[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Ptmckiou

Ezell Rec Ctr staff said once Sawgrass opens, they won’t be allowed to schedule evening events at Ezell because of the parking competition.

The Eastport Town square should be done in 2-3 years. It will have a stage overlooking the lake. There is also an island in the lake accessible by cart that you can park and watch the sunsets or listen to the music from the stage across the water. The lake is 1 mile long, so quite large,

Well that parking situation at Ezell Rec Center and Sawgrass sounds like a true misstep from the Morses. They usually do not make mistakes like that.

The Eastport Town square sounds wonderful. So.....there will be nightly music like the current three squares? I read in another thread that there will not be bands at Eastport Town Square. I don't know which information is correct but it surely would be great if there was nightly bands at Eastport. That lake sounds awesome, especially with the island to watch sunsets and listen to music. I'm sure hubby and I will venture down there a time or two to check it out when it is all built.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by rustyp

The original town square was on the historic side across from the post office. It was started by Harold long before Spanish Springs came into existence.

Just for history purposes......did this original square offer nightly bands music and dancing? To me, that is what is most important at our town squares. Restaurants and retail are important also but do not define what a town square is to me.

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by SIRE1

I took a drive down to Sawgrass this weekend and noticed that there isn't a lot of room for parking. I wonder what will happen if there is an event at the rec center, good entertainment, and a lot of people what to go to the market & restaurant/bar. I anticipate a lot of complaints on this forum in a year or two.

Excellent point. There is an entertainment square with a pub and a food hall, a championship golf course, a putting course, pickle ball courts, tennis courts, and a recreational center - with just a little more parking than most rec centers. Hopefully people will walk.

[Bogie Shooter]

How is it known parking is a problem?

[VApeople]

Originally Posted by rrtjp

Wife and I are eagerly waiting for Sawgrass to open. We are exactly point six miles away from Sawgrass, an easy walk or bike ride there for us. We moved to Citrus Grove about six months ago and love it here.

Yeah, I think walking or biking from Citrus Grove to Sawgrass is much safer than trying to turn left on Meggison Road.

Didn't someone recently get t-boned trying to turn left out of Citrus Grove? Whatever traffic is like now on Meggison, it is going to get a lot heavier after Newell, Lake Denham, and Dabney are built and Meggison connects to Route 470.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

Here’s the layout of Eastport and the food coming to Sawgrass Grove

The Villages - Florida's Friendliest Active Adult 55+ Retirement Community

I think the lake at Eastport will be able to host dragons boat races that are a 10,000 distance - so the lake will probably be longer than 1,000M

What’s interesting is the lake is called “Central Lake” and the road is called “Central Parkway”. Lots of indications that A LOT of expansion will continue east and south.

There are several areas that are not labeled on the map but none of them look like they could be a bandstand and dance floor. I don't see any label of a bandstand and dance floor. This looks like a really nice complex, but not one I consider a "Town Square".

[Rsenholzi]

The fourth square will be going in at the end of 501 on 470 . It will be joined by another Villages High School as well as the family neighborhood which will be for families whose parents work in the villages. Don’t be surprised if it is packed more than the others because it has easy access to the family neighborhoods and also Leesburg and Webster as well as the turnpike. There will be a lot of outsiders probably coming into that square. In addition , I’m sure since they have been putting apartments in the other squares that they will already be in the plans before it is built thus adding more people. The 4th square was part of the agreement with the town in exchange for building more homes

[markusmom]

I believe a new town square will be in Middleton where the new schools are being built. It's south of Eastport on the other side of 470. In five years this will be the "hot spot" of the villages with plenty of shopping and restaurants. Looking forward to moving there. We LOVE the nightly entertainment at the town centers. High energy, friendly people and entertaining on many levels

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

There are several areas that are not labeled on the map but none of them look like they could be a bandstand and dance floor. I don't see any label of a bandstand and dance floor. This looks like a really nice complex, but not one I consider a "Town Square".

Concept for a stage along the lake was mentioned.

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

Just for history purposes......did this original square offer nightly bands music and dancing? To me, that is what is most important at our town squares. Restaurants and retail are important also but do not define what a town square is to me.

Yes

Every Saturday night on the historic side someone would sponsor a party. If no one stepped up on a particular week Harold Schwartz would have the party at his house on the corner of Aloha and Tarrson. After having so many parties at his house Harold decided they need a party area that didn't put the burden on someone each week thus he made a town square across from what is now the post office. Harold loved music and was quite the dancer. I'll speculate the square parties started as a Saturday night affair and perhaps grew.

This story was passed on at a memorial I attended years ago for Harold by one of his neighbors. I believe it was on the 10th anniversary of Harold's passing. I have CRS now. The memorial was held at Schwartz park which is on Kim Ave.

Some other time I'll tell you how the lifestyle visit began.

[Freehiker]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

For me squares got old after first month here.

Sucks to be you. I have a great time in the squares and go most nights. We have met lots of new friends and had some great times there.

[Cliff Fr]

I lived in Sumter County when The Villages proposed expanding into our County. There was a debate about whether to allow it or not. People opposed to it said that it would destroy the rural character of Sumter County and that politically The Villages would end up controlling Sumter County. The developer assured us that only a small portion of Sumter County would be developed. And here we are now, lol

[jedalton]

yes it did

[yankygrl]

Originally Posted by Rsenholzi

The fourth square will be going in at the end of 501 on 470 . It will be joined by another Villages High School as well as the family neighborhood which will be for families whose parents work in the villages. Don’t be surprised if it is packed more than the others because it has easy access to the family neighborhoods and also Leesburg and Webster as well as the turnpike. There will be a lot of outsiders probably coming into that square. In addition , I’m sure since they have been putting apartments in the other squares that they will already be in the plans before it is built thus adding more people. The 4th square was part of the agreement with the town in exchange for building more homes

I’ve heard it isn’t really a square as the previous 3, but more an entertainment area...I’m guessing like Edna’s on the green without food trucks.

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by Cliff Fr

I lived in Sumter County when The Villages proposed expanding into our County. There was a debate about whether to allow it or not. People opposed to it said that it would destroy the rural character of Sumter County and that politically The Villages would end up controlling Sumter County. The developer assured us that only a small portion of Sumter County would be developed. And here we are now, lol

Well, you’re welcome for all the jobs and tax revenue.