Attention Walden Lake homeowners: Would you like to see new uses or amenities on the community polo field? Now is your chance to provide your input.
Following a proposal to make improvements to the dog park parking lot, Walden Lake Community Association Director Bob Hunter asked the board at its Nov. 18 meeting to consider developing a plan for the entire polo field.
“I’d like to suggest that we explore or develop a plan for all of the polo grounds,” Hunter said. “There’s a vast amount of land there (that needs to be used).”
WLCA President Jan Griffin said a polo field committee, comprising residents, had developed a plan for the land about six or seven years ago. At that time, the most desired amenity was a dog park, she said.
Other proposed uses included soccer and baseball fields, and a disc golf course. However, the WLCA board at that time opted to keep the polo field as a multi-use facility.
“We had so many suggestions from people,” On-Site Manager Tom Daramus said. “There is a lot of space back there, but it is limited. And so, the thought was just leave it the way it is, and people can use it for whatever they want.”
More recently, Hunter said he has heard from residents again asking for additions such as a baseball diamond and soccer fields. He’s even heard a suggestion for turning it into an RV lot.
Adding amenities of this type would attract people from outside of the community, Griffin said.
“We found that if you have something like a soccer field, you’re going to have people from out of the community,” she said. “It’s just going to be (that way).”
WLCA leaders discussed forming a new committee to reexamine the polo field and potential uses. They also plan to seek resident comment through the Walden Lake newsletter.
“Having a good use of the polo field is a great idea,” Griffin said. “It’s there, it’s our asset.”
Hunter said he hopes to have a plan by February, so any construction could be completed before the rainy summer season.
BOARD CHANGES
After two months of operating as an eight-member board, the WLCA appointed a new director to replace Marcus Alexich.
Former Florida state Rep. Rich Glorioso was welcomed to the board at its Nov. 18 meeting.
Originally from Danbury, Conn., Glorioso moved in 1994, to Plant City. He previously served on the WLCA board, as well as a Plant City commissioner from 1998 to 2004. After six years on the commission, Glorioso was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2004 and re-elected for three more terms.
In addition, he served from 1998 to 2004 on the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization; as vice chairman of the Hillsborough County from 1998-2004; on the State Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council from 1999 to 2004; and on the West Central Florida Chairs Coordinating Committee from 1999 to 2004. Before his political career, Glorioso spent 27 years in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a colonel.
The WLCA directors also appointed Jim Chancey as the new vice president and Director Heather Updike as the new secretary.
Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.
HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD
If you have suggestions for new uses for the Walden Lake polo field, send them to the Plant City Times & Observer through Editor Michael Eng, meng@plantcityobserver.com. We will forward any suggestions to the Walden Lake Community Association.
IN OTHER NEWS
• WLCA directors voted to spend up to $500 to purchase a tablet to help report code violations throughout the community.
• Walden Lake On-Site Manager Tom Daramus reported his crew replaced entry signs for the WestWood community.
• WLCA directors approved spending $3,100 to install new sod and irrigation to the entrance to Laurel Lake. The Laurel Lake homeowners association will take money from its own budget to improve the community’s center islands.
• Voting for the annual Walden Lake Christmas light contest will take place at 7 p.m. Dec. 15.
