At Greyhawk Landing, their slogan is “Life As It Should Be”, and if you’re looking for a family-friendly gated community, then it certainly is. This 960-acre neighborhood is actually comprised of nine different subdivisions, each of them with their own style. Part of what makes Greyhawk Landing such a beautiful place to live is that all of the various subdivisions are woven into lush natural preserves, rich woodlands, and pristine lakes. Because 53% of the total acreage is preserved as protected open space and managed wildlife habitat, many have come to call Greyhawk Landing country living in a modern gated community.

The lots range in size, as do the homes. So whether you’re looking for a more traditional single-family home on a quarter-acre lot or you’d like to establish a more sprawling estate on three-quarters of an acre, this neighborhood has the potential to accommodate, with no rear neighbors except the wildlife. Most of the architecture is of the Spanish-Mediterranean style, offering the same luxurious aura that has been drawing people to this region for the last century.

The neighborhood features two different community centers with lagoon-style swimming pools, including spas and waterslides, lighted courts for basketball and tennis, fields for soccer and softball, a fishing dock, a state of the art fitness center, playgrounds, and nearly 2 miles of wilderness trail for walking, biking, or rollerblading. Not only are the amenities plentiful, but there is also a full calendar of activities and events, both for children and adults, which helps connect the community further.

The location is in the blossoming area about 3.5 miles east of I-75 on State Route 64 near Lakewood Ranch and the new Costco. It’s proximity to good schools is great for families, and the nearby interstate is great for commuters.

Greyhawk Landing stands out among other gated communities in its initiatives for smart and conscientious growth. This is evident in the preservation of its natural habitats as well as the formation of the Community Development District to manage it. A CDD is a local unit of special purpose government created under Florida law as an alternative method of planning, acquiring, operating and maintaining community-wide improvements in planned communities.

The GreyHawk Landing CDD is organized similarly to other local governments in Florida, with a five member board, and allows for infrastructure development that isn’t a burden on other local governments and taxpayers. As such, the CDD is responsible for the care of the playgrounds, athletic courts and fields, the pools and fitness center, trash pick-up, and, of course, the maintenance of trails, landscaping, waterways, and irrigation. This limits the role of the HOA to more of an administrative role and gives a greater sense of belonging to those in the community.