Harmony
The History of Harmony
The Harmony project originally began as the Harmony Institute, a non-profit foundation created by former Orlando Humane Society/SPCA of Central Florida director Martha Lentz in 1996. As the guiding light of the developing Harmony community, the Institute exists to promote the psychological, emotional and public health values of living in an integrated balance with pets, wildlife and environmental ecologies.
As co-founders of Harmony, Martha and her husband Jim considered a number of locations for the Institute’s headquarters site, finally arriving at the current property – 11,000 acres of pristine Florida nature, an area known historically as the Triple E Ranch. The Institute and development company formed a partnership to develop the land in accordance with the underlying principles governing the Institute, reserving a 100 acres of Harmony for the Institute’s nonprofit purposes.
The private company developing the town of Harmony is dedicated to the idea that communities planned for the well-being of all their residents – human and non-human alike – will produce not only a higher quality of life, but real marketplace returns as well.
Today, the thriving community of Harmony is home to approximately 1,000 residents, many of them families. Together we successfully fulfill the vision of environmentally intelligent living – as well as proudly serve as prudent caretakers and contributors to the continuing history of Central Florida.
Harmony
Whether a homeowner, tenant or guest, we hope that you will enjoy and value the time spent at Harmony. Harmony has been designed with certain core values intended to provide you with opportunities for enjoying the highest quality of life that Florida can offer. These values are expressed in the pedestrian friendly design of its neighborhoods, the wildlife supportive retention of natural areas and park design, the attractive design and resource saving features of its homes and the opportunities offered to enjoy interactions with your neighbors and to develop an understanding and appreciation of the great Florida outdoors.
Recreation
If you enjoy organized activities, such as poker and dart nights, exercise classes, trail walks, craft classes, book clubs, after school fun, picnics, field trips, campfires or just about anything else that you might suggest, then there’s something happening almost every day. These are great ways to meet your neighbors and get on the fast track into community life. Harmony’s activities director will bring you right into the mix. Getting on the activity email list will provide you with regular updates on things to do at Harmony. Also check the monthly community newspaper, Harmony Notes, for other news on what’s going on. The Harmony Golf Preserve is a Johnny Miller designed public course, and Harmony residents receive special discounts on golf fees and annual memberships. For more information visit www.HarmonyGolfPreserve.com.
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Pets and Wildlife
Harmony holds at the heart of its value system the belief that people live better when they live in regular contact with animals and nature. The community’s goal is to promote the peaceful coexistence of these human and animal residents within the community. Underlying this goal are the values of fostering a respect for the land, the humane treatment of animals, and the protection of wildlife and their habitats. A unique set of restrictions, guidelines, and goals concerning companion animals, habitat, and wildlife presents our shared values in this and apply to homeowners, tenants, and guest. It can be downloaded at www.weliveinharmonyfl.com.
Dogs are welcome in the CDD (Community Development District) owned parks and sidewalks if they are displaying a Harmony tag and have been registered with the Harmony Residential Owners Association, through the Sales and Information Gallery. The dog parks are the only places where dogs can run off leash. There are two dog parks on Cat Brier Trail and a third (Central Bark) on Five Oaks Drive near Harmony Square. The CDD provides doggy waste bags so please be sure to clean up after your pet wherever you are.
Cats and wildlife don’t mix, with each presenting a risk to the other. Cats are not allowed to run free off your property. Cats and dogs may be picked up as strays by Osceola County Animal Control if found loose. Lost or stray pets that are registered at Harmony often recovered quickly.
Parks and Lakes
All of Harmony’s parks and sidewalks are owned and managed by the Community Development District. Parks are open from ½ hour after sunrise to ½ hour before sunset unless posted otherwise.
Buck Lake is private owned, however a fishing/observing pier is available for Harmony residents to use. All fishing is by barbless hook. Bass are catch and release only. Florida fishing license rules apply. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Boats are also available at Buck Lake through the CDD for use by Harmony residents and their accompanied guests. There are currently no rental fees for boat use.
Two community swimming pools are available for your use. Each resident is issued a key. Don’t forget to visit the Lakeshore Park water feature. The kids will be delighted. The older kids will enjoy the basketball court and volleyball court. These features are located right next to the playground and soccer field. All developed parks are managed by the CDD, which can be reached at www.HarmonyCDD.org.
