AAC proposed opening Orange Blossom pool to all
 

Rich Cole has proposed opening the Orange Blossom pool to all while the Paradise pool is under renovation. First the people on the historic side of 441 will still have the Southside pool. Next my question is "How much of a refund will be given to those of us who purchased Priority Membership for the Orange Blossom pool". All Priority Membership people need to show up at the next meeting to ask how those of us who paid to go to that pool, are going to get a refund. Also contact the AAC now.

The article about opening the OB pool did not say to "all". If that were to occur there would not be enough room around Watertower Circle for parking. I will assume the AAC will be proposing a scheme that will temporarily allow limited historic side residents use of OB pool by scanning their ID cards. The scanner can be programmed. with lot numbers of the most likely affected residents - IE - residents within defined radius of the present Paradise pool.

Hilltop and Southside pools are adult pools. Paradise is the only family pool on the historic side. Your concern about priority members has a certain amount of validity. But as we all know the OB pool is sole ownership of the developer and we have no say.

My prediction - developer says no to OB proposal. AAC temporarily changes one of the two other pools to a family pool.

There has been talk going back a year or more on how to handle the closure of Paradise during construction (mostly having to do with what happens to the library). Alternates to the pool are one of the logistical things that will need to be worked out prior to construction starting, and several options have been mentioned above. I would note that Rich Cole is the Village Center CDD representative on the AAC, so I would assume that the developer is aware of the proposal.

The Country Club Pool Membership is for ALL of the country club pools & hot tubs. Not just one of your choosing. Since not all country club pools will change, then no refund will be given as you can choose another pool to go to with the exact same privileges.

:clap2: I agree. For $284 a couple ($218.50 a single) anyone can use OBG's priority pool. Maybe someone should propose opening Mr. Cole's pool..... :icon_wink:
Savannah Center's Sports Pool will be closing soon for major repairs. I would like to know if Mr. Cole is in favor of opening up Glenview's Priority Pool and hot tub too. :popcorn:

Golf The Villages Link for Priority Pools

:confused: Could it also be said that the non priority members have over a hundred other pools to use so they don't need OBG's pool???? :rolleyes:

AAC stands for Amenity Authority Committee. Why can't posters spell things out instead of making others search for it or guess?

At Glenview when we had pool membership, they allowed birthday parties at the pool for toddlers. Never renewed my membership after that.

Thanks for volunteering to help out......oh wait, no the post was all about being selfish....my bad.

So $218.50 per year for 8 pools equals $27.31 per month, or $3.41 per pool. Apparently, OBG is "your pool" so if they use it for 2 months, would $6.82 make you happy?

"REFUND" ? Been here a long long time and don't remember a refund for anything, pools closed, courses closed, rec centers closed. Could be wrong, but I'd not count on any refund even if the number of priority pools was reduced to 6, or 5, same with tennis, but, who knows, there's a first time for everything they say. One fact, the section of the villages by that country club (OB) seems a LOT of homes and residents for one south side center pool ! If we'd bought there I would not be very happy with that. But then, the large resort pool with spa, tiki bar and short order food at Hacienda C.C. closed virtually "overnight", no one ever received a "refund", yet many joined priority solely for that specific pool !

Agree with your suppositions about how villages administration will handle it in the end. But this discussion brought up some more thoughts: does anyone know the number of residents in any of the 4 major sections of the villages per pool ? By this I mean the historic side (# of residents, # of pools, excluding extra cost pools), how many in the Spanish S. section and how many pools (again, NOT including those that require $$ above the monthly amenity fee), and so on for the LSL population and number of pools, and so on with Brownwood area and the Sawgrass areas. Just thought it might be interesting to know the relative percentages.

For those who use the public pools (not your private pool), is it really that much further to other pools compared to how far you had to drive in your previous life?

My guess is some just won’t drive more than 15 minutes from their personal bubble. So it would be an inconvenience for the group. Not sure our parents would drive to another pool. But I do remember when they went to some priority pools they claim the Crypt keepers frequents that pool.

