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The Villages
Thursday, March 28, 2024

County turns down AAC’s request for assistance with eminent domain at Rio Grande property 

The Amenity Authority Committee has agreed to continue to investigate the possible acquisition of property on Rio Grande Avenue behind the Rio Grande Family Pool.

The AAC is looking at the possible purchase of the property for future recreation facilities.

However, the path to purchase is not a clear one.

Dogs scamper at the unofficial dog park behind Rio Grande Family Pool in The Villages.
Dogs scamper at the unofficial dog park behind Rio Grande Family Pool in The Villages.

Some of the acreage is owned by the Developer, but some of it is owned by unknown parties.

“You almost have it think of it as a checkerboard,” attorney Lewis Stone advised AAC members in Wednesday’s meeting. “Mom and Dad had a lot and passed it on down to their four children and now two of those children are dead. It’s that kind of situation.”

Stone said he had approached Lake County staffers about assistance in taking over the property through eminent domain, but the county indicated it wasn’t interested in doing so. However, Stone added that the idea has “not vetted through elected officials.”

District staff has envisioned a 14-acre recreational complex to be located at the site that is now used as an unofficial dog park. The plan was unveiled earlier this year and you can read more about it HERE

The AAC decided to move forward with continued investigation of the possible acquisition of the Rio Grande property.

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