VISION ISSUE 1
VIERA COMMUNITY INSTITUTE
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A LOOK INSIDE VIERA’S MODEL HOMES
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BIKES & TRAILS
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I-95 and Wickham Road (Exit 191) | 321.634.5390
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VIERA VISION • VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 1
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CONTENTS
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VIERA COMMUNITY INSTITUTE
22 HEALTHCARE Fitness technology
A vision for our future
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23 AROUND TOWN
10 MODEL HOME TOUR IN VIERA
Events this season
Learn about our builders & home options
18 BIKES & TRAILS See Viera from a different perspective
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20 EDUCATION The A Grade
24 WHY I LOVE VIERA Gail and Jim Benton
25 CALENDAR OF EVENTS March / April / May
26 CLOSING LETTER Steve Johnson
CONTRIBUTORS Viera Vision is the official publication of
PUBLISHER
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
The Viera Company with SCB Marketing
Lauren Maleski, Susan Howard, Stephanie Kolp, Stephanie Byrd
THE VIERA COMPANY
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Articles and advertisements printed in Viera
Tracy Duda Chapman | CEO Stephen Johnson | President Lauri Duda | VP of Marketing Stephanie Byrd | Marketing Manager
Evolve Design Group
Vision do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. The Viera Company, Viera Realty,
PHOTOGRAPHY
Inc., SCB Marketing, Space Coast Business, LLC,
Cathy Heinz, The Art Gallery, Lynne Mills, Stephanie Byrd, Donna Duda
Evolve Design Group, and Viera Vision assume no liability for the content and shall not be held liable for any errors or omissions.
SCB MARKETING Josh Field | Co-founder / President Jeff Piersall | Co-founder / CEO
ADVERTISING
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION
Stephanie Byrd
Emily King, Jason Horn
EDITORIAL Donna Duda, Susan Howard, Uproar PR
THE VIERA COMPANY
The Viera Discovery Center
7380 Murrell Road, Suite 201 Viera, FL 32940 P: (321) 242-1200
7350 Shoppes Dr., Viera, Florida 32940
Mark Calvert
© 2015. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, in whole or in part, is prohibited without written permission from the publishers. Additional copy location and information:
P: (321) 253-2800
/VieraFlorida
/VieraVision
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Tracy Duda Chapman is chief executive officer of The Viera Company and General Counsel of A. Duda & Sons, Inc.
Welcome Friends In February, I had the pleasure of witnessing my dad, his brother and their cousin receive the honor of being inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame. These three men each served as CEO of DUDA, The Viera Company’s parent company, during the 35 year span of time that the third generation of our family managed the business. Their honor came 30 years after their fathers and uncle – the Three Seniors, as they were called – were inducted into the Florida Ag Hall of Fame, www.FloridaAgHallOfFame.org. It was a wonderful evening! As I sat with my children and watched them accept their honors I was struck by how the legacy of DUDA’s founder, Andrew Duda, and his three sons, John, Andrew and Ferdinand, really has continued through the generations. The values they passed down to their children served the third generation well and thankfully still flourish today as my generation does its best to uphold them in our business endeavors. DUDA’s Core Values and Beliefs: • Faith in Lord who richly blesses us all • Faith in the goodness of people • Responsibility to our customers, employees and shareholders • Stewardship of the land and its resources • Integrity in our business conduct • Strength from diversity • The need to grow
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These values guide how we operate The Viera Company as well. That’s why our Mission is: To create vibrant, livable communities that are built with faith, integrity and thoughtful stewardship of the land. As my uncle Joseph said in his acceptance remarks ... “Counting all of us, we have a family of 200 members, have been in business for 88 years, have completed the transition of management from the third generation to the fourth, and we will continue passing our family enterprise to generations to come.” That’s our commitment to our family and to our customers. So, as we continue to plan and manage the growth of Viera into the future, we will do it responsibly, with stewardship and integrity – bringing balanced, vibrant growth to our community and the greater community around us. Sincerely,
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O t
2015
On Tuesday, February 10, 2015, Joseph A., Edward D. and Ferdinand S. Duda (DUDA’s leaders during the third generation’s management) were inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame.
Hall of
Fame
1985 Pictured here, 30 years earlier with then Florida Agriculture Commissioner Doyle Conner (second from the left), the “Three Seniors”: Ferdinand, Andy and John Duda, co-founders of A. Duda and Sons, Inc. were inducted in to the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame.
