The use of pools and pickleball courts in The Villages by “outsiders” has been a very hot topic in recent weeks here in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown.
The debate has prompted elected officials to begin to look at a method for protecting the use of facilities for those who are paying the full freight with their monthly amenity charges.
This week, residents began getting their first look at how The Villages would enforce controlled access to amenities.
At the heart of the system would be the Villager ID card with a chip. The card would serve as both a Villager ID and gate entrance device.
The card would have multiple uses including entry at 71 unstaffed neighborhood pools and other recreation facilities. The new card would offer enhanced security with encryption.
“That ID card would be utilized for everything,” said Deputy District Manager Carrie Duckett.
The new card would offer many operational efficiencies.
The District has already been experimenting with long-range readers at the gates and the new cards, potentially coupled with Sunpass-style stickers, would end the need to roll down car windows when swiping a card at an entry gate.
It is estimated there would be a two-year implementation period for the new system.
There are still many details to work out, including potential costs.