This Florida mega-development is turning suburban backyards into a nature paradise

Subridge, a new development outside of Orlando, is ditching the white picket fences for wetlands, forests, and maybe even bald eagles.

Sunbridge appears to be a quintessential example of 21st century sprawl. A 27,000-acre residential mega-development taking shape outside of Orlando, Florida, it’s set to include more than 30,000 new homes in total when complete—a few neighborhoods, miles of trails, and a K–8 school have already been completed. It’s riding a growth boom in Central Florida; this fast-growing section of the Sun Belt has added more than 1,000 people every week in recent years.