Civic Planning

We will feature civic planning and development that effects the Ocala infrastructure. Among them will be the routing of new highways, permits pulled on new projects, airport expansion and more.

Ocala is one of the fastest growing communities in the United States. The history of this city is replete with lost opportunities to become a focal point of the State of Florida. Decades ago, Florida chose this area to be the home of the University of Florida. Today the school boasts over 60,000 students. Amazingly, it is reputed to offer the highest standards of learning in our state. However, the people of Ocala chose to rebuff these plans.

Then in the early 1970s Disney came calling with plans to build the Disneyland of the east, Disney World, here. However, once again the people of Ocala declined this once in a century opportunity to put the area on the map. Fortunately, in Ocala once in a century opportunities have become commonplace.

All the while, our equine industry was putting Ocala on the map by foaling and training Triple Crown champions. The last two Triple Crown winners, Affirmed and American Pharoah, came from our horse farms. Therefore, it is not surprising that Ocala earned the title, “Horse Capital of the World”. Fortunately, in so doing, the city attracted it’s next “once in a century” opportunity. This time the city accepted and authorized the construction of the World Equestrian Center. This world class facility is scheduled to open early next year.

This endeavor will feature competitions which will draw hundreds of thousands of people from all over our planet. So infrastructure will have to be expanded, housing developed and supporting services and retail opened here. Civic planning is well under way and we will report on the evolution of our community here.