
2024 in Review: Creating Community
When we first envisioned Pecan Square by Hillwood, we imagined a place where people could have modern amenities and the sense of community that’s associated with small-town life. Five years in, we’re thrilled to see that reality is even better than our dream.
Our residents have found friends and built community. “Everyone is always willing to help each other out— whether it’s with a couple of tomatoes or trouble with their sprinkler system,” says one Pecan Square resident. “It’s been a great start for us as a family to make new friends and connections and make lots of memories too.”
How does a new home community like Pecan Square foster connection? With clubs, hobby groups, and special celebrations: Our award-winning lifestyle program hosted over 300 events in 2024. “We have found friends, a support system, and endless fun for both ourselves and our kids,” says another resident. “The year-round activities keep everyone entertained and connected, from bounce houses and face painting for the little ones to incredible food that delights every palate.”
Take a look at some of the events that created connection in 2024:
We Established New Traditions…
We’re always adding to the fun at Pecan Square. In 2024, we held our first-ever Father-Daughter Dance, complete with a photo booth to record the priceless memories. We provided a trip down memory lane with our first Adult Prom Night, where neighbors danced the night away and crowned the Pecan Square Prom King and Queen. And mothers were served tea, treats, and thanks at our first Mother’s Day Tea Party at The Greeting House.
Our new pool complex, The Blue Horizon Pool, opened on August 4th, just in time to create new memories for summer 2024. The pool’s grand opening was memorable, too, thanks to hula dancers, live music, food trucks, and a slip n’ slide. Our new pickleball facility, The Courts, is also a hit!
…And Celebrated Time-Honored Ones
Pecan Square always celebrates holidays with playfulness and joy, and 2024 was no exception. We upped our holiday game with events like:
- Our Spring EGGstravaganza – with 15,000 eggs!
- Our 4th of July Freedom Fest, complete with a parade, slides, a dunk tank, airbrush tattoos, a DJ, and a watermelon eating contest.
- A spooky Halloween season, with a scary movie on the lawn, our Monster Mash Party with a costume contest and Witch’s Brew showdown, and our Boo Bash, where the bravest of costumed kiddos explored a Black Maze, Spider Crawl and Scary Enchanted Forest.
- A variety of winter holiday events and activities, from Firetruck Santa to a gingerbread house decorating party to our glorious Light Up the Square event, the ultimate in modern “small-town” holidays!
We Grew Together
We opened the new Pecan Square Community Garden in 2024! Benchmark Landscaping and our horticulturist Dr. Moon helped us sow seeds for a new garden space at The Town Square where children can grow their own flowers and herbs.
Never ones to forget our agricultural heritage, we also celebrated the growth and bounty of our own pecan trees at our annual Puh-Kahn Festival, which featured pecan pies, of course, plus music, pony rides for the kids, and coffee and whiskey sampling for the adults.
We also helped our neighbors grow and thrive. We’ve been partnering with local food banks, including the Tarrant Area Food Bank, since we opened in 2019, and continue to donate our time and raise funds through events like the Annual Northlake Neighbors 5K/10K/1 Mile Fun Run, and Hoops for Hunger, a spirited game between the teens at Pecan Square and Harvest, a neighboring Hillwood community.
We Honored Community Members
On Veterans Day, we proudly welcomed Army Sergeant Christopher Irving and his family to their new home, which is mortgage-free, thanks to Pulte Group and Building Homes for Heroes.
We also honored beloved Hillwood Communities employee Jordan Dwyer. He left this world on February 9, 2024, but will never be forgotten. We named a street in his honor, placed a bench with a tribute near the pond he loved, and renamed our annual catch-and-release fishing contest “The Jordan Dwyer Fishing Tournament.”
We Nurtured a Sense of Belonging, with Activities for Everyone
At Pecan Square, everyone finds their place to belong. In 2024, as always, our activities and clubs catered to all ages. Teens, Tweens, Littles, Adults and 50+ folks all gathered for fun and friendship. Hobbyists and fans also met regularly, at groups like A Novel Bunch Book Club, Motorcycle Riders, and Disney Fans of Pecan Square.
Social groups – like Veterans of Pecan Square, Pups of Pecan Square, and the Cigar & Spirits Club – supported each other, traded tips, and connected with new friends. Sports fans enjoyed playing cornhole, pickleball, softball, and more. And as usual, neighbors came together for the events and activities we host nearly every day (just look at our calendar!), like karaoke nights, poker games, and a killer murder mystery night.
Even more important than the activities is the welcoming spirit at Pecan Square. “I always feel supported,” says one of our residents. “As a single woman, I particularly appreciate that I can comfortably attend any community event knowing I’ll be welcomed with open arms. Strangers are quick to include me in their group, making it easy to make friends and feel like I belong.”
As you can see, Pecan Square’s Lifestyle program is pretty amazing—and we’re not the only ones who think so. We recently won the prestigious 2024 McSAM Award for Best Lifestyle Annual Program! Big congrats to Lifestyle Manager Razeena Sanchez, who is now heading to the Nationals Awards in February to compete for the title of Best Lifestyle Director AND Best Lifestyle Program in the country.
Find Your Home at Pecan Square
If you’re looking for a place to belong, come home to Pecan Square. Though we have a small-town vibe, we have the perfect location for commuters – within minutes of Denton and Fort Worth – and we’re within the exemplary Northwest ISD School District.
Start your homebuying search online with our homefinder tool then visit us at The Greeting House for a community tour! Our new construction builders have available homes, and many are offering incentives, so now is a great time to buy!