Symphony Park was recently recognized at the 2010 Las Vegas Business Press Green Awards. The community took top honors in the building category and is the only project in the state to be accepted into the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED^®-ND) national pilot program. This program is defining what a sustainable neighborhood should be, so Symphony Park’s urban planning and design is helping to establish criteria for all other LEED^®-certified neighborhood developments throughout the country.

Not only does Symphony Park embrace environmentally sensitive development practices going forward, it embodies the very essence of land recycling by transforming a fallow brownfield site into a vibrant community. That’s because Symphony Park is taking shape on a 61-acre infill site that was a former railroad switching yard for Union Pacific Railroad.

“LEED-certified projects are friendlier to the environment and designed specifically to make efficient use of the planet’s resources,” said Rita Brandin, senior vice president of Newland and development director of Symphony Park.  “Symphony Park is raising the bar in southern Nevada for responsible, environmentally sensitive development.  More importantly, it’s a place that will resonate with environmentally responsible consumers committed to doing their part to help create a sustainable world.”

Photo: Bill Hughes (2010 Business Press Green Award Winners, including City Manager Elizabeth N. Fretwell (center) and Newland’s Sam Gladstein (in red tie) representing Symphony Park)