RANCH RECEIVES NATIONAL GOLD AWARD FOR LIFESTYLE

Lakewood Ranch was recognized with a gold award for best lifestyle program by the National Association of Home Builders’ National Sales and Marketing Council at its recent annual 2022 awards ceremony.

Lakewood Ranch’s Waterside Place was awarded the top honor for community lifestyle program of the year. Waterside Place is home to the popular Lakewood Ranch Farmers’ Market, which draws more than 5,000 visitors each week, and Ranch Nite Wednesdays, which hosts a food truck rally and the largest amateur cornhole league in the state, as well as a night market on the second Wednesday of each month. The lakeside town center has quickly become a beloved destination for the community since opening at the end of 2021.

The Waterside Place program is part of Lakewood Ranch’s overall emphasis on lifestyle, which includes two other town centers, a sports campus, nine community parks,  150 miles of sidewalks and trails, more than 60 clubs, and a parks and recreation program. Activities include both virtual and in-person options, and range in age from toddlers to Boomers. There are also annual festivals and celebrations like the Irish Celtic Fest, Tribute to Heroes Parade, Boo Fest, and Holidays Around the Ranch.

“Lifestyle is one of the primary drivers when prospective buyers are choosing where to live,” said Laura Cole, senior vice president of LWR Communities. “People select the community first, then the home. There has been a growing emphasis on creating and nurturing a multi-faceted lifestyle experience within Lakewood Ranch, including markets, sports leagues, holiday celebrations, clubs, and classes. This focus is a prime contributor to the fact that Lakewood Ranch was named the best-selling master-planned community for all ages in the country for 2021.”

The awards, known as “The Nationals,” honor the best in the building industry for “their determination, integrity, creativity and resilience.” Started in 1982 as the Institute of Residential Marketing Awards, The Nationals recognizes honorees across various disciplines of the new home industry by individuals and sales teams. During a four-day judging process, a panel of 13 industry professionals from across the country determined the award winners from a field of over 1200 entries.

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About Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch is the 33,000+-acre award-winning master-planned community in Sarasota and Manatee counties on the West Coast of Florida. Just minutes from the Gulf Coast beaches and cultural assets in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch is already home to more than 55,000 residents and features A-rated schools, the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, the Sarasota Polo Club, the 75-acre Premier Sports Campus, three town centers that include theaters, shopping and dining, and more than 5.5 million square feet of commercial property. For more information, visit lakewoodranch.com.

About Waterside Place

Located in the village of Waterside, Waterside Place is Lakewood Ranch’s newest town center, and the only waterfront retail and lifestyle destination in Sarasota. Waterside Place features a curated mix of food and drink, beauty and wellness, and arts and entertainment on the water’s edge of Kingfisher Lake. For more information on businesses and events visit watersideplace.com.