On An Island, Surrounded By Privatopias

Residents of rapidly suburbanizing rural towns in Northern Virginia have suddenly become foreigners in their own land as new, self-contained developments take over the landscape. These so-called "privatopias" are distorting the traditional sense of "community" by creating a parallel set of "private" amenities - parks, swimming pools, etc. - that are otherwise maintained by municipal authorities. Unfortunately, the neighbors of these new subdivisions find they're rarely welcome to take part in community life.