LIFEST YLE
By Shlomit Ovadia Photo by Sam Sikes
We can all agree that healthy living begins at home. Yet, one man's vision invites people to view it as something fostered and elevated by the community. Meet Israeli native Yehuda Netanel, founder of The Lake District, the latest MidSouth community venture centered on wellness and beautification. As a child of Holocaust survivors, Netanel finds meaning in giving back to the community. In 2007, he founded Wings of Rescue, a nonprofit organization that rescues dogs and cats from high-kill shelters via airlift in large-scale transports and re-homes them. A pilot, Netanel has personally flown over 4,000 dogs and cats, in addition to the MidSouth-specific Valentine's Day rescue mission dubbed Love is in the Air. An architect and developer by trade with 45 years of experience in the field and over 70 projects under his belt, Yehuda wanted to combine his passions to create a forward-thinking concept that changes people's relationship with wellness. After purchasing the old Belz outlet mall and negotiating for more land, Yehuda began his 10-year journey of building The Lake District in Lakeland, a quality neighborhood brand that promotes a healthy lifestyle on multiple levels. The entire design is woven with different elements of wellness and is currently the largest project in Shelby County. The 178-acre mixed-use community surrounds a resplendent 10-acre lake and multiple waterways. In addition, the urban village is enhanced with 17 acres of natural park, all connected by walking and running trails that encourage natural movement and neighborhood interaction.
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Public spaces have been given special attention, using intelligent design, inspiring home architecture, and other elegant features that distinctively imprint the region.
