Sherwood Park Delray Beach Florida

Delray Beach community’s well-kept homes, large lots and
neighborhood pride appeal to couples, families and retirees.

DELRAY BEACH — Sherwood Park today isn’t exactly what it was
in the beginning: a community in the western edge of town, near the farms and the cows and a dusty, dirt road named Military Trail.
But more than 40 years later, this old-fashioned neighborhood has
retained as much of its rural feel as possible while being just 3 miles from the beach, a few minutes from Interstate 95 and tucked between Linton Boulevard and the long-since paved Military Trail.
Lakeview Golf Course and the Lakeview neighborhood, a connected development with a similar feel to Sherwood Park. The two neighborhoods often combine for social and other events.
But residents and Realtors still love the serenity of this area, even though one of its two streets is a town shortcut (Lowson Boulevard) and even though those big open spaces are now filled with homes and golf courses. Without a mandatory homeowners’ association or gates. Business owners like being able to park trucks and other equipment at their homes, for example. Others like to keep boats and other recreational equipment on their property. That’s all OK here, as long as residents follow city regulations, including keeping boats behind fences and maintaining their homes and landscaping. It makes for an eclectic group of homeowners, residents say. But they’re like-minded, independent and often passionate about their neighborhood.
When a developer wanted to turn Christ the King monastery, an 8-acre parcel in the neighborhood, into townhouses and later single-family homes a few years ago, the voluntary association jumped into action. Residents filled city meetings, and plans eventually were abandoned, although the real estate market collapse contributed to that, too. The association collects $100 a year from
each willing homeowner and gets a little more than 50 percent participation from the 190 homes. The money primarily maintains the community’s two signs and pays for lighting, irrigation and maintenance of common-area landscaping. Anything left over, pays for a few social events each year, including an Easter egg hunt and block party.
The large lots, sense of community and nearby conveniences are the biggest selling points for potential buyers.
Residents tend to stay for many years. Often, they move to a bigger or smaller home within the community as their needs change. Families with kids, newly married couples and retirees all find it a comfortable place. The area’s well-regarded public schools
— A-rated Orchard View Elementary and B-rated Carver Middle and Atlantic High — are good selling points, too.

"The Palm Beach Post" — at Sherwood Park Delray Beach Florida.