Audio By Carbonatix
I
f you live in Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, or Wellington, start bending your elbow and reaching for those shoulder blades, because it’s time to pat yourself on the back: Money magazine named the cities 44th, 48th, and 72nd, respectively, on its annual “Best Places to Live” list. The three cities are the only Florida towns honored, and they all
fall in Broward and Palm Beach. Double shoulder pats all around!
See what the mag said about the three after the jump:
A compilation of “America’s best small cities,” Money
ranks
contenders based on job opportunities, school quality, and crime rates
as well as “charm” and “other features that make a town great for
raising a family.”
Coral Springs:
One of the
highlights of this sprawling planned community 30 minutes northwest of
Fort Lauderdale is its 182-acre Sportsplex, which offers ice rinks,
skate parks, tennis courts, a dog park, and more. Many Olympic swimming
hopefuls train at the facility’s aquatic center. Coral Springs did not
escape the negative effects of the subprime mortgage crisis, however;
home prices have fallen significantly and foreclosures are up.
Coconut
Creek:
Right next to Coral Springs (No. 44 on this
list), Coconut Creek is also suffering real estate woes, and
unemployment is on the high side. Otherwise, there’s lots to like about
this town northwest of Fort Lauderdale. For example, there are more
than 150 butterfly gardens in Coconut Creek — it is touted as the
“Butterfly Capital of the World.” Locals say the insects are symbolic
of the town’s dedication to environmental friendliness. This commitment
is seen every Arbor Day, when the town gives away trees to residents, but
only if they successfully complete a lesson in tree care.
Wellington:
This affluent Palm Beach County suburb may seem
pretentious to some,
especially when locals describe it as “half community and half polo.”Wellington
is indeed home to a world-class equestrian community — Prince Charles
has played here — but the excellent schools and low crime rate make it a
place well worth considering when starting a family.You might
even be able to afford it now: Home prices have plunged here as they
have throughout much of Florida.
