On Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to noon, RiverPark, the great new community coming to life in Oxnard, held the fourth installment of RiverPark Alive with the inaugural 5K Turkey Trot. Participants were invited to race their way through the community and enjoy a post-race fair with food, fun and prizes for the whole family.

Hundreds of race enthusiasts, including RiverPark residents, were in attendance at the event. The 3.1-mile course started and finished at East Park and allowed racers to tour through the neighborhoods of RiverPark. Trophies were awarded to the top three male and female racers, including Josh Striker of Ventura who finished the race first with a time of 15.09 minutes.

RiverPark Alive is a series of free, full-blast family entertainment events held throughout the year at RiverPark. The 5K Turkey Trot, highlighted by a 5K run/walk and post-race festivities for participants and their families, also supported the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme through a $2,500 donation.

"RiverPark Legacy has been a wonderful supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme," said Tim Blaylock, Chief Professional Officer of the club. "We are grateful for being selected as the beneficiary of this fun event. As a non-profit organization we depend on generosity of corporations and individuals to be able to accomplish our mission, which is to inspire and enable all young people especially those who need us most to become responsible, caring and productive citizens."

Sponsors for RiverPark Alive's 5K Turkey trot included: Food 4 Less, 24 Hour Fitness, Sam's Club, Starbucks, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Bakers Square Restaurant & Pie, Rusty's Pizza, Albertson's, El Portal Mexican Food, Jersey Mike's Subs, Victoria Pub & Grill, The Habit Burger Grill and Ralph's. RiverPark also had the support of the Ventura County Fire Department, City of Oxnard Fire Department, and Oxnard Police Department.

"The RiverPark Alive series offers everyone the chance to experience all the uplifting, positive energy of this community's homes, parks and schools," said Angelica Mendoza, RiverPark's Community Ambassador. "As we like to say, you don't have to live at RiverPark to enjoy it. But once you're here you might wish you did."

The community of RiverPark includes approximately 1,800 attached and detached homes, as well as 1,000 apartments in village-style neighborhoods. The community will also offer 880,000 square feet of retail; a hotel; and community service facilities such as city and county fire stations. An extensive open-space system encompasses nine parks, tot lots, jogging trails, pedestrian paths, shared-use playgrounds and water features.

RiverPark currently has 11 neighborhoods open and selling, many with furnished models open for tours. Prices for residences within RiverPark begin in the $300,000s. Several of the neighborhoods at RiverPark have already sold out.

The RiverPark builders — each award winners in their own right — have created architectural designs that encourage neighborly interaction and socializing. The builders' accolades include: "Builder of The Year" by Professional Builder magazine, "America's Most Admired Companies" by Fortune magazine, and "America's Best Big Companies" by Forbes magazine.

RiverPark homes provide ample space for growing families and they feature top-of-the-line amenities for entertaining and enjoying all of life's celebrations. And all of its homes and neighborhoods reflect its forward-thinking community design.

RiverPark was awarded the Comprehensive Planning Award from the California Central Coast Chapter of the American Planning Association. The plan employs significant elements of "Smart Growth" design by developing the human and natural environment to improve neighborhood livability.

RiverPark's developer is a consortium of three homebuilders: Shea Homes, Centex Homes and Standard Pacific Homes, working in concert with the City of Oxnard and other public entities. Residential designs are by William Hezmalhalch Architects; Woodley Architectural Group; Bassenian Lagoni Architects and Lim Chang Rohling & Associates; commercial designs are by MBH Architects; and school designs are by WWCOT.

To visit RiverPark and participate in the RiverPark Alive Series, travel Highway 101, exit at Oxnard Boulevard and head East. Follow directional signage to neighborhoods or the RiverPark Welcome Center.

For more information on the RiverPark Alive Series, please visit www.RiverParkAlive.com or call (805) 988-3848.