Northside Golf Cart Path

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Click Here for A History of Sun City Center Courtesy John Bowker

Northside Golf Cart Path
 
The Concept of a Golf Cart Path being built on the Northside of SR 674 started: with June Smith of the Knolls, in Kings Point, Sun City Center starting a petition and eventually ending up with over 2,600 signatures.
 
After the Annual Golf Cart Inspection held in March 1997; I was talking to Sheriff's Deputy Joe Burt. He asked me if I knew of the petition to get a Golf Cart Path to Wal-Mart; I said no, but I would find out, and see what it is all about.
 
June Smith came to my home and stated: Wouldn't it be nice to have a golf cart path to Wal-Mart! I said what is the purpose of the path? I knew that in order for the County Commissioners to take any action, we would have to prove a necessary purpose for the path.
I said I would not sign her petition until I could prove the path would serve a necessary purpose.
 
I and my wife then set out to prove why the path was needed: We found out there were over 32 Medical Doctors and Clinics inaccessible to Golf Carts west of South Bay Hospital!
 
Since the speed limit of all roads west of South Bay Hospital were 35 MPH; it was, and still is, not legal for golf carts to operate on these roads.
 
However, the petition of Mrs Smith, on January 1998, was submitted to Hillsborough County Commissioner Dottie Berger; and we met with Commissioner Berger and the County Public Works Department many times to find out the best route to take, before taking it to the Board of County Commissioners.
 
When it was taken to Board of County Commissioners Meeting I, Eugene McElroy, was the spokesman for the Petitioners.
 
I asked for the residents of Sun City Center, many of whom only own a Golf Cart,  in order for them to be able to maintain their dignity and independence, by being able to access the the Doctor or Clinic of their choice in their Golf Cart, without having to depend on a friend or neighbor to take them.
 
Or heaven forbid, trying to make a medical appointment, on time, using Public Transportation!
 
That the Concept for a Golf Cart Path to be built in front of South Bay Hospital, on the SR 674 right of way, then proceed on an "off roadway" Golf Cart Path along Upper Creek Drive and that Public Works Department design the most feasible route and method for funding the project.
 
The Board of County Commissioners approved the Concept and asked the Public Works Director Mr. Bernardo Garcia to come back at a later date and Meeting of the Board with a plan and method of funding.
 
I got a telephone call from Del Schulz, Chairman of the Greater Sun City Center Golf Cart Safety & Inspection Committee: He wanted to know what was going on since he was the Chairman of the Golf Cart Committee. I filled him in on all the information and asked him to help!
 
Mr. Richard (Dick) Winchester from Freedm Plaza, also called me and asked if he could help, and suggested that Mr. Will Michaels, Exective Director of Freedom Plaza be included.
 
Mr. Michaels, set-up a Meeting at Freedom Plaza. At the meeting, we all agreed that we should have a contact person to be the spokeman for all matters pertaining to the "Golf Cart Path Project.) Mr. Del Schulz was elected!
 
From then on. all contacts were made by Del Schulz. Del did an outstanding job, especially with his contacts with Wal-Mart in Bentonville, Arkansas!
 
There was opposition, from time to time, as to building the path in 1 or 2 phases, but after many puplic meetings by the County Public Works Department; and more Board of County Commissioners Meetings:
 
It was agreed to build the whole path in 1 phase! South Bay Hospital agreed to give a perpetural right-of-way for golf carts to use the entrance & exit to the Hospital to link to the golf cart path on SR 674.
 
Then the golf cart path would run parallel, off roadway, on Upper Creek Drive & connect to the path, already built, on the cypress creek bridge; Then connect to the existing golf cart path of Cypress Village.
 
At the Cortaro Drive intersection, the path would cross Upper Creek Drive, then continue, running parallel, off roadway, on Cortaro Drive, and eventually end at Wal-Mart.  
 
Everything worked out for the best and at the final Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners Greater Sun City Center was well represented.
 
We came by the Bus Loads! Kings Point had two, 49 passenger Buses, The Sun City Center Community Association and Freedom Plaza had one Bus each, and Cypress Village Residents were well representted.
 
This so impressed the County Commissioners, they unanimously approved, the final vote to build the Golf Cart Path. It took over two years, but the path was finally built.
 
The dedication was on December 17, 1999.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Del Schulz being interviewed

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Gene McElroy Taking Commissioner Ronda Storms, her Baby & staff for a tour on new Golf Cart Path

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Kings Point as it looked during the construction of the N. Golf Cart Path ending at Wal-Mart

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Golf Cart Path proposed by Gene McElroy

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FEDERATION BOARD of DIRECTORS MEETING 4/5/1996
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FEDERATION MEMBERSHIP MEETING MAY 17, 1996
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KP GOLF CART PATH CONCEPT
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Note of appreciation from June Smith Kings Point Resident

Kings Point & SCC Community Association 

Sun City Center, FL 33573

Sun City Center

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GENE McELROY: CHAIRMAN

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E-MAIL GENE

This Path was the result of the efforts of the residents of all of greater Sun City Center taking a stance and working diligently to ensure we would not fail in getting the Path built!