AAC cuts the ribbon on the newly renovated Chula Vista Recreation Center
After more than six months of renovations, Chula Vista Recreation Center on Rio Grande Avenue, about one mile from Spanish Springs Town Square, re-opened Friday morning to the usual Villages ribbon-cutting fanfare. A sizeable group of well wishers were on hand to cheer The Villages staff and local government leaders responsible for the project — and to tour the newly designed facilities.
At the direction of Recreation Department Director, John Rohan, Villages Lady Lake district supervisor Jo Weber cut the tape. On hand were AAC members John Wilcox, Don Deakin, Carl Bell, Ann Forrester and District Manager Janet Tutt, among others who all played a large role in moving this project through to completion. Village Cheerleaders in their bright red shirts raised their pompoms high in celebration.
Chula Vista has kept its familiar ‘old Florida’ look in front and sports a fresh coat of paint.
The old Florida-stylefaçade has been retained with a fresh coat of paint, and inside, an appealing Wild West horsey theme predominates. A eystone of the renovation was enclosing the large previously screened lanai area — part of which now houses the Buffalo Bill billiards and snooker parlor. The foyer, Annie Oakley kitchen, meeting room and the Geronimo card room were also nicely spruced up, with rustic ‘barn wood’ wainscoting and horse themed wallpaper borders.
Originally opened as a restaurant, bar and pool in 1989, the ‘Chula Vista Club’ was turned over to The Villages Lady Lake district by Villages developer, H. Gary Morse, in 2006. Spanish dictionary translations for ‘chula vista’ include ‘beautiful view’ and ‘great cool sight’ — but for Villagers in the surrounding area, the newly modernized facility is a sight for sore eyes. Many long-term residents who prefer to play close to home are very happy their center has re-opened.
Special events staffer, Bob Pascua, was keeper of the shears!
Newcomers to The Village of Rio Ponderosa, Linda and Dennis Laperle, are looking forward to using Chula Vista.
“We never saw this before and think it is beautiful,” Linda said. “We moved here in April, and have started playing pickleball. We will come here a lot for darts, Sequence (the card game), and other activities, because it is close to our home.”
Judy and Mervin Marshall, nearby Village of Mira Mesa residents for almost thirteen years, also came for the opening. “It’s just aweome, Judy said. We remember it when we first moved here and it was a restaurant. It has such a homey feel to it now with the old West look. We’ll come for billiards, bingo and cards.”
Silver Lake Villager, Ruth Smith, and her very calm Jack Russell terrier, Sadie, love the new facility. “I love how The Villages always plans a different theme for all their rec centers — I love horses and this is really beautiful.”
“We had to move our monthly Village De La Vista North social club meetings to La Hacienda Rec Center, farther away, while Chula was closed,” said club president and long-term resident, Phil Rizzo. Our club had met at Chula Vista since it was converted from a restaurant, and it served us well — so our members will be glad to be back to our familiar place again.”
In a Letter to the Editor, a longtime resident of The Villages suggests the 300,000 guests per year to The Villages should be supporting the community by paying for guest passes.
