ROSEMARY THYMES | 6
ITS IN OUR DNA One of the foundational concepts of New Urbanism is the importance of the public realm – the streets, parks, walkways, and civic buildings that provide the framework around which private homes, apartments, and commercial buildings are organized. What does this have to do with being outside? The answer is that much of the public realm is outdoor space designed for moving about, for gathering, for lingering. Put another way—it is space designed for life, for work, and for play. Outdoor activities provide significant opportunity for improving our physical and emotional well-being, even—and perhaps especially— with the current challenges we all face.
Photo by Bara’ah Jaraiseh
From the POA
Welcome to Rosemary Beach! Chances are that a significant part of the attraction of Rosemary Beach to most people is the opportunity to spend quality time outdoors. Being outside, rather than indoors, has of course had extra significance for our health during the current pandemic, but rest assured that it has always been a primary draw to our town. Whether enjoying our incomparable beach, napping on a shady porch, playing bocce in a neighborhood park, or just taking a stroll enjoying the beautiful homes and vistas, being able to spend so much time outside is rejuvenating and invigorating.
Imagine spending an entire day outdoors, starting with a jog around the town’s 2.3 mile long Fitness Trail, then breakfast in a courtyard, perhaps catching up on a little work around a pool, have lunch outdoors on Main Street, take a trip on a bicycle to explore a neighboring community, then take in the sunset on a beach walkover before a dinner with the doors and windows open, and perhaps wrap up the evening enjoying one of our larger parks, or back on the beach to take in an incredible starry night sky. One quickly discovers that the best way to avoid sitting in traffic is to avoid sitting in a car in the first place! Here in Rosemary Beach, it is quite natural to get some fresh air and exercise the old-fashioned way, while simply going about your day. OUR MASTERPLAN Now that we see the general connection between walkable neighborhoods and the opportunity to integrate healthful activity into our daily lives, the value of some of the other aspects of Rosemary Beach can be understood. Our Town Center is just that—it’s in the center of town, making it a short walk from any of the surrounding neighborhoods. Two other elements that were very much considered during the design and implementation of the town’s masterplan are the locations of the four community pools—one in each quadrant, a short walk from nearby homes—and the inclusion of the Fitness Trail that winds through parks both large and small, via the network of boardwalks, with several
