The front yard of a home formerly owned by Villages founder Harold Schwartz is getting no respect in the water-logged environment left in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
The front yard of the modest home at Tarrson Boulevard and Aloha Way has become a bypass for golf carts trying to get through the flooded intersection.
The home is owned by an English couple. They are in England and their home is being looked after by a friend in the neighborhood. When they bought the home several years ago, they spent about $5,000 on the lawn.
When they return to The Villages, they will likely be horrified when they see the deep ruts now in their lawn.
The intersection flooded after Hurricane Irma dumped an estimated 10 inches of rain on The Villages more than a week ago.
Golf carts began crossing the yard soon after the hurricane to avoid the deep water in the intersection. It has continued for more than a week.
There are still some residents on the Historic Side of The Villages who fondly remember the days when Schwartz walked through the neighborhoods, greeting residents.
He died at age 93 in 2003. His ashes were placed in a statue of him at Spanish Springs Town Square.
