Lake Miona Rec Center Retention Pond
 

On my morning walk I enter the pond area through the opening on the Buena Vista side of the pond, and travel along the fence to my left, next to the nature(?) area. There is a large bush/tree about 150 yards or so in, directly next to the fence. At 7am this morning there was a 6/7 foot gator resting at the back side of this bush next to the fence. Scared the bejesus out of me, as I was about 6 feet away from it when I passed the bush. I took a photo, but could not figure out how to load it from my phone.

I see many people walking their dogs around this pond; be careful.

Blacks pond very close so I imagine lots gators in that swampy area. I don’t know area you’re talking about but it goes on to reserve I don’t think you can trespass?

To clarify; it is the retention pond on the opposite corner of Lake Miona Rec Center; not the walking path recently built.

That pond has been a gator gathering spot for years. Usually big guys just laying around, it’s also a people spot to sit in a chair just watching the clouds go by

To load your picture you have to go to the advance tab at the bottom and then attach from there.

I live in the neighborhood closest to that pond. We are surrounded by Pelican golf courses, the nature preserve behind it, the pond you described, and the tortoise preserve beside that.
So yes, we get a lot of nature, and the gators do walk around.
Thanks for making others aware .

Are you talking about the big green pond west of the rec centre? Not sure what you mean by "opposite side". Maybe you mean across the street?

If it’s anywhere near (mile) a body of water there may be gators.

I have a problem with any large (over 3 ft) alligator in the Villages. I have no problem with large gators in special areas or wilderness areas. But in TV land you have occasional small children playing around near a lake or even in the water. You also have some residents walking small dogs on or off a leash. To me, it is just a bad situation that invites problems. Also, I have a problem with clowns that FEED alligators. They are natures ancient KILLING machines.

Yes, I prefer to view gators far away from me.

It's the pond at Buena Vista and Bailey Trail. You can see the pond while traveling on Buena Vista. People do sit there at sunset, closer to the MMP. After passing through the driving gate on Bailey, the Rec Center is a left turn, the pond is on your right.