Everything is beautiful here except the drab tunnels

[golfer808]

The drab tunnels. With so much talent here I would love to see some murals painted inside the tunnels. I know it's just a short drive thru them, but how nice would it be to see some color.

[justjim]

The drab tunnels. With so much talent here I would love to see some murals painted inside the tunnels. I know it's just a short drive thru them, but how nice would it be to see some color.

:coolsmiley: 808 you might be on to something. At least you have a positive idea worth exploring.

[Mamaderby]

The drab tunnels. With so much talent here I would love to see some murals painted inside the tunnels. I know it's just a short drive thru them, but how nice would it be to see some color.

What a great idea! In fact, make it an intergenerational school project! And I am serious. Been involved with some similar types of projects n Cleveland.

[sralph99]

This idea came up a few years ago. At first it seemed like a good idea but then they realized it wouldn't be safe with everybody looking at the murals and not paying attention to their driving.

[DougB]

Kind of dark in some of the tunnels to really enjoy murals I think. Maybe some attractive decorative lighting would be nice.

[graciegirl]

Naw. I don't like that idea. It is stinky in there and I am holding my breath until I get out of the fumes.

We have enough pretty stuff around here.

Just my vote.

[KeepingItReal]

This idea came up a few years ago. At first it seemed like a good idea but then they realized it wouldn't be safe with everybody looking at the murals and not paying attention to their driving.

:agree:

[gomoho]

I vote for the lighting - if someone is walking thru the tunnel sometimes it is impossible to see them.

[buggyone]

Nope, just get in and get out of those exhaust filled tunnels ASAP. Just imagine if some lookey loo was studying the art and another Villager comes along in a hurry without realizing there was an art lover there! :shrug:

Lots of the tunnels do have solar powered lights in them.

[Bonny]

Tunnels are to dark & narrow for someone to be in there trying to look at the walls instead of where they are going..

[Bonny]

Kind of dark in some of the tunnels to really enjoy murals I think. Maybe some attractive decorative lighting would be nice.
This would be a good idea. Any kind of lighting would be great.

[asianthree]

clap on would work if no one claps off:girlneener:

[Uptown Girl]

Murals sound lovely, but the walls are easiest to maintain the way they are now, and eventually there would be maintenance needed on any murals. Nothing looks sadder than a painted mural past it's prime.... repair is not easy. Most have to be completely redone when it's time and that makes for a bigger project.... sanding, priming and repainting anew.

Visually the tunnels are too close to appreciate a mural and so would be distracting to drive through, in my opinion. (I'm an artist and have painted murals in the past, indoors and outside.)

A subtle pattern in a soft color might be nice, but that too would need maintenance- as concrete absorbs moisture and paint begins to pop off sooner or later.

A bland inside to a tunnel guides your eye to focus on the opening you are headed towards. Might be boring, but I think it's best that way.

[graciegirl]

Murals sound lovely, but the walls are easiest to maintain the way they are now, and eventually there would be maintenance needed on any murals. Nothing looks sadder than a painted mural past it's prime.... repair is not easy. Most have to be completely redone when it's time and that makes for a bigger project.... sanding, priming and repainting anew.

Visually the tunnels are too close to appreciate a mural and so would be distracting to drive through, in my opinion. (I'm an artist and have painted murals in the past, indoors and outside.)

A subtle pattern in a soft color might be nice, but that too would need maintenance- as concrete absorbs moisture and paint begins to pop off sooner or later.

A bland inside to a tunnel guides your eye to focus on the opening you are headed towards. Might be boring, but I think it's best that way.


EXCELLENT point.

[zcaveman]

These are pass-thru tunnels. You go in and you come out. No need for
scenery. If fact I think that many of the people that pass through these tunnels have problem just getting through the tunnels. I think it is claustrophobia or night blindness (even in the daytime) from the way they drive.

No need to spend extra money making them pretty.

However, if the Villages High School want a free to us summer project I would not be opposed to it.

Z

[batman911]

That would remind me of graffiti which I would rather not ever see again.

