Village of Ponderosa is designed as a diverse community of stores, restaurants, offices and varied residential housing types and styles. These residential and commercial neighborhoods share acres of open space that include Crescent Lake, the Meadow and seven miles of pathways and sidewalks (view map of trails). In addition, there are amenities and landscape features that provide a critical unifying influence.

• elevated front yard gardens with low stone retaining/seat walls
• stream and lake crossings with similar stone retaining walls and traffic barriers
• private pedestrian scale street lights unique to Village of Ponderosa
• consistent street tree plantings and site furniture
• generously landscaped environments along major streets and public pathways

Crescent Lake
The most significant open space at Village of Ponderosa is Crescent Lake. It gives the village an identity and provides the community with a pleasing lakeside terrace where people might enjoy lunch, dinner or just a chat with friends over coffee. The lake also creates a transition between Village of Ponderosa’s commercial center and the more traditional multi-family and single-family residential neighborhoods. 

Lakeside Terrace
The central gathering place at Village of Ponderosa is the Lakeside Terrace. Located right between Crescent Lake and Market Street, it provides a flexible area for a myriad of activities.

The Lakeside Terrace will feature bubbling water that flows down to the lake with a waterfall and plunge pool. The water will provide several different sound effects, both soothing and dramatic. In addition, special lantern walls are integrated into the water feature to provide a shimmering effect near the streetscape.

Another feature of the Lakeside Terrace is the clock tower. With an internally illuminated clock face, the tower provides an understated and sophisticated accent on Village of Ponderosa’s skyline.

The Lakeside Terrace is designed to accommodate a wide range of activities including:

• the informal gathering of individuals, couples, families and small groups
• special event assemblies for large groups
• seating with moveable chairs and small tables, and informal seating opportunities on sloping lawns and broad steps

Rose Garden
Located southeast of Building N, and near the intersection of Market Street and South Prairie View Road, the Rose Garden provides a visible gateway into Village of Ponderosa and an attractive quiet space for pedestrians. It features traditional four-square garden forms reminiscent of late 1800s English gardens, but with a 21st century interpretation and relevance. The Rose Garden also provides a link between Village of Ponderosa and pedestrian environments in West Glen.

Art
Multiple locations have been identified for the installation of permanent or temporary/rotating art pieces. Village of Ponderosa’s main entrance off 60th Street is designed as an Art Lawn. Additionally, an environmental art feature with “swirling” low stone walls and internally illuminated glass fissures is integrated into Bluestem Circle. These art features visually reinforce traffic movements while maintaining critical sight lines for drivers.