New First Responders Recreation Center
 

Any comments on the proposed new recreation center? They had the first meeting yesterday to go over the preliminary proposal and to get residents input. It will probably be 6 months before they arrive at the final design and costs and then another year and a half to two years to build. They. Included a putt and play course in the proposal but I’m hoping they change it to pitch and putt. Not quite sure why they included a corn hole area. The preliminary proposal calls for a resort pool similar to Fenney and platform tennis. There was even someone there from a fire department offering to display their antique fire engine at the center. It should be an interesting process.

I see they included a sand volleyball area, not really a old person's sport and hard on the knees.

Sand volleyball courts now double as sand tennis courts with their own balls and racquets. Seems to be growing rapidly but not sure if it's any better on the knees.

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Saw a group of first responders a few nights ago when a man fell at the Walmart Subway and they gave him a lot of information and checked him out and then he made the decision to leave with his wive's help and not take the ambulance. They had picked him up off the Subway floor and made him comfortable in a stretcher.

They certainly do good work here in the Villages area and deserve a place for rest and relaxation.

The rRec Center is named in honorof the First Responders. The Rec Center is for Village Residents.

I won't dispute that first responders deserve a place for rest and relaxation. However, this is not it. This rec center is being named in their honor. It is for use by Villagers, not first responders.

I would rather see 18 hole Putt & Play instead of just nine holes. There already are many executive golf courses already. Which is just a Pitch and Putt on steroids. The beach entry pool will be great to see. I hope they add a water fall like it was mentioned in the survey. They should also consider this multi purpose as well. Make it a FAMILY pool on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. The other four days for adults only. This will make everyone happy.

Oh Lord. Imagine the arguments if people forget and come with kids on the wrong day.

:laugh::icon_wink: Give the 9 holes the odd numbers 1-17 on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and even numbers 2-18 the other four days. BINGO :shrug:

I also think the water falls should only be turned on when it's a Family Pool for the kiddies..... the adults will not play under it IMHO. :ho:

OK. I was wondering about that. Of course, a Recreational Center for the First Responders is a better idea.

And this name is going to lead to A LOT of confusion. I always like the adage Keep It Simple Stupid.

They should name it something else and put in some Thank Yous to First Responders.

OK...back to the topic...the proposed amenities at the new First Responders Rec Center.

Yes, it is a facility for Villagers and their guests. It is not being built for the use of First Responders. That has been established.


Moderator

:ohdear:

Thanks for clearing that up. It is very confusing and will be the source of a lot of confusion. They need a new name IMHO.

I would much prefer a putt-putt course rather than a pitch and putt course. They could fit 18 holes of putt-putt in that same space. AND, it would be more attractive for us folks who don't walk so well.
Be sure to have some adult-height benches along the way.

I am disappointed in the proposed amenities. The Villages needs more regulation lap swimming pools as well as times where the pools are available for lap swimming besides early in the morning and late in the evening.

Yes, I was confused by the name of the etc center too. Although, in my opinion, the first responders do deserve their own rec center.

:rolleyes: How confused do you think I was when I drove down to see the NEW FIRE HOUSE..... and there were no flames? On the way there I also notices the NEW GREEN HOUSES are not green..... wow - now I'm totally confused. Must have just been the names......:oops: I don't know because I don't have a couple college degrees...... just a little common sense. :icon_wink:

Ask any First Responder around here what he/she would like and I'll bet they say a decent salary, decent benefits, and a good retirement before they say "a Rec. Center???" I'm always amazed they work around here when I talk to them. And that is often as I'm a retired Public Safety Professional. :ho:

My direct neighbor in TV is a first responder, my gym mates were firefighters.

Now, CW, you are just joking... we all know how smart you really are.

Would you expect the Newlywed Suite to be in honor of Newlyweds or for the exclusive use of Newlyweds?

Same with this First Responders Recreation Center. Name it after some Sumter County heroic firefighter or police officer rather than using this very confusing name. Maybe the Leland Greek Recreation Center. I do not know much about the man though.

Once again, I'm confused... How can The Villages build an entire Recreation Center for the sole use of First Responders as the overall percentage of active First Responders residing within The Villages are minimal at best???

No, they are not building a rec center for the first responders, from what I understand.

They are honoring the first responders by naming a regular rec center after them. My observation was that they actually do deserve their own rec center - but that’s never going to happen, as you say, there are not enough of them.

They can't, their not.

Have you read all of the posts?

People will learn the days.

It's not for first responders. That is the name of the recreation center. The name is dedicated to their profession.

How could soft sand be any harder on the knees than a pickleball or tennis court? Shuffleboard & bocce ball are "old person's sports" and don't appeal to me at all. Sand volleyball & sand tennis DO.

Does anyone know where the location of the rec center will be?

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.

I have to disagree that there are too many executive courses because their filled every day, especially in the mornings. I agree with you that the sports pool, this one and all the others should be open to families at least 3-4 days a week when classes are not scheduled. We have so many that sit idle.

So this would be Marion County. They could name it after some Marion County police officer, medic, or firefighter from that county. I would direct them to the agents who took down Ma Barker and her boy. Ma Barker - Wikipedia

FBI Shooting - Fred & Kate "Ma" Barker

Signet ring of notorius gangster found at Ocklawaha shootout site - News - Ocala.com - Ocala, FL

Doc White and/or James Connelly.
 

They should name it after one of these FBI agents which is kind of fitting in with the various names of other Villages' Rec Centers-- Bogart and Eisenhower as well as the "history" they make up for the three Squares.

Public Heroes: Ranking the Depression-era FBI agents – Brian Hunt

:confused: Let me see if I have this straight..... you want them to name a Rec. Center that you didn't know the location of - in Honor of a couple of F.B.I. Agents whose names you didn't know til you looked them up today - instead of HONORING ALL FIRST RESPONDERS ? Why? Because you were confused and made a bad assumption when you thought it was being built for first responders use instead of resident use?

:ohdear: Does that pretty much cover it? Just trying to figure out where you are coming from on this one. Sorry Buddy but I think it's a done deal. :ho:

It could probably be simplified and clarified if they used the word Honorary. The Rescue Workers' Honorary Rec Center. "First Responders" just seems like such a PC term - and it singles out only those who are the first to show up at a disaster or rescue mission. What of all those who come after the first wave, who are involved in the aftermath and cleanup? They deserve a nod too. So "Rescue Workers" embraces the whole bunch of them. Plus it's shorter and fits better on a sign.

First Responders would disagree since they are the ones who risk their lives.

:1rotfl: Thank God that First Responders know that is NOT the case! If a Fire Dept. rig get dispatched on a 2nd. or 3rd. alarm etc. they know they are still First Responders. If an ambulance crew calls for an ALS unit it will show up with 1st. responders on it. If an evidence tech shows up at a crime 15 minutes after it happens he/she is still a first responder.

:ohdear: Let's NOT over think this! ..... And " it's shorter and fits better on a sign" is NO reason to name anything! IMHO

:ho: You said it even better! Thank you.

Never thought my post would go in this direction.

:ho: It should not have gone this way and I sincerely apologize for the part I played in that. I should have answered your post and ignored the people who didn't know what they were talking about. I eagerly await it's completion(couple of years?) and hope to donate an item and have it displayed. :)

I agree. Plus I don't think running on soft sand is good on a lot of body parts.

That, plus a sign at the entrance. Next to the sign on the garbage can that says No Animal Feces. Signs can indeed be helpful!

Have you ever tried to run on a Great Lakes beach? It's much harder on your body because it is not a flat surface and gives in different ways with each footfall.