A large crowd showed up at Wednesday’s Amenity Authority Committee meeting wanting answers about the future of recreation facilities in the Marion County portion of The Villages.
A plan to purchase the former home of the First Baptist Church on SE Hwy. 42 recently fell through, leaving no immediate options for a new recreation center in Community Development District 4. The plan had been to retrofit the church into a recreation center.
The Developer is hoping to build 300 new courtyard villas in CDD 4. Residents said they are fearful an assisted living center to be built in the area, coupled with the new residents, could further crowd already over-used recreation facilities. The Developer has pledged to build two recreation centers for the new residents, but those recreation centers have been described as a “postal station and pool.”
Residents also complained it can be tough to get a tee time at a nearby golf course.
Villagers lined up at the podium to try to get answers from the AAC.
One resident asked where she should turn to use a recreation center.
“Within 40 square miles” of recreation centers in The Villages, said District Manager Janet Tutt.
Her answer was greeted with laughter.
John Chipriano of the Village of Chatham said he believes the people in the area feel there is a real lack of recreation centers already.
“Can we see statistical information how we stack up in recreation facilities?” he asked. “If there was a study done, we might feel validated.”
AAC Chair Ann Forrester pointed out that two pickleball courts are already to be added at the Mulberry Grove Recreation Center.
The AAC agreed to investigate other alternatives including 40 acres of property for sale in the area. You can read more about the history of the 40 acres HERE.
However, Tutt cautioned that the reported asking price of $3 million for the 40 acres is “just the starting point.” Any costs for engineering or constructing a recreation center would be additional.