SUN CITY – In the early days of Sun City, a very scenic landscape was created.
It was located at the edge of the golf course, behind the outdoor pool at the rear of Prairie Lodge. It consisted of fountains and small waterfalls in a shallow basin behind the pool, a large waterfall alongside the pool in a forested area, more basins near the rear of the lodge, and another fountain near the bridge leading from the lodge to homes on Rock Creek Circle in Neighborhoods 1 and 1A. One of the fountains remains today.
Low water levels of water feature behind Prairie Lodge leaves fountain pipes exposed. (Photo by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)
Deanna Loughran, executive director, described the attractive site this way in a recent e-blast: “This feature runs along and through association property as well as property owned by the Whisper Creek Golf Club’s owner, Billy Casper Golf. The waterfall serves as a distinctive water feature for the final hole of the golf course and also enhances the view from Jameson’s and other property near this area. The entire feature provides beauty and tranquility to the walkway that runs along the back of Prairie Lodge and outdoor pool, which is utilized by many Sun City walkers.”
It was wonderful for a while. But in late 2014, its structure collapsed. The basins are still there, but the area is scarred by remnants of fountains, and the total disappearance of the waterfalls.
Today, it is the subject of a lot of debate among residents, board of directors, staff, and the Facility Advisory Committee. When Sun City opened in 1999, residents were assured that, in exchange for payment of their monthly assessments, the common areas, including this waterfall feature, would be maintained and kept in good shape. The board is charged with the responsibility to maintain and preserve the appearance and character of the community, to keep areas consistent with what was offered at the time of development. Now, the board and its advisors are finding out that this maintenance can get very expensive and complicated.
Item: To repair it and bring it back to its original condition is estimated to cost about $331,000, according to a recent financial assessment by Kane Brothers, a Chicago area civil engineering firm, and recent staff reports.
Item: There is the question of Billy Casper Golf’s responsibility, since part of the feature is located on their property. This question is now being addressed by the board and legal counsel.
Another question; what is Pulte Home’s responsibility? Pulte was in charge when the feature was built, and in June, Kane Brothers reportedly said a design flaw and inadequate materials used in the feature’s original construction led to the feature’s failure.
“Since the June board meeting, the board has been working with legal counsel to protect the interests of the community before continuing with this project,” Loughran said.
Sorting out the possible developer and golf company responsibilities is the reason that final decisions have been significantly delayed.
There is another intriguing aspect to this issue. This attractive feature is a secret to a significant chunk of residents, according to a series of informal, spontaneous conversations with residents. There are two reasons: its location behind Prairie Lodge is not frequently visited by residents, and nearly 2,000 new owners have arrived at Sun City in the last 2-3 years, and many of them haven’t explored the area behind the lodge. A total of $500,000 has been set aside to finance whatever is done, according to the association’s 2016 reserve expenditure budget. Many residents have expressed concern about the high price tag for a full upgrade. Some have suggested the site be left as it is. One resident has suggested that the upper basin be retained as “just a pond” or filled in with trees and/or low-level vegetation.
Meanwhile, while the research and meetings go on, walk behind the right (east) side of Fountain View Center and follow the walkway under the bridge and alongside and behind the outdoor swimming pool. It will give you a fascinating glimpse into Sun City landscape history.
1 Comment
I vote to keep it as is I am not in favor of spending more money and possibly get a increase in our assessment costs. our taxes at present time are running much to much and I would hate to add this another increase. leave it as is