The first thing anyone should know about planned communities is that they’re exactly what they sound like–planned. Before a shovel ever touches dirt, these communities are planned in detail, and many include resort-style amenities, golf courses, schools, green spaces, and shopping. The idea is “live, work, and play” in a hometown setting. Here, we’ll examine two Jacksonville-area planned communities. Let’s start off with an award-winning community dear to my heart, Fleming Island Plantation, because this is where I live, work, and play.

Photo by Richard Blann

Fleming Island Plantation

Fleming Island Plantation — or FIP, as it is lovingly known by the many happy residents — is located in Fleming Island, Florida and first began in 2000. FIP has all the amenities you might want from a resort-style community. There are two pools behind the Amenity Center (one for adults and one for kids), clay tennis courts, basketball and volleyball courts, and walking paths throughout. The Splash Park, complete with Super Slide and Splash Playground, has a “thunder bucket” to keep the kiddoes cool during our hot summer months. With a full-time activities director, there’s always something for the whole family to do!

Are you a golfer? You can play the 18-hole Bobby Weed–designed golf course that wanders throughout the community, just waiting for you to take the challenge. Finish your day on the links at the 19th Hole Grill for some appetizers and cold beverages.

FIP hosts gated neighborhoods like River Hills Reserve with custom homes and Lakeridge Villas North and South, you will find a variety of townhomes and luxury paired villas. Don’t want to deal with lawn work? You might consider Fairway Village, where the landscaping is taken care of for you.

New residents are drawn by the all “A”-rated schools, the main county library, the YMCA, the Baptist Clay Medical Campus, shops, restaurants … whew! Are you getting the idea of “planned communities”? No wonder so many people have chosen to “live, work, and play” here!

Nocatee at Ponte Vedra

Another award-winning planned community, Nocatee at Ponte Vedra is located in Ponte Vedra, Florida, just three miles from the Atlantic Ocean, west of the Intracoastal Waterway. With home prices starting in the $190K range, there’s something here for everyone. Nocatee offers many various designs from some of the finest homebuilders Florida has to offer: homes for singles, growing families, and seniors, all built in village-type neighborhoods offering a variety of beautiful homes.

In Nocatee’s Town Center, you’ll find grocery and specialty stores, places to dine and socialize, and — coming soon — the Baptist Health primary care facility. All this within walking or biking distance. Residents here enjoy amenities that include Greenway trails, a Splash Water Park, and volleyball courts!

The Jacksonville area has many options when it comes to living in a planned community. Planning to live in the Sunshine? Why not look into the live-work-play lifestyle?

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