What Makes Spring Lake in Spring Lake in Woodland, CA
Springlake is the newest master-planned community in Woodland, California, not to be confused with other neighborhoods, lakes, or developments named Springlake elsewhere in the United States. Numbers explain a market. They don't explain a place. Here is what buyers and sellers actually ask about the Springlake, Woodland, CA community itself, along with the master plan, schools, and parks that shape day-to-day life there.
Key Takeaways
- Springlake is a master-planned community located specifically in Woodland, California, in Yolo County, distinct from other places named Springlake elsewhere in the United States (Source: City of Woodland, current as of 2026).
- Springlake, Woodland, CA was adopted as an official City of Woodland specific plan in 2001, built around walkable focal points centered on a park, a school, and small neighborhood-serving commercial uses (Source: City of Woodland Spring Lake Specific Plan, adopted 2001).
- Spring Lake Elementary is Woodland Joint Unified's STEM magnet school, feeding into Douglass Middle School and Pioneer High School (Source: Woodland Joint Unified School District, current as of 2026).
- Most Springlake homes carry a Mello-Roos Community Facilities District charge plus a Landscaping and Lighting Assessment, typically escalating around 2% a year, instead of a traditional HOA (Source: Michelle Edgington, current as of 2026).
- Springlake sits about 10 minutes from Davis and UC Davis and roughly 20 minutes from Sacramento International Airport (Source: Michelle Edgington, current as of 2026).
Master Plan: A Neighborhood Built With Intention
Springlake, in Woodland, CA, was adopted as an official City of Woodland specific plan in 2001, designed around walkable focal points, with each pocket of the neighborhood centered on a park, a school, and small neighborhood-serving commercial uses, rather than built out all at once (Source: City of Woodland Spring Lake Specific Plan, adopted 2001).
Schools: Woodland Joint Unified School District
Spring Lake Elementary serves the neighborhood directly, feeding into Douglass Middle School and Pioneer High School, with Woodland Community College nearby for families planning further ahead (Source: Woodland Joint Unified School District, current as of 2026).
Parks and Recreation: Room to Breathe
Jack Slaven Park, Rick Gonzalez Sr. Park, and Spring Lake Park anchor the neighborhood's green space, with the community splash pad at Jack Slaven and smaller toddler-scale parks woven throughout the individual neighborhoods for shorter walks with little ones.
Location: Close to Everything, Quiet From All of It
Springlake, Woodland, CA sits within easy reach of both Davis and UC Davis, and Sacramento beyond, while keeping the tree-lined, small-town character Woodland is known for.
Questions Every Springlake, Woodland, CA Buyer Asks
Some of the most common questions we hear, especially from Davis families relocating a few minutes down the road, aren't about square footage. They're about taxes, schools, and what makes Springlake, Woodland, CA different from the rest of the city.
Is Springlake really a Woodland, CA neighborhood?
Yes, officially Springlake is part of the City of Woodland. Its location and newer architecture lead some relocating Davis families to affectionately nickname it "North North Davis," but it's close to Davis, and its character, schools, and city services are all Woodland's.
Why are property taxes higher in Springlake, Woodland, CA than in older Woodland neighborhoods?
Springlake homes carry supplemental assessments on top of the standard 1% ad valorem property tax, used to fund the infrastructure that came with building a master-planned community from scratch: a Community Facilities District (Mello-Roos), a Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District, and a Sports Park Maintenance assessment. These are disclosed to every buyer at purchase and show up as separate line items on the property tax bill.
How does the Mello-Roos tax work in Springlake, Woodland, CA, does it really go up every year?
Mello-Roos special taxes are structured to escalate annually, commonly by around 2% a year, until the underlying bonds are repaid, typically over a term in the 20-to-40-year range depending on when the district's bonds were issued. The exact escalation rate and remaining term vary by the specific bond series for a given lot, so we always confirm the current figures with the CFD administrator or title company for any specific address before a client relies on them.
Can a homeowner in Springlake, Woodland, CA pay off the Mello-Roos bond early?
In many CFDs, yes, some districts allow a lump-sum prepayment that ends the annual special tax for that parcel going forward. Very few Springlake owners have done this, but for homeowners who've looked into it, payoff quotes have generally landed somewhere in the $25,000 to $35,000 range, varying by lot and bond series. This is an estimate from informal homeowner research, not a quoted figure, so anyone considering it should request an official prepayment quote from the district.
What do homeowners in Springlake, Woodland, CA get in exchange for the extra tax?
Newer infrastructure and homes built for how people live today: open floor plans, abundant natural light, and dedicated gathering spaces, including several next-gen or multigenerational floor plans. Energy efficiency is also a standout, since California has required solar on new homes since 2020, so a large share of Springlake houses have solar already installed, whether owned outright, financed through a power purchase agreement, or leased.
Is the Springlake, Woodland, CA neighborhood school any different from other Woodland schools?
Spring Lake Elementary is Woodland Joint Unified's magnet school, with a STEM and technology emphasis, weekly technology instruction alongside the standard curriculum, feeding into Douglass Middle School and Pioneer High School.
What's still being built in Springlake, Woodland, CA?
Springlake isn't fully built out. Remaining phases include additional single-family subdivisions, several multifamily parcels (including a deed-restricted senior affordable housing site), small-lot single-family projects, and future neighborhood-commercial and mixed-use sites. Just west of the community, the City's Woodland Research and Technology Park is in the planning stages, a future employment center that could bring jobs closer to home for Springlake residents.
Who built the homes in Springlake, Woodland, CA?
It's a mix. Production builders in the community include, but aren't limited to, Centex, KB, D.R. Horton, Lennar, Heritage, Tim Lewis, Standard Pacific Homes, Taylor Morrison, and Woodside Homes. The core area off Heritage Parkway also has custom and semi-custom homes on more generous lots from local builders including Monley Cronin, Don Fouts, Rick Price, and a handful of other spec builders, a nice contrast of single-story and two-story homes for buyers who want more architectural individuality.
Is there a story behind the street names in Springlake, Woodland, CA?
Several Springlake streets are named for Woodland's pioneer families, including Edgington Circle, named for Michelle's own family. It's a small detail, but one that speaks to how many longtime Woodland families have roots that run through this neighborhood.
What amenities does Springlake, Woodland, CA actually have?
A splash pad at Jack Slaven Park, plus Rick Gonzalez Sr. Park and Spring Lake Park anchoring the larger green spaces, several smaller toddler-scale parks woven through the individual neighborhoods, an extensive network of walkways and greenbelts, sports fields for soccer and baseball, and a pedestrian bridge carrying walkers and cyclists over Highway 113 to connect the 95695 and 95776 sides of Woodland. The Woodland Community Center and a newer aquatic facility are both close by.
Do homes in Springlake, Woodland, CA have an HOA?
Most of Springlake does not, the majority of neighborhoods carry the CFD and assessment charges above instead of a traditional homeowners association. A few of the newer communities are the exception, including the Lennar Cottages and another newer Lennar subdivision closer to the Woodland Community Center, both single-family patio-style home communities that do have an HOA.
How's the Springlake, Woodland, CA location for commuting and everyday errands?
About 10 minutes to Davis and UC Davis, roughly 20 minutes to Sacramento International Airport, and close to Pioneer High School. For shopping, it's minutes from the Bel Air Shopping Center and the Yolo Plaza corridor, home to Target, Costco, Best Buy, and an In-N-Out Burger.
Additional Resources
City of Woodland, CA Woodland Joint Unified School District California Department of Real Estate California Association of REALTORS®