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| Cities of Goodyear and Avondale |
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Cities of Goodyear and Avondale
The vast expanses of cotton fields, once associated with the Southwest Valley, are giving way to new residential and commercial.
Cotton is still an important part of the area's economy and history since it was cotton that first brought the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company here in 1916.
During World War 1, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company purchased two tracts of land (one became Goodyear, the other Litchfield Park) to grow Egyptian cotton, a critical component in tire cords. These company towns eventually diversified, building a strong agricultural base that included wheat and vegetable production.
The Goodyear presence was strong in the area until Goodyear Aerospace Division sold their facility to Loral Defense Systems Arizona in 1987. The facility was purchased by Lockheed Martin, the largest defense contractor in the country, in early 1996.
Residential and business growth market the current city of Goodyear.
SunCor Development Company's master-planned community of Palm Valley covers approximately 9,000 acres in the West Valley. The majority of the development lies within the municipal boundaries of the city of Goodyear, with portions in Litchfield Park, Avondale, and Maricopa County.
SunChase Estrella Mountain Ranch is another premier development located in Goodyear. The 20,000-acre master-planned community is nestled in the foothills of the beautiful Sierra Estrella Mountains with two lakes, championship golf course, and recreation area.
I-10 has shortened the commute into Phoenix and the East Valley, increasing the desirability of the area.
The largest of the four Southwest Valley communities, with a population of 40,000, is Avondale. Avondale offers both higher learning in the form of Estrella Mountain Community College and recreation at the Phoenix International Raceway.
Another benefit of Goodyear Tire and Rubber's presence was the development of The Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park with three 18-hole golf courses that are rated among the finest in the nation. Litchfield Park, almost entirely residential, was named for Paul Litchfield, a Goodyear vice-president.
Named for W.G. Tolleson, who settled there in 1912, Tolleson's history can be traced to Hohokam (prehistoric Indian) settlements of the 14th century. Both Avondale and Tolleson remain strongly agricultural. Their manufacturing, distribution, and service sectors continue to grow. These towns are experiencing the development of large residential developments that are attracting residents from other areas of the Valley and across the country.
Goodyear and Avondale neighborhoods
Estrella Mountain Ranch
Here you'll find an extraordinary community of spirit, serenity, and fun in a unique one-of-a-kind desert-oasis setting. A place of rare beauty where the Sierra Estrella Mountains, ever changing in color and shadow designs, overlook gently rolling hillsides and arroyos leading down to expansive lakes surrounded by acres of emerald green park lawns. Here you?ll find the only opportunity in the growing Metropolitan Phoenix area where fortunate lifestyles enjoy a special blend of mountain, lake, and desert attractions, with a full compliment of activities for each member of the family.
Estrella Mountain Ranch Resident Activities
With 72 acres of gorgeous blue sparkling lakes, fishing, boating, and sailing provide lots of enjoyment for even the most dedicated landlubber. Jogging and walking are a real pleasure around the promenade paths circling the lakes or through the 40 acres of beautifully manicured parks. The parks include large grass play areas, basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, a natural amphitheater, ramadas with barbecue grills and picnic tables for special occasions or outdoor family gatherings.
The nearby Estrella Regional Park provides additional hiking and biking trails.
Special Events
At Estrella Ranch Mountain, special events are organized throughout the year, such as Family Fishing Day and Lakeside Symphony Concerts. The beautiful outdoor amphitheatre at Estrella Mountain Ranch, on the shore of North Lake, is the perfect setting for theatre productions.
Estrella Lakeside Farmers Market is held monthly. Vendors will be set up along the lakeside walkway on the North Lake where they will offer fresh produce, Hawaiian flowers, artisan breads, herbs, honey, jams, salsa, homemade pies, gourmet chocolates, fresh pasta, homemade soaps, specialized crafts, crafts and more.
Recreation
Time For Golf! Within the Estrella Mountain Ranch community you will find a Nicklaus Design Championship golf Course. Finding time to fit a few swings into your day is never a problem.
Estrella Mountain Ranch Lakes
North and South Lakes are private lakes that are available for residents and their guests only. Combined, these lakes boast over 72 acres of water for fishing, boating, or gazing at the ever-present waterfowl. Both lakes have a sandy beach where families can build sandcastles or enjoy picnics, however, no swimming or wading is allowed in the lakes. The average depth of each lake is about eight feet and each is stocked as needed to provide both sport fishing and algae control. The sport fish include Bass and Channel Catfish, while Koi, Tilapia, and Grass Carp keep the algae under control. Both lakes are monitored weekly by a contracted marine biologist. This is to ensure the waters meet the standards of the State of Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
The Estrella Mountain Ranch North Lake is the home of our "Yacht Club. Residents and their guests can enjoy the use of our sailboats, paddle boats, canoes, electric Sundolphins, and kayaks all stored in our lakeside boathouse. Boats are available weekends and some weekdays with an Estrella Mountain Ranch homeowner identification card. Bring your family down to the Yacht Club to check out a boat and share a relaxing time on the lake. It's a great way to spend an afternoon or a few hours.
