The Village of Calumet Grove sits in The Villages, Florida, in Sumter County, and offers homes designed for retirees, but this community's seen its share of ups and downs, with ongoing problems from sinkholes, like the five large ones that drained the pond behind the postal station and others along McLawren Street and near houses, which have led to intermittent road and golf hole closures and safety investigations that're still going on. Some residents' homes have been damaged or even left uninhabitable since February 2018 because of these sinkholes, and everyone's had to deal with repair work, assessments, and engineering teams trying to figure out the right fixes, and it's hard not to feel for the folks who've been through those tough times. Calumet Grove belongs to District 4 and uses a community development district style of government, where there's a focus on managing programs and public safety, emergency management, and even jobs inside the neighborhood, plus rules for short-term rentals and a community website that shares local news and events to keep people in the loop.
The place is close to the developer-owned championship golf course, and you can tell that people like their sports and recreation, since there are golf courses, pools, dog parks, nature trails, walking paths, recreation centers, parks, and all sorts of activities, from senior games, socials, and outdoor excursions to Fit Club, championship softball, and fishing. Residents also get services like customer service help, community watch, utility and sanitation services, bulk pick-up, water and irrigation, and things like bill payment; they can sign up for ID cards, Resident Academy, CDD Orientation, and special programs like Adopt-A-Bench, plus there's RV storage and district property management, so folks who want to travel or have out-of-the-ordinary needs have a bit more support. The neighborhood organizes regular events, live entertainment, ticketed shows, and even runs something called the Enrichment Academy for anyone who wants to learn new skills or keep busy with classes. Shopping centers, restaurants, health and wellness spots, and pathways make it easier for folks to get around and enjoy life, and there's plenty of info available about moving in, like maps, district resources, and home searches-including new and established homes-if someone's thinking of becoming a Villager here. Calumet Grove emphasizes a lifestyle built around recreation, social connection, and strong community engagement, but the challenges with depressions and sinkholes have really shaped how people feel about their neighborhood, and staying safe and working together have taken on extra importance.
