Longleaf Receives Florida-Friendly Landscaping Certification From the Florida Yards & Neighborhood Program

PASCO, Fla., April 8, 2008 – Crosland LLC, one of the Southeast’s leading diversified real estate firms announced today that Longleaf, a traditional neighborhood community located near Starkey Ranch, received certification from the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program for its Florida-friendly landscaping at Owney Park and Doc Brittle Commons.

“Longleaf is a sustainable community that features environmentally-friendly building practices and an abundance of green space,” said Perry Reader, president of Crosland’s Florida division. “We are committed to providing residents with places to gather and enjoy the successful balance of nature and development.”

Florida Yards & Neighborhoods is a University of Florida Extension program that encourages homeowners and professionals to create and maintain Florida-friendly landscapes. Specifically, the program is helping to create sustainable yards that reduce stormwater runoff, decrease water pollution, conserve water, enhance wildlife habitat, conserve the state’s plant and animal diversity, and maintain soil health.

The certification program documents and verifies a community's commitment to environmental stewardship. The nine-category checklist awards inches, or points, for environmentally friendly landscaping features ranging from watering efficiency to fertilizing techniques to recycling. Communities seeking Florida-friendly landscaping designation must achieve a minimum of 72 inches to be certified by the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program.

Doc Brittle Commons and Owney Park are each just under an acre in size. A significant portion of the existing vegetation was preserved during construction and supplemented with new drought tolerant plant material. Additionally, irrigation is now controlled with solar power at Doc Brittle Commons and soil moisture sensors regulate the irrigation in Owney Park. Both parks include seating areas and Doc Brittle Commons features a playground for the residents to enjoy.