Estrella Mountain Ranch Parks and Trails
There are over forty acres of manicured green lawns surrounding the North and South Lakes, with picnic ramadas, barbecues, and natural outdoor amphitheater. There are tennis courts, volleyball courts, basketball courts, and even a sundial where you can find out what time it is. There are promenade paths that circle the lakes and total about two-and-a-half miles for rollerblading, biking, walking, or jogging. The North Lake path is 1.3 miles and the South Lake path is 1.1 miles. Careful planning has resulted in paths that link neighborhoods to the parks, schools, and commercial services.
There are many hiking trails throughout the community where residents can explore the natural beauty of their surroundings. The Corgett Trail is one such trail that allows residents to follow the Corgett Wash for over two miles through the community. The sounds of wildlife and the first-hand look at habitats of the desert creatures are some of the wonders you'll experience on this trail. Future additions to the Corgett Trail will provide direct access to the 19,000-acre regional park just next door.
The Summit Trail provides amazing views of the Sierra Estrella Mountains, which serve as a backdrop for this hike. The length of this trail is 1.1 miles and follows the contours of Estrella Parkway.
Hike the trails of Estrella Mountain Ranch and discover the wonders that are literally, just beyond your backyard.
Estrella Mountain Ranch Youth Center
The Youth Center is a place for children to meet their friends and play the latest video game or table tennis. There are pool tables, arcade games, a sand volleyball court, and sports equipment available for use. There are organized games run by volunteers or staff members to keep the kids occupied especially on days when school is not in session. The Youth Center offers a place for community children to relax and have fun while under the watchful eye of an adult supervisor
Education
The elementary schools located within Estrella Mountain Ranch are part of the Liberty School District, which has served the greater community for over 90 years. A stable, child-centered environment is the hallmark of the Liberty District. The belief that all students can succeed permeates the attitudes of all who work with students. Liberty serves approximately a 300 square mile geographic area of both rural and suburban settings.
There are two elementary school sites located within the Estrella Mountain Ranch community, Estrella Mountain Elementary School, open since 1989, and Westar Elementary School, scheduled to open in August of 2004. All elementary schools in the Liberty School District are Kindergarten through 8th grade, following the district philosophy that K-8 schools have more developmentally appropriate advantages than middle schools for our children.
In August 2001, The Buckeye Union High School District opened a new public high school, Estrella Foothills High School, located within the Estrella Mountain Ranch community. Open to grades 9,10, and 11 during the 2003-2004 school year; grade 12 will be added with the 2004-2005 school year. The first day of school for the 2003-2004 school year is August 7, 2003. Students attending Estrella Foothills High School benefit from the small class sizes and the intensive block schedule where students have four classes per day, each ninety-minutes in length. There are four terms per year, each term lasting nine weeks. The ninety-minute block classes allow students and parents a variety of classes to build a more personalized schedule that helps meet their individual needs. In addition, EFHS students will earn 8 credits per year toward the 28 credits that are required for graduation.
Core courses, electives, and athletics are offered to students as well as honors courses in math, english, and science. In addition, those students enrolled in culinary classes operate the on-campus restaurant, El Lobo Cafe.
Verrado
Verrado is a modern community nestled in the foothills of the White Tank Mountains. It is a place where you can experience the best of home, town and Arizona in a breathtaking desert mountain setting. Comfortably familiar, yet completely original, Verrado captures the spirit of a friendly small town. Front porches, living rooms overlooking the neighborhood and garages set back from the street will be just a few of the distinguishing features at Verrado, an 8,800-acre community. As with many pre-World War II neighborhoods, streets in Verrado will feature diverse housing options and architectural styles, ranging from rental lofts to row homes on Main Street, branching out to single-family home neighborhoods and winding into larger custom homes in the foothills and mountains. Home sites will be elevated to differentiate public and private zones, and community walls will be minimized to encourage neighbor interaction. Most homes will be no more than two blocks from a neighborhood park where residents can gather, relax and play. A majority of the homes will have front porches and living spaces that overlook the neighborhood. Garages will be set back from the street or accessed by an alley.
The Life
In many ways, life at Verrado will begin along Main Street, a vibrant, pedestrian-oriented hub of activity. There will be opportunities for residential loft living above shops, which will help ensure the vitality of this district. The property owner's association will also play a key role in preserving life at Verrado by maintaining the appearance of common areas and other features benefiting the community, such as parks, paths and trails.