Lighting and Energy Star
The Town of Harmony is committed to shielded, “dark sky” friendly lighting through its street, commercial, and residential lighting. There are no street lights in the alleys. Instead, the neighborhoods rely on the photo cell controlled wall lights by your garage door to provide needed alley lighting. Homes were built to federal Energy Star standards and should provide energy savings to you each month.
Wildlife
Don’t feed the wildlife! This rule applies to all animals except songbirds attracted to your bird feeder. Alligators can be found in every pond and are naturally afraid of people. However, they also feed near the pond shore and can confuse wading dogs and even small children with their natural food, especially if they become used to getting handouts from the shoreline. Fishing is not allowed at neighborhood ponds, but is encouraged at Buck Lake.
An informal group of residents meets the third Monday of each month with Harmony’s Conservation director at the Conservation Café to learn about and discuss all things outdoors and green and welcomes new residents and guests. They also sponsor trail walks, bird counts, habitat projects, field trips, and anything e3lse that sounds good to do outside. A trail system offering miles of trails ranging from paved sidewalks to natural surface walks in the woods are in walking distance from your home. Trails are designed for hikers, cyclists, and/or equestrians. As many of the natural trails are on private lands, their use is limited to Harmony residents and their accompanied guests. Maps are posted at major trail heads and are available on line at www.HarmonyFL.com/parks-recreation.html.
Cat Lake Landing offers primitive campsites and a group fire ring for residents.
Harmony Schools
The Harmony Community School enrolls K-12, is “A” rated, and is within walking distance for all residents. Much to the students’ delight the classrooms enjoy “smart boards” and other new technologies for the classrooms.
The Harmony High School is located directly across 192, but accessible by “tunnel” under the highway, allowing our students to get to school safely. Harmony High is home to the Harmony Longhorns, which many of the locals go out to support on Friday nights.
The Harmony Institute
Based at Harmony, the mission of the Harmony Institute is to promote human health and well being through the interaction of people, animals and the environment. The Institute is a non-profit 501 © (3) charitable organization and gave the vision to creating the Town of Harmony and many of its progressive features. It explores the question of whether a community designed like Harmony can actually improve public health through changes in daily behavior. An advisory board of eminent scholars guides this work. The Institute owns 100 acres adjacent to the Harmony High School. The Institute’s facilities and programs are being developed at this site starting with spirit Farm, a working form for children and other vulnerable members of society who would benefit from therapeutic activities with agricultural animals and gardening. Visit www.HarmonyInstitute.org.
St. Cloud
Saint Cloud, Florida is a small family oriented town that is growing fast right outside of Orlando FL and has some of the best central Florida property available in the state. With 2.5 miles of beautiful Central Florida Lake front real estate and an extensive parks program St. Cloud is a wonderful family community. This city has a wonderful historic downtown with a modernized marina to host 140 boat slips with a lake front eatery and banquet rental facility. Saint Cloud FL is adjacent to the Florida Turnpike making travel easy to the best Florida has to offer. St. Cloud is 30 minutes to Disney, 40 minutes to Melbourne Beach, and a 20 minute drive to Orlando International airport. As the new “Medical City” develops in Lake Nona, St. Cloud real estate becomes increasingly valuable.
Saint Cloud, FL has award winning communities and fantastic golf courses like Harmony Royal Saint Cloud, and nearby Eagles Creek in Lake Nona. Saint Cloud is a city perfectly located just minutes from many attractions and just under 41 miles to Cocoa Beach, and roughly 74 miles to Tampa Bay. People love this area because of the great schools, beautiful oak lined streets, and the new modern homes. Silver Spurs Arena is located just a few miles down 192. More and more people are choosing St. Cloud as their primary residence, because this community embraces good old fashioned “community”. With the federal First Time Buyer’s Program, low prices, and low interest rates, it’s a great time to buy. Most home buyers are seeing prices in the pre 2002 price ranges. For true local and knowledgeable service in the Saint Cloud, Florida real estate market, call Lake Nona Harmony Homes.
