Heritage Harbor Ottawa parkrun
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“Searching for a fun and active way to spend a Saturday morning? Come try out parkrun at Heritage Harbor! .”
Searching for a fun and active way to spend a Saturday morning? Come try out parkrun at Heritage Harbor!
What is parkrun? It’s a free, weekly 5km timed run open to everyone. parkrun events are hosted all over the world, and visitors travel far and wide to participate in events in different locations.
Heritage Harbor is the first and currently the only parkrun event location in Illinois. Heritage Harbor parkrun is conveniently situated only 90 minutes from Chicago. We have welcomed parkrunners from several countries abroad including England, South Africa, New Zealand, Russia, Australia, and Ireland.
Every Saturday morning at 9:00am, participants and volunteers gather at Heritage Harbor, 2 Great Loop West, Ottawa, IL to enjoy this free event. See our course page for more details. There is no cost to participate, but please complete a one-time registration before your first run. Don’t forget to bring your printed barcode to ensure your finish time is recorded.
parkrun is uniquely inclusive, and all ages and fitness levels are welcome. parkrun draws all types of people, and the comradery is really a draw for many people. We’d love to have you join us for an active Saturday morning run/walk and invite you to stay for a post parkrun coffee at the Red Dog Grill. We look forward to welcoming you next weekend!
Have you been to a parkrun at Heritage Harbor? Tell us about your experience. Comment Below
SPRING has SPRUNG!
“ Spring has sprung, and with it, the promise of all things new! .. “
New Life—New Promises!
Spring has sprung, and with it, the promise of all things new! Many of us make New Years Resolutions at the beginning of each year….and many of those resolutions soon fall by the wayside. Winter doldrums inevitably set in, and those changes we envisioned making in our lives are forgotten as the reality of day-to-day life sets back in.
Optimism—An Important Ingredient
So here we are, a few months into the year, and the ice and snow are quickly becoming memories of another winter past. Spring in the Midwest affords an unrivaled sense of optimism, so doesn’t it make sense to rather focus on our resolutions now? New life and growth as well as longer, warmer days are the perfect ingredients for implementing successful changes.
Move It!
Have a desire to incorporate more physical activity? There’s no better time than spring to jump-start an active lifestyle! The still moderate temperatures encourage physical exertion without the discomfort of summer’s heat and humidity. Head to the numerous state parks in Starved Rock Country to enjoy a nature walk. The trails are teeming with new signs of life as flora and fauna begin another cycle of life. Hike or bike the I&M Canal trail or the Harbor and River Walks. Every Saturday morning, Heritage Harbor Ottawa parkrun (a volunteer-operated free weekly timed 5K) is hosted at the Harbor. This weekly event is a great way to measure your fitness growth week by week throughout the year.
Make the Connection!
Connecting more with our community is an inner desire many of us harbor. It can be one of the most difficult of resolutions to implement because it most often involves stepping out of our comfort zones to spend time with people we don’t yet know. The great thing about living at Heritage Harbor is that you have a built-in community network surrounding you! Our neighbors become friends and our friends have become neighbors. The resort team loads the events calendar with a variety of fun events designed to encourage connection among residents as well as members of the larger Ottawa community. Heritage Harbor Ottawa parkrun encourages fitness and community involvement through participation as either a volunteer or a 5k participant. Make it a goal to take part in one or more event next month, and you will be well on your way to making the personal connections we all so deeply crave!
Live it Up!
Maybe your intention is to live your life to the fullest. Spring at the harbor means patio dining at Red Dog Grill! Take your dining alfresco and enjoy a delicious meal while taking in the beautiful sunsets over the harbor. Renting a cottage with family and friends is a great way to spend a long weekend. Unwind and recharge while you enjoy some local boutique shopping, spa sessions, delectable cuisine, and outdoor adventures. You may even decide that the Harbor is where you’d like to spend more time. This is the season to house hunt or plan your dream home, so come see what’s on offer at the Harbor! Secure your slip at Heritage Harbor Marina this month and start your boat preparations to ensure a long season of aquatic fun for your family and friends.
