The Babcock Ranch lifestyle is based on the principles of smart growth and living a better life. This, along with its self-proclaimed “love affair with the land,” had the RVi team eager and excited at the opportunity to design a landscape that would bring preservation and restoration to the forefront. As landscape architects and stewards of the environment, RVi has values that align with the values of Babcock Ranch, and this project presented design opportunities that we don’t get to implement every day. With sustainability at the heart of all that is Babcock Ranch, native landscape palettes and conservation played a huge role in every aspect of bringing this project to life.

The development process

RVi’s initial involvement with Babcock Ranch began with the planning department. Initial phases included streetscape designs along Cypress Parkway, the main entry into Babcock Ranch at that time. Our plant palette was nearly 100% native, preserving the land’s character and extending the greenery right up to the multi-use sidewalks that run throughout the entire community. We worked closely with the landscape contractor to facilitate the root pruning and relocation of multiple ranch oaks from the property to incorporate into the streetscape design, which provided character and immediate impact. In addition to the 20+ miles of streetscape design along Cypress Parkway, Greenway Boulevard, Lake Babcock Drive, and Curry Preserve Drive, we also designed Telegraph Linear Park along the back of Parkside Community, connecting a larger system of trails. Telegraph Linear Park includes multiple seating areas as well as a few grassy knolls for people to enjoy under the shade of more relocated oak trees.

As home sales for Babcock Ranch grew, so did the need for more entries into the site from State Road 31, aptly renamed Babcock Ranch Road. RVi held an internal charette to design entry signs and monuments, as well as faux bridge designs incorporated into the Babcock Ranch logo. Several of our 3D digital renderings were selected for the Greenway Boulevard and Cypress Parkway entries, and were installed via design-build.

Designing the community for safe, sustainable, and functional use

As the ranch grew into a larger community with younger families enjoying the Babcock lifestyle, it was only natural that Babcock Neighborhood School came into the picture, with a high school following a few years later. RVi designed the playground with rolling hills and a field to promote natural play. Planter boxes were also provided near the outdoor classroom areas for children. RVi also designed the irrigation and drainage for the entire site, leaving provisions for the elementary school expansion that should be taking place in the next few years. Student safety was a big concern with the school’s representatives, so RVi staff worked closely with them to design the school yard. With the school’s location being the focal point of the main roundabout off of Lake Babcock Drive, plenty of care was put into designing the landscape at the front of the schools. Many children ride their bikes and walk to school in the mornings, so we were sure to incorporate vehicular barriers in the form of trees and landscape, as well as ranch fencing, to prevent any cars from driving through to the main pedestrian areas in front of the buildings.

RVi’s commitment to preserving nature and maintaining the native plant palette

Rather than seeing the native plant palette as a constraint, RVi incorporated it into the ranch’s design. We used swathes of the native muhly grass to create dramatic pink statements when the grass is in bloom in early October. Beautiful ranch oaks served as frames creating canopy gateways, and included hammock-style groupings of native palm stands that really created the feeling of home for the many residents who reside there.

Other contributions to the Babcock Ranch community and what’s to come

RVi is proud to have helped the community develop by contributing to the development of the Charlotte County District 5 Sheriff’s Office and the Charlotte County Fire/EMS Station 9, as well as a daycare center for children who are not yet old enough to attend Babcock Neighborhood School.

Currently, the William and Mary Ann Smith Sports Complex is under construction. RVi assisted with the site planning and layout of the sports fields, skate park, and perimeter trail. The sports park will be used for the neighborhood school’s future sports teams, as well as community teams that will likely form after the new turf baseball, softball, soccer, and football fields are complete.

Living a better life

When you drive through Babcock Ranch, it’s clear that you have arrived at a special place—and the landscape is one of the first indicators of that. As Babcock Ranch continues to grow, we can’t wait to see how the natural design and feel is incorporated into future phases, creating the beautiful space that many have grown to love and enjoy.