They didn’t go to OB much because it is a kid magnet for guests

True, but since any resident can go to any of the neighborhood or rec center pools, those that normally use Paradise pool have over 100 to choose from. If I had paid to have exclusive use of the cc pools, I'd be miffed as well.

Salt pools
 

I saw a year or so ago all the pools were to be changed over to salt by the end of last summer. We don't use the pools because my wife is allergic to chlorine. Does anyone know if this happened? TY.

Since this is related to a medical condition (allergy to chlorine) you should contact the Recreation Department for up-to-date, information from the source. I believe chlorine or a chlorine-like chemical is still required, just at a lower concentration. You will want to know which pools, which chemical, and what concentration.

I think you meant to say she is sensitive to chlorine. There is no such thing as a chlorine allergy.

So with that line of thought, there are other family pools on the other side of 27/441 that are available. Why then change a priority pool to a family pool.

I pass four pools on my morning walk and there are a few others just as close. Close one of those pools and I'll just go to another (I know, it has been done). Pools aren't as numerous on the historic side. It looks like there are four pools in total: One temporarily closed; one closing; one a priority pool; and Southside. The next closest pool would be Hacienda but that is also closed. If you are in that area it isn't that easy to just find another Family pool.

The project to convert the amenity pools was completed. (I don't know about the developer-owned pools.) The reason for the conversion was the high cost and uncertainty about the availability of chlorine. The salt process breaks down the sodium chloride to get the chlorine, so it is still in the water (the process manages to get rid of most of the sodium).

This is what I was going to post. A salt pool is a chlorine pool and realistically it will have the same amount of chlorine as any chlorine pool. The only difference is the chlorine is generated at a steady level and the salt pool is more stable. I've found my salt pool way easier to maintain than when I was using chlorine pucks. I've never had to shock it with high dose of chlorine.

Some say the salt is gentler on the skin, so perhaps that would help with chlorine sensitivity.

Country Club pools in addition to being for 'enhanced memberships' are also family pools.

Suggestion regarding opening Glenview pool while Savannah pool is closed...
 

A former writer is wondering: "...I would like to know if Mr. Cole is in favor of opening up Glenview's Priority Pool and hot tub too..."
As it is, there are considerably fewer pools in the area between CR 42 and CR 466! NONE of the Villages of Briar Meadow, Piedmont, Belle Aire, Alhambra, Glenbrook, Polo Ridge or Santiago have a pool. It was only within recent years that the 2 new villages (Phillips and Souliere Villas) were constructed and First Responders added a 3rd - that those areas had a pool as close by as ALL of those south of our area.

The people join Priority pools not only for the benefit of having a meal there, but they are paying for a lesser crowded pool. Opening it up to all defeats them paying for priority membership

Hope they have to show their Villages ID card

Orange Blossom pool is usually pretty crowded during peak time (mid-morning to just before supper) all year 'round.

You can eat and drink at the pool, they have a server that comes around taking and delivering orders most of the day.

The main objection to opening it up, is that it's not an amenity. Our amenity fees don't pay for it, it costs extra just to get in. If it's opened up to anyone, then everyone who's already paid for the privilege, should get a refund. Why should I have to pay for it when you can go there at no extra cost?

We have two other amenity-paid pools on this side of The Villages. Either one of them can be converted to a family pool temporarily, because neither of them are busy enough -most- of the time, for anyone to really care. Plus they have plenty of parking. On busy days, the lots are often full at Orange Blossom. That's because they share the lots with golfers, people hanging out at the bar, and people going to eat. You don't need to be a member to eat, the restaurant is open to the public.

Agree
 

Agree that’s a pay for play area. More such pools in the villages would be great. Perhaps 3 to 4 more that require paying. If very profitable build more. More people more money more fun but alcohol consumption must be watched and you know that will bring problems. Any such at Orange? Anybody know?

You're right, it looks like once south of 466 did the Villages really get rolling with the 'neighborhood pool' concept.

I know that I can NOW open my eyes underwater without any burning sensation, but years ago if I did that it would burn. So to me, the newer salt pools are superior.

The South side pool gets pretty crowded in the winter. And many people there will lose their minds when the 1st child lets out a high frequency scream!