Contact: Kelsey Skidmore

(916) 353-5200 x. 3316

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Rocklin, CA) April 26, 2008 - Last Tuesday was the groundbreaking ceremony for the Sierra Foothills Audubon Demonstration Garden located within Whitney Ranch, the amenity-focused master planned community in Rocklin. The Audubon Garden will feature a variety of different backyard designs and ideas aimed to connect people with nature and preserve the natural environment and habitat.

“We want to encourage Whitney Ranch residents to keep their natural surroundings in mind,” said Bob Anders, project manager for Newland Communities. “We’ve (Whitney Ranch) gone to great lengths to preserve the habitat in and around the community. The Audubon garden area will help people understand what they can do to help.”

Designed with the help of Audubon members in conjunction with Whitney Ranch landscape developers, the garden will offer ideas for planting and gardening in the Placer County region. It will feature native California plants, shrubs and trees, many of which are low-water plants, reducing their need for water consumption. The many ways homeowners can participate in Audubon’s conservation efforts will be on display, including bird and butterfly friendly ideas. Everything will be easily enjoyed by walking trails throughout the area, notes Anders.

“There will be ideas that homeowners can apply to their existing backyards,” said R. Heath Wakelee of the Sierra Foothills Audubon Society, who attended the groundbreaking on Tuesday. “The garden areas have been created in different styles to appeal to a wide range of tastes and interests.”

Planned to open in the summer of 2008, the garden is located adjacent to the new Whitney Community Park, which recently opened in February. The garden, like the park, will be open to the entire Rocklin community.

“We hope the garden servers as a place of education and enjoyment for all who visit,” continues Wakelee. “It will be a nice place to meet up with neighbors and friends.”

Representative Rick Forstall from The City of Rocklin’s Parks and Facilities department was present at the groundbreaking ceremony. Also in attendance were Peter Bridges, sr. vice president operations for Newland Communities (developer of Whitney Ranch) and Rebecca Parre, regional marketing director for Newland Communities.

About Whitney Ranch
Developed by Newland Communities, in partnership with IHP Partners, Whitney Ranch is Rocklin’s newest amenity-focused master planned community encompassing 1,200 acres at the foot of the Sierra Nevada in northwest Rocklin. Built by some of the areas most respected and well known builders, the homes at Whitney Ranch are unlike any other master planned community. The community features distinctive ranch-themed architecture in each of the neighborhoods of single-family and attached homes. Whitney Ranch is home to two solar communities and offers something for every homebuyer.

Whitney Community Park is a must-see in this amenity- focused master plan. Phase One of the Whitney Community Park features lighted softball and baseball fields along with convenient parking, a concession area and restrooms. The spotlight of the community park is its signature play area which includes a three story one-of-a-kind super play structure, and a squirt park which will be open during the summer months. Along with Whitney Community Park, Whitney Ranch also features an extensive network of walking and biking trails, acres of preserved natural open space and neighborhood parks.

For more information call 916-543-8501 or visit www.WhitneyRanch.net.

Heath Wakelee, Bob Anders, Rick Forstall and Peter Bridges