Savanna vs. The Ridges vs. Emerald Estates

Three popular gated Weston neighborhoods, side by side. Each has a different feel, so here's a quick look at the amenities, the homes and the zoned elementary schools to help you decide which ones to tour.

At a Glance

	Savanna	The Ridges	Emerald Estates
Feel	Lively, amenity-rich, lots of neighborhood activity	Established, with a full sports and recreation lineup	Residential and private
Gate	Two entrances, each with a 24-hour guard gate	Gated	24-hour guard gate
Pool	Four pools, including a lagoon-style pool with a water slide	Large swimming pool and splash pad	Pool with a large deck and picnic shelter
Play areas	Playgrounds and 9-hole mini-golf	Playgrounds	Children's playground, plus a covered playground at Emerald Estates Park next door
Sports	Roller hockey rink, soccer field, basketball courts and walking paths	Basketball half-courts, tennis/pickleball courts, soccer/baseball fields, walking/biking trails	Fitness center; next-door park has 2 tennis courts, a basketball court and an exercise path
Clubhouse	Savanna Commons clubhouse with a small cafe	Central clubhouse	Fitness center; picnic shelters with grills at the park
Homes	Single-family homes and villas, most built 1999-2002	Larger two-story and lakefront homes, many built in the late 1990s, plus Pine Ridge villas and San Simeon townhomes	607 homes
Zoned elementary	The Glades: Gator Run Elementary. The Marshes: Manatee Bay Elementary	MLS listings show Everglades Elementary; confirm by address	Everglades Elementary

Savanna

Savanna has two entrances, each with a 24-hour guard gate, and its amenity center, Savanna Commons, has four pools (including a lagoon-style pool with a water slide), a 9-hole miniature golf course, a roller hockey rink, a soccer field, basketball courts, playgrounds and walking paths. There's a strong neighborhood feel and plenty going on.

Savanna is split between two elementary schools, according to the Broward County Public Schools boundary maps: The Glades (the northern section) is zoned for Gator Run Elementary, and The Marshes (the southern section) is zoned for Manatee Bay Elementary. All of Savanna is zoned for Falcon Cove Middle and Cypress Bay High.

See Savanna homes for sale and current prices »

The Ridges

The Ridges is an established gated community of larger two-story and lakefront homes, many built in the late 1990s, along with Pine Ridge villas and San Simeon townhomes. Its amenities include:

Central clubhouse and large swimming pool
Splash pad and playgrounds
Basketball half-courts and tennis/pickleball courts
Soccer/baseball fields and walking/biking trails

Current MLS listings show Everglades Elementary; confirm the zoned schools for any home you're considering.

See The Ridges homes for sale »

Emerald Estates

Emerald Estates is a 24-hour guard-gated community of 607 homes with a more residential, private setting.

Pool with a large deck area and picnic shelter
Fitness center and children's playground
Emerald Estates Park right next door: exercise path, 2 tennis courts, a basketball court, a covered playground, 2 picnic shelters with tables and grills, and restrooms

Emerald Estates is zoned for Everglades Elementary.

See Emerald Estates homes for sale »

Before you choose, check these for the specific home:

The zoned schools for that exact address, confirmed with Broward County Public Schools
HOA fees, what they cover, and rules on rentals, pets and exterior changes
How far the home is from the pools, playgrounds and parks you'll use
Roof age, windows and flood zone, which affect insurance costs

Want more detail? Read Susan's article How to Choose Between Savanna, The Ridges and Emerald Estates, see Weston neighborhoods with playgrounds, parks and schools, or compare more neighborhoods in the Weston gated communities guide.