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A VISION FOR OUR FUTURE VIERA COMMUNITY INSTITUTE
Established by The Viera Company, the Viera Future Foundation has helped bring families and neighbors together to celebrate traditional holiday throughout the year. Taking this momentum in stride, this year the Foundation has enhanced its vision for the future and has changed its name as well. continued on next page >>>
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VIERA COMMUNITY INSTITUTE
VIERA COMMUNITY INSTITUTE
A VISION FOR OUR FUTURE The new Viera Community Institute will be a facilitator for event planning, educational and cultural experiences, as well as charitable giving. “Think of it as an incubator,” says Lauri Duda, Vice President of the Viera Community Institute, “bringing together Viera’s people, resources and ideas.” The mission of the non-profit Viera Community Institute is to “… foster the health, harmony and well-being of the Viera community by facilitating educational, environmental, cultural and charitable activities and out-reach programs within Viera and Brevard County.” While the Institute will continue to plan major community-wide events, it will also be a place for local non-profit organizations, churches, businesses and other groups to seek support and resources to help plan their events. The Viera Community Institute also plans to promote good stewardship of Viera’s land and natural resources. “Viera is committed to being an environmentally sustainable community, and the goal is to educate residents so the habitat around us will thrive for future generations to come,” Duda says. The Institute plans to bring environmental organizations to work with Viera residents in understanding the land around us. “With this new Institute we’re thinking about the legacy we’ll leave for our children,” said Duda. “We are pleased with the
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community events we’ve established over the last few years and hope to continue to build upon them. Our goal now is to develop greater partnerships within the community to help us take on the additional aspect of environmental stewardship, assist local charitable organizations, and create positive community activities and traditions that can be passed on for generations to come.” Just as support from the community for the Viera Future Foundation has been tremendous over the years, Duda believes that the community will continue to support the mission of the new Viera Community Institute. “As Viera has grown, we have seen the need to better serve the larger community and make a more profound impact in the lives of our residents,” Duda explains. “And we know we can rely on the continued support of those who want to join us as we build a bright future for all of our residents.” The Institute will continue to spearhead the Great American Celebration and Light Up Viera, two “signature” events building traditions in the community. First up on the agenda is this year’s Great American Celebration. This has been an incredibly popular event for 20 years. For the price of a ticket, families get admission to a Manatees baseball game, a fireworks show, a commemorative token and a great BBQ dinner. >>>
As the master developer of the community, The Viera Company makes sure the vision for Viera is achieved and maintained. Reflecting the core values of its parent company, the mission of The Viera Company is to create vibrant, livable communities that are built with faith, integrity
“bringing together Viera’s people, resources and ideas.”
and thoughtful stewardship of the land.
The goal of Viera’s master plan is to maintain and enhance the quality of life values sought by its residents and businesses.
Viera Realty works directly with existing or future homeowners to sell or buy an existing or new construction home. No one knows Viera like Viera Realty.
Viera Builders has become one of the most trusted and respected names in home construction and is committed to building new homes within the Viera community.
Viera Commercial Properties manages all aspects of non-residential offerings in Viera, identifying potential development opportunities within the community.
“The Viera Community Institute will always serve to provide lifestyle-enhancing events for our residents and neighbors; opportunities to bring families together,” said Karla-Mae E. Goodman, Secretary of the Viera Community Institute. “We are working on plans for the 21st Annual Great American Celebration event now, and are excited about partnering with our friends, the Brevard County Manatees, to bring the community an evening full of patriotic pride as we celebrate our nation’s birthday. So save the date and plan to join us on July 4th at Space Coast Stadium.” •
VIERA COMMUNITY INSTITUTE
VIERA COMMUNITY INSTITUTE
Viera Community Institute helps bring the community together through event planning, educational and cultural experiences, as well as charitable giving.
Duran Golf Club is an exceptional golf and dining experience. The refined, 18-hold, championship course provides golfers just the right mix of challenge and enjoyment. It has been ranked as “Brevard’s Best” for 9 consecutive years.
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Model Home Tour in Viera The Viera Discovery Center is the first stop to discover how the town of Viera is growing and to learn more about the local neighborhoods and the builders within. The Ambassadors share the rich history of the community and the future plans for growth.