Verrado offers an engaging life to all who live here, whether you want to connect with the people around you or simply make your home in a place where life itself enlivens your spirit. Neighbors being neighborly, people saying hello to each other, friends and family out and about enjoying the day - these are the moments that enrich both individual and neighborhood.
Verrado will offer places for planned and impromptu gatherings, health and wellness services, volunteer opportunities and even a town manager, who will welcome residents to Verrado and lay the foundation for a vibrant community by establishing social, civic and educational programs. Connection comes, too, courtesy of verrado.net, a community-wide Internet portal.
Recreation
At Verrado, you'll find recreational opportunities throughout the community, including the Raven Golf Club at Verrado, which will feature a championship golf course designed by Tom Lehman and John Fought. The first phase of Verrado also will include more than twenty parks - including Founder's Park, Walton Park and many neighborhood parks - and soon there will be more than three miles of paths and trails running alongside the Acacia, Sunrise and Lost Creek washes in Verrado. Designed for outdoor recreation and discovery, these paths and trails are ideal for exploring the desert in bloom, a relaxing hike or a morning jog - yet they are just moments away from your doorstep.
Situated adjacent to the White Tank Mountain Regional Park, Verrado offers an unparalleled setting, with the spectacular mountains providing a striking backdrop - and endless recreational opportunities - for the community. There will be incredible views whether you're atop the mountain or in town. But it won't be just the views that are impressive. You'll also have the inspiring opportunity to engage the desert and mountains around you - and truly connect with the natural world.
All residents enjoy a community membership to the Verrado Village Sport & Health Club. The private club features multipurpose activity rooms, outdoor basketball facilities, and a swimming pool complex consisting of a lap pool, a multipurpose pool and a spray garden. For those who desire, an optional, paid sport & health membership will provide access to state-of-the-art cardiovascular and weight-training equipment in addition to professionally led private and group exercise classes.
The Raven Golf Club at Verrado will feature an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Tom Lehman and John Fought. Winding among the foothills, this premier daily-fee course will offer a thrilling, quality golf experience against the backdrop of the White Tank Mountains.
All residents will take pleasure in the community's extensive path and trail system, the many neighborhood parks, and the tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly streets. Each represents an opportunity to get out and make Verrado your very own.
Education
As with many small towns, learning will be a cornerstone at Verrado. Through alliances with school districts and a neighboring prestigious university, the thoughtful design of facilities reflecting the character of traditional schools, the innovative use of technology, and teaching that extends far beyond the classroom, Verrado will make learning a way of life. It will be a place where children learn about the world around them and adults learn about themselves.
Like the community itself, the Verrado Elementary and Middle school will provide an exciting learning environment that encourages hands-on education and participation. Part of the Litchfield Elementary School District, it is scheduled to welcome its first students in the fall of 2004. The school will present a classic presence with its Spanish Colonial architecture and traditional bell tower and sit on thirty acres of land located in the heart of the community, within walking distance of many homes, parks and the Main Street District. Current plans call for the Agua Fria Union School District to open their fourth high school at Verrado as early as the fall of 2006. Prior to that time, children in grades 9 through 11 will attend Desert Edge, while 12th graders will attend Agua Fria or Millennium.
When it comes to learning at Verrado, there will be many possibilities for adults, too. For example, ASU West and Verrado are forging an exemplary alliance to create lifelong educational opportunities for students and residents of all ages. The West Valley Teacher Certification Program is the alliance's first initiative. This year's class includes eleven professionals with bachelor's degrees who are participating in an intensive ten-month program to become certified teachers. It is hoped that they and future classes of certification program candidates will help meet the growing demand for high-quality teachers in the West Valley. Community involvement will be encouraged through a substitute teacher-training program available to all residents, while lifelong learning will be supported through a vast number of adult education seminars and classes on everything from computers and math to language and the arts.
The Homes
Many of us remember a time when adventure, exploration and imagination were all that were necessary to create an unforgettable day. It was a time when a bicycle was a child's passport to freedom, and when families knew their neighbors and play dates were arranged by a knock on a friend's front door. Thankfully, such a time has come again to enrich lives in the world we live in today. Verrado will feature diverse housing options and architectural styles, ranging from rental lofts and park homes on Main Street to single-family home neighborhoods and custom homesites in the foothills and mountains.
To achieve this, Verrado formed unique alliances with seven of Arizona's finest homebuilders. These builders are professionals and craftsmen, who were selected based on their innovative spirit and willingness to fulfill the Verrado vision. Together, we've had one goal - to build homes that allow you to live your own life within the embrace of an engaging community.
Most homes will be no more than two blocks from a neighborhood park where residents can gather, relax and play. A majority of homes will have front porches and living spaces that overlook the neighborhood. Garages will be set back from the street or accessed by an alley.
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