Developing for Community 

A new wave of development is quietly reshaping how people live, move, and connect, and it is happening in more than one corner of the city. Three urban developments now taking shape show a clear shift away from car-heavy sprawl and toward neighborhoods designed for real life. The kind with sidewalks, shared spaces, and reasons to run into your neighbors on purpose and by accident. 

According to Cody Boyd, founder of Edmond Urbanist, that shift matters more than ever. 

“We’ve done suburban sprawl for 50-plus years,” Boyd said. “People spend so much time in their cars just to do basic things. What we’re seeing now is a desire for closer community and healthier ways of living.” 

Liberty Park 

Located in northeast Edmond, Liberty Park is envisioned as a destination-style development designed to serve as a focal point for the surrounding area. Boyd describes it as similar in spirit to places like Carlton Landing or the Wheeler District, but thoughtfully scaled for north Edmond. The project blends single-family homes, multifamily housing, shops, and restaurants with parks, playgrounds, trails, and sidewalks that connect the entire community. 

“This is community-focused from the start,” Boyd said. “There’s a mix of housing, public spaces, and the potential for things like a church or small private school. It backs right up to Centennial Elementary School, which is huge for families.” 

East Edmond 15A 

Being developed by Arcadia Farms, LLC, East Edmond 15A brings a pedestrian-oriented vision to 645 acres near the future Post Road interchange on the Turner Turnpike. Planned as a long-term, mixed-use community, the project is designed to unfold over the next 20 to 30 years with a focus on walkability, access to nature, and everyday connection. 

“This ‘live, work, shop and play’ village will promote a walkable environment with housing for all life stages,” Arcadia Farms LLC explained, noting plans for singles, families, and seniors alongside restaurants, village retail, and recreational spaces. 

For Boyd, the setting is what truly sets it apart. “What makes this unique is that you get a lake community without leaving the city,” Boyd said. “You don’t have to drive to Lake Eufaula or Grand Lake to get that lifestyle.” 

The development emphasizes healthy living through direct connections to Edmond’s trail system and Arcadia Lake parks, with approximately 200 acres of forested land preserved as open space. 

“The project emphasizes healthy living,” Arcadia Farms LLC said, adding that the concept aligns with the City’s Edmond Plan 2018 and East Edmond 2050 Plan. 

By combining village-style development with large, forested common areas, the project aims to balance growth with mental and physical well-being. 

Farmpond 

Located near Edmond North High School and John Ross Elementary, Farmpond takes a more compact, intentional approach to development. Built on a challenging parcel bordered by Edmond North, city streets, and nearby railroad tracks, the project turns a difficult site into an opportunity for attainable housing in the heart of the city. 

The Planned Unit Development allows for future townhomes or garden-style apartments, creating lower-maintenance living options for young professionals, small families, and downsizing homeowners who want to stay close to central Edmond. The project will include neighborhood amenities, landscaped green spaces, and modern stormwater detention infrastructure designed to manage rainfall and reduce flooding risk. Those green spaces also serve as buffers from nearby roadways and the rail line, while offering residents usable outdoor areas. 

“This is a huge win for families, teachers, and school staff,” said Boyd. “Kids can walk to school. Parents can stay connected to their neighborhood.” 

With downtown Edmond just a short walk, bike ride, or drive away, Farmpond supports daily life with fewer car trips and more opportunities for connection, reinforcing how thoughtful infill development can benefit both residents and the broader community. 

A Return to Community 

Boyd believes developments like these help combat isolation, something many communities now face as households grow smaller and more people live alone. 

“These places create opportunities for unplanned human interaction,” he said. “Open lawns, sidewalks, shops right outside your door. You see neighbors walking, hanging out, living life together.” 

“This style of development feels new to some people,” he said. “But it’s actually very traditional. Humans lived this way for thousands of years. We’re just remembering what healthy communities look like.” 

For more information about Edmond developments, visit edmondurbanist.com.