VIERA DISCOVERY CENTER 7350 SHOPPES DRIVE, SUITE 103 VIERA, FL 32940
Today the Authorized Community Builders for Viera include a total of 9 master builders providing beautiful home designs complimenting the community and the families that call Viera home. The Viera Company is proud to have them part of a select group creating these exceptional homes. Having a model home in each community allows visitors to experience first-hand their craftsmanship, attention to detail, unique design attributes and architectural brilliance. The friendly sales staff will have information on trends, modern features and construction. In Viera, Each builder has painstakingly designed, built and furnished each model in the five neighborhoods on the next few pages and there are more on the way. We invite you to learn more about the history of Viera at the Viera Discovery Center and to visit the builder’s models in their respective communities.
AUTHORIZED BUILDERS AMEK Homes, Arthur Rutenberg Homes, Christopher Burton Luxury Homes, Holiday Builders, Joyal Construction, Lennar, Lifestyle Homes, Stanley Homes, Viera Builders
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ARRIVAS VILLAGE 2200 ARRIVAS WAY (321) 633-4101
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Model Home Tour in Viera
CHAROLAIS ESTATES
NEW IN FAIRWAY LAKES
3449 IMPERATA DRIVE (321) 735-8084
2901 EMELDI LANE (321) 254-0997
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CHAROLAIS ESTATES 3528 IMPERATA DRIVE (321) 775-7008
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WYNDHAM AT DURAN 3159 WYNDHAM WAY (321) 507-4591 14
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STROM PARK 8671 STROM PARK DRIVE (321) 305-4939
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STADIUM VILLAS 3255 SEDGE DRIVE (321) 305-6953
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Model Home Tour in Viera
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HERITAGE ISLE 6600 INGALLS STREET (877) 206-0832 17
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Florida Pine Loop 4.2 mile est.
Suseda Park Nature Trail Walk 1.2 mile est.
Health First Loop 7 mile est.
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Linear Park at the Brevard Zoo 1.1 mile est.
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& TRAILS See Viera From a New Perspective The Viera community maintains a scenic trail system within and is adjacent to one of the most beautiful wetland areas to the west. So if you are out for a family stroll or training for a marathon, there is a start/stop loop for you. If you are adventurous and enjoy nature, the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands has beautiful pathways and scenic overlook areas. The wildlife and nature will inspire you with the calming sounds of the local birds, frogs and insects. n
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Family Stroll
Linear Park at the Brevard Zoo | 1.1 mile est. The 10-foot wide boardwalk winds through wetland areas south of the Brevard Zoo. The Duda family donated the land and the trail was built by Brevard County. The trail will eventually be expanded south to connect to Pineda Causeway.
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Long Distance Training Run
Health First Loop | 7 miles est. Start at the corner of Stadium Parkway and Wickham Road and run north along Stadium Parkway passing Duran Golf Club. Turn left onto Judge Fran Jamieson Way and after .15 mile turn right onto Tavistock Drive heading north. This stretch will take you past the newest sections of Central Viera. Cross Viera Blvd. and keep heading north until you reach Stadium Parkway. Turn right heading south and this road will lead you back to your starting point while passing some of Viera’s best features.
Scenic In Nature
Suseda Park Nature Trail Walk | 1.2 mile est. Start at the path next to the parking lot and walk north. You will pass the new butterfly garden to your right and continue over the wooden bridge. Local swans can be spotted sometimes in this lake. The path then leads you along the water and eventually through a small tunnel. Take the path left to the light on the corner of Murrell Road and Viera Blvd. Continue across the road going south back to the park. n
5k Training Run/Walk
Florida Pine Loop | 4.2 miles est. Begin at Clubhouse Park off Clubhouse Park Drive. Warm up moving west along Clubhouse Drive and turn left onto Murrell Road staying on the east side of the street. Continue on to Viera Blvd. and take a left following the sidewalk passing Faith Lutheran Church on the left. Turn left onto Faith Drive heading north. Look for the trail to the left of the playground and follow it moving through Heron’s Landing and connecting with Auburn Lakes at the end of Manchester Drive. Keep moving north until you get to Auburn Lakes Drive at turn left then turn left again onto Clubhouse Drive. The park will be on your right to begin your cool down.
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THE
A
GRADE
Viera High School student athletes continue to win on the playing field and inside the classroom.
The Florida High School Athletic Association recently released their Academic Team Champions for Fall Sports Teams and Viera has become a 7A designated school.
