to the north and the Everglades to the west. It is situated just north of FL-869, just west of US-441 as well as the I-95 and northeast of the I-75.

Only ten miles west of the internationally acclaimed beaches of Florida's Gold Coast, the two largest nearby cities are the tourist Meccas of Fort Lauderdale, about 20 miles southwest and Boca Raton, about 14 miles northwest. The charming City of Coral Springs is 3 miles south and Coconut Creek with its famed butterfly preserve is 8 miles south. Other surrounding quaint communities include Ramblewood East, Hillsboro Pines, Mission Bay, Sandalfoot Cove, Margate and Boca Pointe. Exclusive West Palm Beach is 40 miles north, about an hour's drive, and sensational Miami is 45 miles south, also about an hour's drive.

TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS

While Parkland enjoys a scenic rural setting that makes you feel far away from it all, in reality it is extremely conveniently located at the heart of a modern transportation infrastructure. Holmberg Road is the town's main drag, a two-lane, blacktop highway that provides easy access to a web of modern highways. FL-869 is just south, connecting to the I-75, a major east-west artery while US-441, FL-91 and the I-95, all major north-south arteries, are just due west.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is only a forty-minute drive where 29 airlines offer nonstop flights to more than 40 domestic and international destinations with connecting flights to wherever your travels may take you. Other airport options include Miami International, 40 miles south and Palm Beach International, 40 miles north, each about an hour's drive.

While Parkland does not have its own public transportation system, it benefits by its close proximity to Coral Springs which features an excellent public transportation system provided by Broward County Transit that covers 410 of Broward County's 1,200 square miles. You can ride buses that connect to surrounding communities for an adult fare of $1.00 with .50 youth and senior fares while children under forty inches ride for free.

Rail service includes the regional Tri Rail system operated by the South Florida Regional Transportation Service. It connects various points throughout South Florida with multiple stops across Broward and Miami/Dade Counties. There are stations in Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton and Pompano Beach plus it connects to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport.

Amtrak trains stop in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Deerfield Beach including the Silver Service/Palmetto Line connecting New York City and Miami featuring sleeping and dining cars, business class level travel, even movies and wine tastings in the evenings. Greyhound also has a full service station in Fort Lauderdale where buses depart to all areas of the Florida and the nation.

BRIEF HISTORY

Parkland is set on forested open space that once was the home of the Tequesta Indians. By the late 19th century, livestock grazed this land, then owned by cattle barons and large ranchers who were the initial settlers of this part of South Florida.

Following WWII, Broward County began to experience tremendous residential expansion and the idea of an equestrian community where homeowners could live on large lots with their horses in a rural setting was slightly counter-intuitive. As people flocked from around the nation to live the classic beach lifestyle in South Florida's seaside cities, sleepy Parkland grew to be a study in contrasts.

Incorporated in 1963, the city was founded on a bedrock belief that its rural, residential nature would always be preserved. Laws were written prohibiting all types of commercial development and any residential construction underwent rigorous review and would even be disallowed if it clashed with Parkland's park-like wooded surroundings.

Initially derided, by the 1980's Parkland's allure was undeniable and it quickly grew to be one of the most affluent and sought after addresses in the area. The riding trails and horse facilities, large homes and luxury ranch living came to be coveted commodities in a heated-up real estate market.

During the 1990's and up through today, Parkland has undergone momentous growth without destroying its essential rustic nature. Gorgeous estate properties have replaced many of the more modest original homes, yet the multi-acre lots remain. The flavor of original Parkland can still be experienced in the Ranches neighborhood where old fashioned spreads make you feel a million miles away from civilization that's just minutes away.

Parkland, once considered a hare-brained scheme has grown up into South Florida's best place to live.

ABOUT EDUCATION

A + rated Parkland schools are administered by the Broward County School District. There are five elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools including Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which is one of the top ranked high schools in the entire nation. Schools boast excellent extracurricular activities, the county's top rated public high school sports program and strong parental involvement. Public schools are so good parents say it's like sending your child to private school without having to pay for it.

There are plenty of higher education opportunities at area community colleges and universities whether you're a recent high school graduate, mid career professional or a senior searching for intellectual enrichment. Universities and colleges serving the area include Keiser College, Broward Community College, Nova Southeastern University and the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, all located in nearby Fort Lauderdale plus Florida-Atlantic University located in Boca Raton. Renowned University of Miami at Coral Gables is about 40 miles south, approximately an hour's drive.