Poinciana, BellalagoSM now have All-America status
July 01, 2008
POINCIANA, FL---Poinciana, twice named one of America’s 100 Nicest Places to Live, and BellalagoSM, winner of two Best Master-Planned Community awards, now have All-America status.Both communities, being developed by Avatar® Properties Inc., make up a sizeable portion of Osceola County which along with the City of Kissimmee earned a 2007 All-America City award from the National Civic League at the conclusion of a three-day competition this June.
Kissimmee/Osceola County was the only community from Florida to earn the distinction, and one of only 10 winners nationwide from cities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina(2), and Ohio.
Osceola County, with Kissimmee as its county seat, is the sixth largest county in Florida (in acreage) and the fourth fastest growing county in the United States with a current population that has grown 60 percent since 2000 to over 244,000. At 47,000 acres (approximately 74 square miles), Poinciana includes the Avatar® award-winning active adult community of Solivita®. Along with neighboring BellalagoSM, a gated community overlooking Lake Tohopekaliga (Toho), and the Isles of BellalagoSM, they account for over 70,000 residents.
En-route to winning its All-America City award, Kissimmee/Osceola County presented a 24-page application that covered a broad range of criteria addressing lifestyle; amenities; significant and specific community achievements; innovation demonstrated by creative solutions and leveraging of community resources; the collaboration of public, private and nonprofit sectors; inclusiveness demonstrated by recognition and involvement of diverse segments and perspectives in community decision-making; projects that address the community’s most important needs and demonstrate results and impacts; and cooperation across jurisdictional boundaries.
“Kissimmee/Osceola County represents the best life has to offer,” the application stated. “Blessed with a rich heritage and bountiful landscape in the heart of Central Florida, we attract visitors and new residents from near and far. The community has gained a reputation for its year-round desirable climate and abundant recreational opportunities.
“We have proven time and again to be a community that faces challenges head on and cares for the well-being of its citizens. Our community embraces all ages, races and ethnic groups. We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all citizens and visitors.”
The application also outlined Kissimmee/Osceola County’s vision for its future, emphasizing its Community Vision program started in 1995 that addresses:
Environmental Protection---established Save And Value our Environment referendum to acquire environmentally sensitive lands;
Economic Equity---recognizing needs of the disadvantaged in the decision-making process;
Quality Education---continuous construction of schools;
Managed Growth to Preserve Quality of Life---participation in regional planning effort;
Civic Pride---continuation of Leadership and School Government programs; and
Connectivity---implementation of Neighborhood Block Party Express program.
Avatar® has played its part in Kissimmee/Osceola’s Community Vision program by setting aside 18,000 acres of lakes, woodlands and conservation areas in Poinciana as an eco-system; creating over 300 acres of inland lakes and waterways at BellalagoSM; donating land for the construction of seven public schools (K-12) and a charter school (Bellalago Academy) which is the state’s first charter school to be managed by a public school district (Osceola); and establishing the county’s first Educational Facilities Benefit District (EFBD), a taxing district that generates funds to build new schools in new neighborhoods.
Poinciana was selected as one of America’s 100 Nicest Places to Live in 2003 and 2005 by RelocateAmerica.com from 5,100 communities throughout the United States, while BellalagoSM earned Best Master-Planned Community honors in 2004 from the Florida Home Builders Association (HBA) and the Metro Orlando HBA.
For more information about Kissimmee/Osceola County’s All-America City award, contact Carla Banks, manager of communications and public information for the City of Kissimmee, at (407) 518-2314.
