New housing developments ditch golf courses for trails and gardens

Perhaps more than any other sport, golf has shaped the topography of suburban developments for decades. But in recent years, developers have found that fewer families are attracted to the sprawling seas of grass in favor of communities with more versatile outdoor spaces. Bike and walking trails, communal gardens, and outdoor education centers are the new green ticket to seducing prospective homebuyers into new developments, according to Construction Dive.

Experience-driven millennials are more likely than their forebears to value parks and outdoor recreation areas like pools and playgrounds. A handful of developers who spoke to Construction Dive cited proximity to meandering paths and forested parks as particularly attractive to young families hunting for homes.

Some developers are cashing in on the locally grown agriculture craze to turn land that might once have been earmarked for a putting green into community farms supplying nearby homeowners with fresh produce.

“Hard amenities are really important, but our biggest focus is activating those amenities and activating those spaces to create an environment where people can meet each other," said Jake Wagner, co-CEO and partner of Texas developer Republic Property Group, which has a farm-based community.

The message seems to be that these alternative green spaces are something that every member of the community can enjoy, not just those with a killer backswing.

Via: Construction Dive