At the Monday, Oct. 19, Walden Lake Community Association meeting, the WLCA voted to approve the first phase of construction and added amenities on the community’s polo field, located on Griffin Boulevard. The motion passed with a vote of 6-2.
The WLCA’s budget for this year allocated $50,000 for the project.
The biggest aspect of the first phase of construction consists of building a pavilion that is 20-by-30 feet. The WLCA accepted a $30,000 bid for the pavilion from Magnolia Construction. The pavilion will be made of a concrete slab and will have a metal green roof.
As the project continues in phases over the next few years, the WLCA hopes to add other pavilions throughout the field.
Other amenities in the first phase of the project include six green pavilion tables, which are 6 feet long and have built-in benches for seating, and hibachi grills to be placed at the end of the pavilion. Covered trash cans will be placed around the polo field.
Baseball field equipment, including a backstop and bases, are also included as part of the project. Four baseball benches with backs, each 8 feet long, will be ordered.
Out of the $50,000 allotted this year from the WLCA budget, $42,584.03 will be spent for the first phase of the project.
Many residents and WLCA board directors believe that the added amenities will continue to make Walden Lake a desirable community for families as new neighborhoods spring up around Plant City and surrounding areas.
WLCA President Bob Hunter said that the Polo Field Committee has reviewed resident concerns and said that the polo field would be covered by insurance.
“I think it’s a very positive move that’s needed for this community,” Hunter said. “The committee has looked at issues over the last six months.”
Still, some expressed concerns about parking, bathroom facilities, ongoing maintenance costs and keeping the polo field exclusive to Walden Lake members.
WLCA board director Rich Glorioso had questions about spending the $50,000.
“We set aside $50,000 for this,” Glorioso said.
“Since then, we’ve been involved in two lawsuits. I think it’s the wrong time to be spending the money. When we put this $50,000 in the budget, we didn’t know we’d have these lawsuits we’d be dealing with.”
The lawsuits Glorioso referred to are the ones between the WLCA and Visions Golf, the owner of the two 18-hole golf courses within Walden Lake.
Visions Golf wants to develop The Hills course, but it is the WLCA’s stance to keep the course for golf, and not for homes.
“We can all speculate,” Hunter said. “You really can’t budget for unknown lawsuits.”
After a permit is obtained, Hunter hopes that construction on the polo field’s pavilion will begin within the next few weeks.
Equipment for the first phase of the project will also be ordered at that time.
The WLCA is looking for volunteers and sponsors for the next phase of the project.
“It’s important that we reach out to businesses … to help us move this project forward,” Hunter said.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
IN OTHER NEWS
- The WLCA appointed Josh Hall to fill the remainder of Lynn Buehler’s three-year term on the WLCA board. Buehler resigned after one meeting on the board for personal reasons. He had previously filled the available slot left by Dave Sollenberger. Sollenberger resigned because of an upcoming move out of state. Hall has a background in computers and was also on the April ballot.
- Both WLCA board members and residents who attended the October meeting were complimentary about the recent addition of a left turn lane at Alexander Street and Timberlane Road, just outside of the entrance to the Walden Lake community. “The left turn lane is already being used and is preventing back up,” Hunter said.
- The Walden Lake community is experiencing vandalism that is primarily targeted at sprinkler systems within the community. Sprinklers have been cut off or destroyed, and sprinkler heads have been broken. The community faced the same problem last year. “This is serious,” Hunter said. “We will stop it. This is not accidental.”
- The final WLCA budget for the upcoming year will be adopted in November, allowing invoices to be sent out in December. Once approve, the budget will be posted on the Walden Lake website and will be sent out to members.