SELMA – A housing project more than a decade in the making celebrated a milestone just months before families start to move in.
On Sept. 12, city officials and community members gathered at the center of the developing Amberwood Community to cut the ribbon on a brand new park. According to a previous statement from the Lennar Corporation, developer of the Amberwood Community, this is the first park to open in Selma since the 1980s.
In addition to the playground, the park features picnic and lounge areas, light fitness equipment, a basketball court and an open grass area.
“Regarding a park, a neighborhood cannot be called (a neighborhood) until it has something like this,” said Jason Glasgow, Lennar division president, during the ribbon cutting ceremony. “It’s not an amenity on a checklist, it’s where kids learn to ride their bikes, it’s where neighbors meet each other and become friends, and it’s where those people become a community.”
In his comments, Glasgow said the Amberwood development has taken more than 10 years of partnership with the city, county and local stakeholders, but he expressed his excitement in finally seeing it come to life. As construction continues on the first wave of homes, Glasgow said he anticipates families moving in sometime in December.
The ceremony also saw comments from Mayor Scott Robertson, who reiterated that although the project has taken years, it was well worth the wait. Robertson shared that after the first phase of around 270 homes, the development will have two more phases with a potential total buildout of around 900 homes.
“This is an exciting time for Selma,” said Robertson in his comments. “We want you to know that if you’re visiting Selma and considering getting a home here, we want you here. We want you to shop at our local businesses, come to our community events and get involved in our schools, organizations and our neighborhoods.”
The ceremony’s final speaker was Mayor Pro Tem Sarah Guerra, who represents District 3 where the Amberwood Community resides. Guerra reflected on when the community broke ground on the park when “it was all dirt,” and shared her joy in seeing children already playing on the day of the ribbon cutting.
In closing, Guerra recognized the generational impacts that a development like Amberwood can have on a community like Selma.
“I want our children to grow up here and build their lives, and if they choose to raise their own families someday, I want them to have that opportunity too,” said Guerra. “New homes create those opportunities, and parks like this help those neighborhoods feel complete.”
After the round of speeches, attendees flocked to the playground for the ribbon cutting. Once the ceremonial snip marked the opening of the park, children and parents wasted no time as they broke in the new structure.
