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Svenson. The land she and her family called home and that now Dawson Creek residents call home is not only significant because it pre-dates the Civil War, it also has ties to World War II. The property was so vast that it supported an airfield used for training by Allied pilots, including the Tuskegee Airmen. The joy Dawson experienced at The Oaks was something he wanted to share. Svenson remembers him brainstorming ways the land could be enjoyed by others. He envisioned a neighborhood with amenities like a village center and a church that would provide a sense of community to families living there. She still has copies of maps he made detailing his plans. Knowing what the land meant to Dawson and that he intended it to be part of a greater community, it made perfect sense to de- velopers to name the new neighborhood after him. “We did a lot of research and decided the contributions the Dawson family made bringing this area back were so important we wanted to somehow honor them.” Atkins said. The Waters began construction on the first homes in Dawson Creek in October 2016. Atkins remembers how special it was one year later to show Svenson the new community. “It was amazing. We had a model home at the time she visited and standing on the porch she had tears in her eyes,” she said. “We got the feeling we did the right thing because she was just so touched by it all.” Svenson has special memories of that day as well. She said it warmed her heart to see families enjoying the land where she walked her dog, took adventurous three-wheeler rides with her husband and watched cows graze along rolling hills. Developers were able tomaintain the integrity of that land because homes in TheWaters are built with drilled piers, a type of foundation that goes deeper into the earth to provide greater stability. “We don’t have to have a flat lot so we’re able to leave our land in the original state,” Atkins said. “That’s why when you look at Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter FEBRUARY 2019 19 ..................................................................................................................................................................... pictures and see cows that were on that land it’s still the same piece of land.” The result is breathtaking views that have attracted many new residents, including Bryan Darley. He and his wife, Joy, were visiting family in Montgomery and booked a VRBO stay in a Waters car- riage house. It took one walk with his dog around the neighborhood to convince him that he and Joy could make a life there. Shortly after, they picked a lot, hired a con- tractor and were Dawson Creek residents 11 months later. “We love living in the Daw- son Creek area of The Waters as it is ‘Mayberry’ all over again,” he said. “We enjoy all the amenities and everyone is like family here.” More amenities are coming. Plans are already underway for the next phase of Dawson Creek. “Phase II will have additional parks and some type of pavilion or activity center and playgrounds, so there’s still more to come on Dawson Creek,” Atkins said. As the area continues to grow and attract more families, Svenson finds comfort knowing how happy this new community would have made her husband. “He had such hopes for that land and when I see the church The Waters has built it reminds me of exactly what he would want,” she said. “I just appreciate the developers of The Waters honoring Wayne because he’s the one who had the vision for what it could be.” n