You said it. Unfortunately the Firm cheapened a lot south of 44: lot sizes, your MMP, shorter driveways, utilities in front yard, size of houses, narrower streets, etc.

Now this is interesting. Maybe the cement lining each side of the MMPs was stopped before getting south of 44? I really don't go very far in my golf cart; just stay around Mallory Square going to either Colony Rec Center and shopping there, Lake Miona Rec Center and then to Lake Sumter Landing. Actually, I have driven along 466 on the MMP too. All those paths do have the cement lining each side of the path so. Next time I'm riding on Morse or Buena Vista as a passenger in the car, I will look at the paths that run along those roads to see if they, in fact, do have the cement borders.

Sorry if it baffles you but I care about the appearance of all of The Villages, not just my area. The Villages has a reputation to live up to and the older villages is what made this place so popular. I just hope, as large and more populated this place gets, it will continue to have a great reputation.

I'm not a construction engineer but it seems to me that lining asphalt with a cement ribbon would cost more than just leaving the asphalt bare on the sides to be invaded by grass. No??? That is what I was referring to.

I haven't walked the path by Lake Miona yet but I'm looking forward to doing that now that the weather is cooler. I will weigh in on the width of the path after I actually walk it.

Next time my sister takes a ride on the paths south of 44 (usually on Sundays), I'll ask her to take photos of the grass invading the asphalt. Problem is, I still don't know how to post a photo on this site so I wont' be able to post the photos. I will, however, be able to see for myself what Sis is talking about.

This is how propaganda starts, someone told someone told someone and now it’s true.
Before posting you should have 1st hand knowledge.
The paths in the south are much more thought out and look better than the paths north of 44. Down south here, we have curbs when needed. We don’t have grass growing in our paths, and all of our paths are made for golf carts, not like the paths north of 466a. If you go head on to a path after crossing issuing a street where the gates are north of 466a, there is a harsh dip, which you don’t have down south. How about the accid by waiting to happen path north of 466 where the golf carts share the road with Morse? We don’t have that here, we are off the major roads. (Did the county vote yet to get rid of the Morse golf cart path yet?).

OMG......thank you so much for posting this. This rubberized surface is perfect for folks with arthritis, especially in the knees and ankles. Are the paths south of 44 made with this surface too? That is a wonderful addition to our area. I can't wait to take a walk. And.....there is cement ribbons lining the walking path by Lake Miona. GREAT!!!!!!

I'm very glad to hear this. I want all of The Villages to be the best it can be. Good to know it is not all the paths south of 44 that do not have the cement to protect the asphalt.

Why would they even build any paths without the protection of the concrete? That is truly a concern.

BINGO. Under the guides of "Everglades" or "Prairie" themes you see much less Villages touches of "Disney-like cuteness".
Take for instance the 301 entrance of DeLuna and compare it to up north. Bathroom tile on a tiny wall. South of 44 is The Villages "Developers" beginning to show clear signs of thinking no one is noticing the change in motivation. Don't get me wrong, the S of 44 bubble beats the lack of creativity elsewhere however, it IS a noticeable change in design.
??'s that make you go "hmmmm"...

Why is TV not forcing the developers or owners to open the theater in Brownwood? Lack of workers... give me a break. Comments saying Leesburg theater is great is ridiculous! TV "dream" has plenty of theaters. That's a selling point for over 55's. Covid was a great reason to close it... temporarily. Theater by golf cart. Fun for the grand kids yatta yatta.

And yes, the golf cart trails are going to fall apart as there are no curbs. Who pays then?

As The Villages grows to Clermont it will eventually be like any other 55 and older community. I'm sure the paths will become more and more diamond lanes with cars.

All good things crumble eventually. It is about the $$ and selling houses on stamp sized lots the further south they go.

3 generations ago it was all about "dreams come true" for over 55. Now it is basic rec centers and repeating designs of round-abouts. Plenty of golf for the future but even the courses are changing. Someone with more golf experience can elaborate on that but the new pitch and putt at Richmond looks awfully small. I think you get my gist.

Still, I love the bubble... just feel bad to see it changing from what it is on the north side of 44.

The one noticeable area (to me, since I ride it often) without a concrete ribbon is the stretch from the Brownwood Bridge to the bridge over the turnpike. The edges will recede with time and will have to be dealt with.

Not sure I agree with that statement. Different does not necessarily mean cheap. The newer developed areas south of SR-44 have many more miles of MMPs and walking/biking trails than the areas north of 44. The preservation of wetlands and preserves, along with the addition of miles and miles of trails was, in my opinion, a great feature to the southern villages. We meet people all the time who live north of SR-44 that come down south to enjoy the walking/biking trails. They don't seem to mind associating with us folks who live on "the wrong side of the tracks."

There must be issues with the grass invading the asphalt otherwise my sister would not have even mentioned it to me. She told me those paths look "awful" and she has no reason to lie about it.

My sister has seen it so you must not have been on the paths that sis has been on.