Are you excited for spring??? What are your plans for this coming spring? Comment Below
However you decide to spend your lengthening days this spring, make sure you make time to stop and smell the roses…and the peonies and the hyacinths!
New Property Trends in Spring 2018
The Resurgence of the “pocket neighborhood” in the Midwest
Do you remember a time when communities were built to last? Where houses and cottages were developed around common areas in such a way that people actually got to know each other, and families became lifelong friends simply because they shared a block or a garden or a driveway? Do you know that neighborhoods used to be walkable, secure and clean? If you do, and all of the above are favorable in your eyes, then you’ll be happy to hear that “pocket communities” are coming back into vogue.
No, we’re not talking about the tiny house trend
Okay, let’s face it – tiny houses are…tiny! And while the tiny house trend is serving those among us who prioritize travel and other lifestyle experiences over property investment, tiny houses aren’t really, well, big enough, to satisfy everyone.
And no, you don’t live “in your neighbor’s pockets” in a pocket neighborhood, either
We’re talking, here, about “a type of planned community” (thanks Wikipedia) that is made up of homes that are built around a common area. This is done with one primary goal: to promote the growth and development of close-knit communities, where residents actually connect on an authentic, meaningful level. Because, if we’re honest, we’ve lost the strength that comes with a healthy community – and instead we’re breathing auto fumes and living isolated lives in towns and cities that were built more for cars than for people.
Walkable towns and pleasant memories
Tom Heimsoth, Developer of Heritage Harbor in Ottawa, Illinois (a tastefully designed marina development made up of waterfront pocket neighborhoods) remarks that “…memories made in one’s earlier years in the context of close-knit communities, especially in nature, and on or near open water, are doubtless the most cherished memories in life. People are showing that fast-paced, isolated, overly consumeristic lives make for a depressed, anxious and lonely society. Walkable, secure and people-centric neighborhoods are a vital key for us to regain the lifestyle our souls were designed to live and enjoy”.
Spring Builds at Heritage Harbor in 2018
Situated along the Illinois Waterway in Ottawa IL, Heritage Harbor is breaking new ground (if you will) in rebuilding that close-knit, beautiful community that was commonplace in time past.
It’s most recent feature, and the big attraction for Spring 2018, is the introduction of Port Place, the Harbor’s newest pocket neighborhood. Port Place is located in the West Peninsula neighborhood of the development. Heritage Harbor’s architectural designer (and the developer of the project), Kevin Donovan, says that the pocket neighborhood will include fourteen residential lots spread along Port Place drive. These lots will be made up of 10 single-family homes and four duplex townhome units.
The pocket neighborhood is built around a purely delightful common area, and is situated just a few steps from the riverfront park, neighborhood pool, and harbor boat slips. The center of this charming area will take the form of an intimate park space, complete with a fire pit and dining platform.
Cottage-style designs for pocket-style neighborhoods
Pocket neighborhoods, while not being anywhere near as small as the tiny house configuration, are typically made up of compact housing that resembles more of a cottage theme. At Port Place, residents have the option of either ranch-style or two-story cottage units. Both plans offer optional basements and first floor master bedrooms, and all fourteen homes will boast two-car garages.
What to expect from your pocket neighborhood cottage this Spring
These high-quality homes, which have been designed for maximum spatial and energy efficiency, are graced with many unique features. The two-story model unit, which will showcase many of the options available to buyers of new homes in Port Place, will be completed by Mid Summer 2018. The home will have 1,700 SF between the first and second levels, with an additional 1,000 SF in a 9’ finished basement. It will also have three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, with an additional double bunk bed nook on the second level. The property will also come with a central private courtyard, and will possess the upgraded finishes, fireplace, built-in bar, Sonos sound system, and upgraded Miele appliances that will be on offer to home owners in the pocket neighborhood.
To get in on the pocket-place magic, we suggest that you hop on over to Heritage Harbor and book your discovery tour!