Florida Community Stories
RIVERWALK MOBILE HOME VILLAGE - North Port, FL
On
Monday, May 7, 2007, Riverwalk Mobile Home Village celebrated its official
recognition as a Firewise Communities/USA site---the first mobile home village
in the State of Florida and the second in the USA. Residents are proud that
their small manufactured home community has completed the Firewise Communities/USA
process.
Riverwalk Mobile Home Village is an over-55 adult rental community developed on a 71.18 acre site located in an area of southern Sarasota County, west of the City of North Port, and east of the City of Venice.
North
Port has a history of wildfires because of the amount of heavily vegetated
undeveloped land, and Riverwalk is easily within distance of several such
areas.
There are 223 home sites comprised of double-wide and triple-wide manufactured homes. All have vinyl siding. Approximately one third of the residents are seasonal occupants. The average lot size is approximately 5,54 sq. ft. A 4,864 sq. ft. clubhouse building with a front and back screened porch and an abutting 1,450 sq. ft. exercise/library building is used by the residents. Surrounding these buildings are a swimming pool, shuffleboard courts, and an asphalt tennis court. Adjacent to the clubhouse is a wooden fishing pier located along Salt Creek.
Approximately one-third of the land area in Riverwalk is undeveloped. Designed
and constructed along the half-mile shore line of Salt Creek is a nature
trail with benches placed along the trail so residents and guests can enjoy
the peace and tranquility of Florida's natural landscape The name Riverwalk
was derived to reflect a commitment to nature. From the groundbreaking ceremony
in 1988 to the completion of Phase Three in 2004, the commitment to maintain
the land in its natural state continued. The residents of this small manufactured
home community appreciate and enjoy their natural surroundings.
Riverwalk was developed with adequate planning for emergency response and fire hydrant access within the roads and seven cul-de-sacs in the community. Utility lines are underground and water lines from the utility company are clearly marked. Most of the manufactured homes in Riverwalk are within 15 feet of each other, and for the most part the space between each is free of potentially hazardous vegetation. However, because of the close proximity of the homes, the danger of fire spreading from structure to structure is very high. The lack of defensible space behind several homes abutting the natural areas and the ability to reduce the potential of wildfires in the natural areas is of concern. Addressing the issue of improving the emergency entrance/exit would provide a safe plan to assist emergency responders with an alternate access to two adjoining natural areas.
When an article about the Firewise Program appeared in the Sarasota Herald
Tribune on December 12, 2006, one of the homeowner association (HOA) board
members recognized this as an opportunity to reduce the fire hazard within
Riverwalk. Residents were aware of the accumulation of dead debris and overgrowth
along the nature trail and in the other natural areas. Efforts had been
made to maintain these natural areas, but the Florida climate and rainy
seasons encourage prolific growth. This provides a maintenance challenge
with regard to removing highly combustible trees, shrubs, and grasses. The
park owner was contacted, and in early January County Wildfire Mitigation
Specialist Patrick Mahoney and Park Owner George Spector completed a wildfire
hazard and risk assessment. It indicated a high wildfire hazard existed.
Patrick Mahoney addressed the residents at a HOA meeting on January 16,
2007, and a group of 16 residents volunteered to form a Firewise Committee.
The Firewise Committee sponsored the Firewise Fair at February's pancake breakfast, and distributed information packets to more than 150 residents. Two wildfire mitigation specialists led group walks through the nature trail to point out areas of concern. Approximately 30 residents participated in the walks. The committee also set a goal of mid-February to work with the park owner to complete Riverwalk's Firewise plan to submit with its application. In mid-March representatives from Riverwalk's Firewise Committee met with representatives of the Association of Myakka Communities which consists of the five mobile home villages in the immediate area. Patrick Mahoney explained the Firewise Communities/USA's concepts and goals to the group, and Riverwalk representatives shared their Firewise Committee's experience and plans. _ Riverwalk residents are kept informed of Firewise activities through the HOA's newsletter.
Before
proceeding with the mitigation plan, the Florida Division of Forestry (DOF)
will get written approvals from the Florida DEP, applicable County agencies
and all other governmental agencies that have jurisdiction in the area,
with assurances that environmental regulations are not being violated for
this project. The DOF will be supervising the project in accordance with
county, state, and federal regulations.
The Riverwalk Firewise Committee's goal is to work with wildfire mitigation specialists in the county and region to help reduce the fire hazards in the three natural areas to a low hazard status. Once this goal is achieved, the Committee will engage in long-term vegetation maintenance for fuel reduction of those areas to keep them at a low hazard. By designing and managing a natural environment for wildlife habitat, the scrub jays and resident bobcats will be more at home with their environment. Continuing to educate residents on the correct use of the natural areas and maintaining the area around their homes, as well as encouraging neighboring communities to become involved in the Firewise Program, are the charges given to us all.
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