This is a picture I took in 2021, coming out of my doctor’s office, before there was all this debate about Mountainview Rec Center rebuild. It was so hot, 114 F, the afternoon of June 16 when I was finally able to remove my mask and enjoyed a big breath of warm, but fresh, air; then had a moment to fully appreciate the gorgeous million-dollar view.

Beautiful Viewpoint Lake there in the parking lot where I go for my knee injections. In the blistering heat I suddenly felt like I was at a resort so I fumbled around, pulled out my phone and took a picture. Then I remembered that the lake view was always there for my enjoyment but I had forgotten and then I wouldn’t want to go there anyway in that kind of heat.

My point is that this is a beautiful area and the picture I took helps me feel a little cooler just by looking at it. It is relaxing, comforting and all of us RCSC members should enjoy this view at this site and be comfortable indoors all year long. So, I think we already have enough good plans for sports, tennis/pickleball courts and active outdoor places and we should already go ahead with them around at other places rather than at Lakeview.

The main attraction is the view of the lake at Lakeview, and I think a large building, something for visitors, a visitor information center is extremely appropriate. Built with a lot of glass, I would love to see something put up like a greenhouse or conservatory, where succulents, cacti and beautiful sun loving plants could grow, safe from the killer heat of summertime.

We don’t have anything much honoring Arizona’s beautiful natural plant life, we should try and preserve it — also the garden club could help take care of the plants. Maybe also it could have a fountain, water features and offer an indoor venue like a garden tea room, dance room or ballroom.

Our Sonora Desert we live in could become like the Sahara Desert sooner than we think. So we need to think indoors things now as much as outdoors things — to be enjoyed in summer as well as the winter. Otherwise because of climate change we are having, we will not able to enjoy them but a couple of months out of the year.

A very large fancy theater can be built anywhere because it is indoors and does not need windows so I vote it be built at a place other than Lakeview.

Many of us would love to enjoy a nice big theater with functional roomy dressing rooms for the performers, fancy stage, retractable seats and everything else that is also appropriate.

Or maybe for a grand big theater, perhaps there is a big building that is for sale or will be willing to be sold for a fair price in the area? I see several large churches with lots of parking lot around them. Times are changing; does the congregation still need such a large building and parking lot to use just a few hours a week?

Maybe they might like to build something a little smaller, cozier and use the sale money for some other good works? Something to think about.
Heck, RCSC bought an entire restaurant building and a piece of land on Grand Avenue just for the Vintage Car Club.

As it turned out, after years of planning and changing plans, etc. several other clubs are now enjoying this “grand” facility as well, and it is fantastic in my opinion — and shows what waiting and the right planning, accepting different ideas can do. I remember that the Vintage Car Club folks were very frustrated and disappointed after having some of their plans smooched at first and didn’t that take about 6 years or so?

I think we deserve nice things as well as the next generations to follow us. So please go ahead and do something grand, think big and go big, think out of the box. I think we can afford it and don’t be afraid of changing the plans. Plans should soon jell with enough input and consideration.

Mary Ann Moore is a Sun City resident.