[Topspinmo]

You mean kinda like you see on all the train cars and sides of buildings??? I don't think you want that activity going on around there! Just joking..:what: IMO some should have speed bumps for traffic crossing tunnels. Some people fly by pretty Fast.. Surprised there haven't been more collisions exiting some of them that cross traffic don't stop.:gc:

[justjim]

OP, how about doing just one tunnel and see how it turns out. I agree you might not want to do all of the tunnels---some are dark but some--- not so much.

[SoccerCoach]

Naw. I don't like that idea. It is stinky in there and I am holding my breath until I get out of the fumes.

We have enough pretty stuff around here.

Just my vote.

I think Gracie may have hit a nerve. FUMES !! Perhaps fans to move the fumes OUT of the tunnels. Some folks don't mind the FUMES, some of us DO !

[ajbrown]

I do like the tunnels that have the solar lighting, but I do not see a need for ‘pretty tunnels’. The thing that popped out for me in this thread is that some folks think the tunnels smell. I am surprised by this. Reading many golf cart threads recently about type of cart to own, I had presumed folks had lost their sense of smell.

What you smell in the tunnel is what others smell just trying to enjoy the moment behind you :throwtomatoes:.

<I apologize ahead of time for my comments as I have had a bit too much wine with a wonderful dinner with friends and am feeling a bit frisky>

[blueeagle65]

The stench from gas carts is too bad for anyone to spend more time than necessary down there.

[jblum315]

Why shouldn't tunnels be drab? People are supposed to be paying attention to their driving, not admiring artwork. I can just imagine when someone stops short to look at the murals.

[Barefoot]

I do like the tunnels that have the solar lighting, but I do not see a need for ‘pretty tunnels’. The thing that popped out for me in this thread is that some folks think the tunnels smell. I am surprised by this. Reading many golf cart threads recently about type of cart to own, I had presumed folks had lost their sense of smell.

What you smell in the tunnel is what others smell just trying to enjoy the moment behind you :throwtomatoes:.

<I apologize ahead of time for my comments as I have had a bit too much wine with a wonderful dinner with friends and am feeling a bit frisky>

You may be feeling frisky, and it may be off topic, but :agree:

[travelguy]

most of the tunnels seem to have a natural flow of air that keeps them from building up fumes. except for the tunnel under buena vista going to/from the seabreeze rec center. the way the approaches are designed do not allow for air to move through and it is disgusting, and most likely also unhealthy.

[rubicon]

First, I am grateful that The Villages has done a good job in keeping bats out of the tunnels. there was a period of time that people were being bombarded. I had one just about crawl up my golf shorts and another that hit my windshield.

Secondly I agree with those who prefer the plain gray concrete walls. clearly any painting, etc would require continual maintenance or otherwise fall in to disrepair.

finally all of the tunnels seem to have lights except the tunnel going under Buena vista and just past Palmers and routing you to Belvedere . I just wrote a remainder to call the district and ask why lights were not placed there.

[PaPaLarry]

Are we opening the door to graffiti??????? I like many, hold breath until I get out of tunnel.

[queasy27]

The tunnels do evoke a little Beauty and the Beast dichotomy; lovely drive in the sun amidst the pretty landscaping, then boom! Subterranean! Sulphurous! Murky!

Would faux painting work instead of murals? The outside walls of the golf cart bridge over 27 is an example. I know nothing about it, but don't imagine that needs to be touched up much since it's intended to be aged looking.

[Waynecarla]

I think it would be very unsafe to have artwork in the tunnels,I'm sure it would be very nice to look at but from what I have seen most everyone is in a big hurry to get thru,we do not need any distractions in the tunnels.

[THE NEWCOMER]

That would remind me of graffiti which I would rather not ever see again.
AMEN! Please be thankful that you don't have graffiti and homeless people living in the tunnels. Oh I didn't mention the smell of urine which is all I remember about the NY City subway system. Be thankful gangs haven't started tagging there turf! Let face it, The Villages rolls up at 8PM so who is going to catch these taggers? Some of you people need to get outside the bubble and see what really going on in society. Once you get back from your field trip you will realize how great you have it! Twenty five punks with spray cans and three nights work and they can turn the bubble into living hell.