A little bit of the Village of Fenney was reflected in the first look at the Amenity Authority Committee’s new recreation center.
The plans unveiled Wednesday morning before a large crowd at Savannah Center included a Putt & Play golf area and a resort-style pool reflective of one in the Village of Fenney.
The new First Responders Recreation Center is to be located on a roughly 20-acre piece of property purchased last year for nearly $2 million from the First Baptist Church at The Villages, located at the northernmost tip of The Villages.
Recreation Director John Rohan unveiled a conceptual design but emphasized that the plans are far from set in stone. He said residents’ input will be considered and a revised plan would be brought back before residents on Sept. 24 at Savannah Center.
Residents lined up at the podium to complain about what they did not see in the plans. That list included:
• A dog park or dog walk area
• Pickleball courts
• Some residents said Pitch & Putt, like the one at Marsh Bend, would be more desirable than a Putt & Play.
• Several members of the Gem and Mineral Society complained that they have outgrown their space at SeaBreeze Recreation Center. They said they would like to have a roomier space at the new First Responders Recreation Center.
• The head of the Glass Fusion group said she was “disappointed” that more space in the new recreation center, which will be located in the remodeled Baptist Church building, did not include more space for the arts and crafts organizations.
“This is the first step of many steps,” said AAC Chair Ann Forrester.
She echoed Rohan’s assertion that residents’ comments will be considered as the plans are revised and reconsidered.
