Fairfield residents boast of ‘sense of community’
A sense of community, more square footage for the dollar, well-regarded schools and active youth sports programs sum up the Fairfield community in Cypress.
Though it may not have the newness of communities like Bridgeland and Towne Lake that continue to sprout in the area, the Fairfield masterplanned community draws praise from its residents.
“There’s a great sense of community,” said Shannon Wingo, who lives in the Lake Ridge section with her husband and three children. “We’re in a nice location — even though you’re in the suburbs, you get the best of both worlds — a sense of community and a faster commute.”
For Mary Lou and William “Bill” Cook, their move to Fairfield 19 years ago from Michigan to be closer to their two grown children was based on the need for community, amenities and activities.
“We’re very happy in Fairfield — we’ve got a beautiful home — we’ve had both families live with us at different times,” said Mary Lou Cook, who with her husband runs the Fairfield Fifty Plus group. “We’re happy because there are activities for everyone.”
Situated northwest of Houston close to the intersection of US 290 and the Grand Parkway, the 3,200-acre community, developed by Friendswood Development, opened in 1988. Today, the community is almost built out, with two home builders, Lennar and Trendmaker, remaining, according to Tiffany Nolan, who owns
Maddie Lowe Properties, a small boutique firm that specializes in home sales in the Cypress area.
Nolan said prices for a single-family home in Fairfield start at $175,000. The price for a custom home can go up to $750,000.
The development features an athletic club, complete with a basketball court, fitness center and events rooms, a competition-size swimming pool, tennis courts and a 20-acre sports park with baseball and soccer fields run by Fairfield Sports Association.
Eight lakes, six parks and six neighborhood pools dot the community, which comprises four neighborhoods: Lakeside Trails, Bradford Creek, Bradford Lakes and Fairfield Villages. There are also two gated communities for the 55 and older set.
The sports association, which offers a range of youth sports, and the neighborhood schools serve as a focal point that rallies much of the community.
“We call it ‘the Fairfield bubble,’ ” said Nolan, who used to live in Fairfield and now lives in Lakes of Fairhaven. “A lot of people know each other. People buy one house and then move to another house in the same community. That says a lot about what Fairfield is.”
The schools include Ault, Swenke and Keith elementary schools; Salyards Middle School; and Cy-Ranch High School, all in Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District.
Now that large sections of the Grand Parkway have opened, the community is no longer described as being out in the boonies. The roadway has cut travel time to such places as The Woodlands, Katy and Houston considerably, although that depends on the time of day.
“I honestly think it’s helped,” Nolan said of the Grand Parkway. “Fairfield home values have gone up because of it. People can move out here and have great access to any part of the area.”
Fairfield Fifty Plus meets for game nights, dinners and bus trips. For information, visit www. fairfieldfiftyplus.com.
For information about the Fairfield community, visit www.visitfairfield.com.