Every fall team at the school had a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, making them eligible for the FHSAA’s rankings. The Hawks swept the lot proving that they are all team players in more ways than one. The Hawks currently stand in first place for the title of Academic Team Champions and after Winter and Spring sports teams are taken into account they may just have a new title to show off. Thriving in athletics takes devotion, but combine that with a heavy course load and it takes even more perseverance. How do these incredible student
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athletes stay motivated to excel in so many arenas? Chris Gallagher, athletic director at Viera High School, says, “Our athletes are very intelligent and I credit their families and teachers for giving them the direction they have to balance academics and athletics.” A strong work ethic combined with support gives these high achievers the ability to thrive. Student athletes are also encouraged through e-mail blasts and VTV, the school’s campus video broadcasting program. Needless to say Gallagher is immensely proud of Viera High School’s scholar athletes. He has noticed key character qualities in these students, things that set them apart. >>>
“They understand how to prepare and that, I believe, sets them apart”
education
Chris Gallagher, Athletic Director at Viera High School
Viera High Girls Soccer | 2015 Class 4A Girls Soccer State Championship Winners | Coach Courtney Baines Lundy
“The personality trait that I see is character and dedication from our student athletes,” says Gallagher. “Many of our student athletes are taking high level honors and AP courses or are dual enrolled with Eastern Florida State College and continue to meet the demands of the curriculum. They understand how to prepare and that, I believe, sets them apart,” he says. Viera High School sets high standards for its students and it is clear that with faculty, staff, families and a stellar student body to support them, athletes are rising to the occasion. •
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fitness
TECHNOLOGY
The New Year always brings with it the setting of goals for a better, healthier year. Thankfully, there are a multitude of fitness apps and gadgets to assist those who are choosing a lifestyle change. These devices vary from simply tracking heart rate to calculating virtually every move you make, even in your sleep, and accounting for caloric burn and body composition; giving you detailed, accurate measures based on the personal data you input. So, for the tech savvy resolver, there is a lot to choose from. Brittany Deck of Sunbay Fitness says, “Technology helps keep people motivated. When people see that they have hit their goals they are motivated to keep going.” MyFitnessPal is a free app that allows you to keep track of how many calories you eat and how many you burn via exercise. Other free apps such as Lose It allow you to maintain a fitness log and food journal. MapMyRun uses your phone’s GPS to track mileage and speed and is a favorite of Health First Pro-Health & and Fitness Center Viera’s General Manager, Alisa daSilva. DaSilva says, “When I applied MapMyRun I realized that it gave me a step-by-step map of my pace. I kept thinking, ‘I want to keep that pace.’ It definitely kept me motivated and made me more aware.”
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There is virtually no shortage of health & fitness applications on the market to serve whatever goals you may have.
The Fitbit has gained tremendous popularity recently. This device is worn around your wrist and, depending on the model, can track everything from your steps and calorie burn to providing you with detailed GPS analysis. The UpMove by Jawbone, a device that can be worn practically anywhere on the body, is another activity tracker that can assist you in reaching your fitness goals. Cardio machines at the gym can also be a great way to track your movement and how many calories you burned in a session. They are great for gym newbies. Keep in mind that these machines give averages so they may not be as precise. However, they are still a great way to keep track. “These machines allow you to be able to make the relationship between energy expenditure and caloric intake,” notes daSilva. They let you know approximately how much you are burning and if you need to change should you reach a plateau.
Snapshots
Congratulations!
AROUND TOWN
Wayne Anthony Insurance cut the ribbon at their re-location event off Office Park Place in Viera and has been serving the Brevard area for 35 years!
2015
Local Space Coast United Soccer teams battle for their championship title.
The final Miles 4 Myles run supporting Viera High School’s Scholarship and Internship programs with runners raising over fifteen thousand dollars.
To-date the foundation has raised over
$70,000!
The Art Gallery of Viera had a very successful opening of their first show of 2015 called “The Blues” with demonstrations by artist Helen Wheatley using watercolors.
An annual Tap It and Run 5K supporting Viera High School’s Instrumental Music Department with 530 runners raising over
$5,000!
