Driving along the main parkway that winds up a gentle slope in Serrano, the master planned community in El Dorado Hills, many folks may not give a second thought to the robust trees and colorful flowering shrubs that dot the hillside. They don’t even notice that the landscaping has been meticulously cut and groomed.

But they would notice if it wasn’t.

It is this fundamental attention to detail that has garnered a new award for the acclaimed Serrano master planned community: “Best-Maintained Association” in 2006. The award was presented to the Serrano El Dorado Owners’ Association by the California North Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) at a recent gala in Sacramento.

“Being honored with an award of this type is a testimonial to Serrano’s unvarying commitment to creating a quality environment for its residents, with attention to even the minutest details such as landscaping and repairs,” says John Bowman, general manager of Serrano El Dorado Owners’ Association. And it demonstrates that Serrano has succeeded thus far in its mission.

It is also reflective of Serrano’s enduring value to its families. “When Serrano members chose this community for their home, they made that decision in part because of the beauty of the community, established by the quality of the land improvements,” continues Bowman. “As members of the association, homeowners can be secure in knowing that their surroundings will be maintained in accord with the quality that they purchased.”

This reassurance is especially significant at a time when new home developments are springing up by the dozen, many offering intangible amenities and skimping on the enhancements. Few have the elaborate structure of Serrano’s maintenance network and its high standards of appearance.

As the working arm of the community’s developer, the Serrano El Dorado Owners’ Association is the key provider of Serrano’s pristine beauty. The Association’s fully staffed maintenance department includes a landscaping team that was specially selected for their environmental expertise. These trained professionals work together with crews from landscape maintenance contractors to maintain the common areas and residential villages within Serrano’s 3,500 acres. Day-to-day operations include the upkeep of 12 neighborhood parks, 20 landscaped gated village entries, six miles of landscaped roadways and numerous greenbelts.

Perhaps more telling to the large scope of these duties is the additional maintenance of 2,800 front yards. Serrano’s homeowners enjoy having their front yards kept up on a frequent basis, including grass, trees and plants. The maintenance staff responds quickly to the needs and questions of residents, keeping in mind the uniqueness of each home and the landscaping care that is appropriate to the changing seasons.

The coveted CAI award is the most recent in a succession of honors bestowed upon Serrano for excellence in environmental conservation. In 2005, the National Arbor Day Foundation selected Serrano to receive a “Building with Trees” award in recognition of the community’s efforts to save trees during the development process.

That same year, the National WaterReuse Association presented Serrano with its Award of Merit for recycled water innovation. The community’s cutting-edge recycled water program was the first in California – and among the first in the nation – to provide recycled water for residents’ yards. The recycled water enables Serrano to conserve water while keeping the landscaping green and lush, enhancing the laborious efforts of the maintenance crews.

The community has also been recognized as a No. 1 Best Selling Community in all of Northern California. That distinction has helped to attract some of the finest homebuilding companies to Serrano. This includes Greenbriar Homes, Pulte Homes, Shea Homes and Toll Brothers, the builders currently constructing homes in Serrano’s newest villages. Serrano’s developer offers custom homesites, ranging in size from one-third to more than one acre.

Serrano boasts a private country club with a championship golf course and 17 miles of nature trails that meander through 1,000 acres of open space.

For more information on Serrano and its award-winning homeowners association, visit www.serranoeldorado.com.

To get to Serrano, take Highway 50 East from Sacramento to the El Dorado Hills Blvd. exit and go north (right). Turn right at Serrano Parkway and follow the signs to the Serrano Visitors Center. Call toll free 800-866-8786.