Brookfield Residential, D.R Horton’s Phoenix East division and the city of Apache Junction on Dec. 7 broke ground on the first phases of two communities in the Superstition Vistas area.

Within the larger 275 square miles of Superstition Vistas is a 2,783-acre parcel where the first master-planned communities have broken ground. The communities are just south of Elliot Road, bordered to the west by Meridian Road, east by Idaho Road and south by Ray Road, according to a release.

“We thank all of our partners who have been working with us on the single biggest project in the city’s history,” Apache Junction City Manager Bryant Powell said in the release. “It’s more than historic. It will change the face of our city and the region. We, the city of Apache Junction, are putting our unique stamp on the East Valley and beyond. It is our time. And I am so excited that Apache Junction’s time is now. We have been working so long and we can’t wait to see shovels in the ground today and rooftops soon.”

The two master-planned communities are being developed by Brookfield Residential, developer of the nearby Eastmark community and the West Valley’s Alamar community, and D.R. Horton, the largest volume builder in the U.S. since 2002. The two communities are expected to open in 2023.

The two mixed-use projects will offer at least 40 acres of commercial use, more than 20 acres for an elementary school site, 73 acres dedicated to outdoor and recreational space and 10 acres for a public safety facility, which may include a library, police and fire stations, or other services. The communities are planned to consist of approximately 10,500 residential units once completed. A total of 1,825 first-phase home sites are expected to be available for sale to homebuilders in early 2022. These communities will be developed in multiple phases over a currently estimated 10 years, the release states.

“This is a big milestone for Apache Junction and the Superstition Vistas area, and we are incredibly proud to kick-off the first communities in this project. We know this will be one of the East Valley’s new signature communities which reflects the strong relationship between Brookfield Residential, the city of Apache Junction, D.R. Horton’s Phoenix East division and the Arizona State Land Department. Our communities will seamlessly tie Superstition Vistas’ generous green spaces and connect the corridors with the city’s sustainable communities’ initiatives,” John Bradley, president for Brookfield Residential Arizona, said in the release.

The two master-planned communities will include a 16-acre regional park co-developed with the city of Apache Junction. The park is expected to serve as the central hub for the community and be a popular venues for outdoor events and gatherings. The regional park will also include a lake, ramadas, basketball courts, dog parks and be designed to bring Apache Junction residents together year-round.

The communities are expected to feature five additional large community parks ranging from 14 to 18 acres each with unique designs and diverse amenities to serve the communities’ diverse needs. There will also be more than 30 spacious, 1-acre neighborhood parks. Unlike the parks that serve as retention basins, these level green spaces allow for many uses such as basketball half-courts, benches, ramadas and play equipment.

For outdoor enthusiasts, residents will have approximately four miles of hiking and exercise trails, which offer convenient routes for walkers, joggers or bikers throughout the community neighborhoods, parks and beyond.

There will be two commercial centers programmed to serve the communities’ needs, the release states.

“We are developing a system of parks, trails and open space to meet the recreational and health needs of Apache Junction residents and visitors. This is a future-forward community focused on family connectivity, health, and wellness with generous outdoor and open recreational spaces. The thoughtful, deliberate community planning will significantly raise the bar for master-planned communities in the Phoenix marketplace, and with its unique open space designs, it will pay homage to Apache Junction’s rural heritage, while incorporating future-forward theming and design to seamlessly blend into the surroundings and the natural beauty of the Superstition Mountains,” Bradley said.