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WHY I LOVE VIERA Gail and Jim Benton – Residents Since 1993 Every evening when Viera resident Gail Benton drives into her neighborhood she says to herself, “Thank you, Lord, for letting me live here. It is clean, beautiful … nice.” Gail and her husband, Jim, moved to Viera from Oxford, OH in August of 1993. Jim retired from Square D Electrical Company and Gail was a hazardous waste specialist at Miami University. Viera wasn’t familiar to either of them, but a cousin of Gail’s, living in Indian Harbour Beach, kept telling her about the new area being built just to the north. At that time, Viera was just being developed and the Bentons purchased a home in Six Mile Creek, eventually moving in to a Viera East Golf Course neighborhood because they knew they wanted to live on a golf course. Life in Viera is about connections for Gail. Both she and Jim adore golf and spend a good amount of time out on the course. Gail has developed deep relationships with her neighbors and cherishes her weekly golfing adventures with 16 of them. Gail and Jim often
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find themselves taking long walks around their neighborhood, soaking up their surroundings. When they aren’t on the golf course they both enjoy cruises, taking vacations and spending time with their grandchildren. They travel to California every four months or so to soak up time with their grandkids, Reno and Ambra, and enjoy having them visit here in Viera, too. When their family makes the trek to Florida, quite a bit of time is spent at home relaxing around the pool, playing ping-pong and enjoying one another’s company. When Gail isn’t serving as a weekend hostess for Viera Realty, making gift baskets for clients or pet sitting, she and Jim love to take advantage of the great restaurants in the local area and enjoy dining with friends. Viera affords so many options for the Bentons. Options that allow them to connect with others through shared activities, delightful dining and serene landscapes. Viera has it all and Gail Benton loves her life here.
They adore their neighborhood, its amenities and the fellowship they have with friends who live there.
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FUN FOR ALL Melbourne Air & Space Show Date: March 21-22 Location: Melbourne Airport
Upcoming Events
Runaway Country Music Festival Date: March 20-22 Location: Wickham Park
Paws at The Avenue Viera (adoption event) Date: April 18 Location: The Avenue Viera
Mother’s Day Brunch Date: May 10 Location: Tradewinds Restaurant at Duran
ART DISPLAYS Art Gallery of Viera: Visions Date: April 11 Location: Art Gallery of Viera @ The Avenue Viera
Modern Twists: Contemporary Japanese Bamboo Art Date: Jan 31-April 25 Location: Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts @ FIT
THEATER My Fair Lady Date: March 13-29 Location: Cocoa Village Playhouse
Damn Yankees Dates: March 13-29 Location: The Henegar Center for the Performing Arts
Fiddler on the Roof Date: May 1-17 Location: Cocoa Village Playhouse
MUSICAL DATE NIGHT Brevard Symphony Orchestra: Dreams Realized Date: April 13 Location: King Center for the Performing Arts
KID FRIENDLY Party for the Planet Date: April 11 Location: The Brevard Zoo
Space Coast Nerd Fest (teens) Dates: May 23-24 Location: Melbourne Rialto Place
ACTIVE EVENTS Pirate Plunder 2-Miler Date: April 4 Location: Downtown Melbourne
Eat My Crust 5K Run/Walk Date: May 3 Location: Stadium Pkwy/Viera Blvd.
UNIQUE FINDS Leonard Nimoy’s Vincent Date: March 20-22 Location: King Center for the Performing Arts
Jillian Michaels ‘Maximize Your Life’ Date: April 19 Location: King Center for the Performing Arts
BASEBALL Washington Nationals Spring Training Games Date: March Location: Space Coast Stadium
Brevard County Manatees Date: April 10-Sept. 5 Location: Space Coast Stadium
Alive After Five: Various Artists Date: Thursday nights Location: Central Park, The Avenue Viera
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VIERA UPDATE
CATERING TO OUR A Note From Stephen Johnson President, The Viera Company
CANINE COMPANIONS
While statistics vary as to the percentage of homes in America that have a dog – anywhere from 35 to nearly 50 percent – the fact remains that dogs are still considered “man’s best friend” (with no offense intended to our equally beloved feline companions). As a member of the family, a dog’s life today comes with a lot of perks -- everything from gourmet treats to orthopedic bedding! We at The Viera Company understand the important relationship between dogs and their human caretakers. And we also know that a favorite pastime for dogs is to get off the leash and play. For this reason, you will begin to see more dog parks in Viera. A spacious dog park is currently under construction in Addison Village, south of Wickham Road, that will serve residents living in Central Viera. Up to four acres will include ample grassy areas, as well as a playground outfitted with equipment designed for four-footed friends of all sizes. There will also be the requisite drinking bowl for refreshment!
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A paved parking lot and restrooms are planned to add to the human conveniences of the park, which will be operated by the Central Viera Community Association. The park is expected to open mid-year. Dog parks are also becoming sought-after amenities in specific communities. Both Stadium Villas and Arrivas Villages have their own exclusive dog park for their four-legged residents. In addition, The Viera Company continues to search for areas in Viera suitable for dog parks that will serve communities yet to be built. Sincerely,
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