A Field of Dreams in Leesburg, Florida

I've been driving by -- and eyeballing -- a beautiful little Florida baseball field for many, many years... and I bet I'm not alone.

Whether you're travelling from off the Florida turnpike and onto Hwy 27 going north, or heading south along 27 from the Villages, you'll soon pass this pretty field with its green grass and immaculate playing field. It's easy to spot if you look for the big flag and tall water tower.

As I'd travel to and from my brother-in-law's house in nearby Fruitland Park, I'd always make sure I looked over at this field. It seldom failed to bring a smile.

Even though I rarely ever saw a team playing, the field itself had a sweet attractiveness to it. Its simplicity and charm reminded me of the field from the popular Kevin Costner movie, Field of Dreams. So that's what I started calling it. My very own, Field of Dreams.

No, you won't find it surrounded by cornfields like in the Iowa version. Nor does it have a pretty little white farmhouse next door. But it does have a giant American flag to the north (care of the neighboring Legacy of Leesburg Retirement community) and a looming Leesburg water tower just past deep center field. This was all I knew of it, as there's only so much you can take in as you drive past at 55 mph.

So, during my last visit to see my brother-in-law, the two of us decided to set out for a little bit of a photographic safari. With my new Canon Powershot at my side, I climbed aboard his truck.

"Where you want to go?" he asked, rolling all the windows down, the glorious Florida sunshine streaming through the now open sunroof.

"Let's go check out that baseball field on 27," I said.

Off we went, stopping first at the Legacy of Leesburg community. This seemed the most logical place to go, for the entrance road ran just beyond the park's left outfield. After snaking around several streets, and travelling yet further away from the park, we hit a roadblock: a security coded gate. Time for a U-turn.

Back out at highway 27, we went south and turned into the Highland Lakes community. Another security check, but this time we chatted with a friendly gatekeeper who confirmed that, yes, the field in question was part of this development. With permission asked and granted, we traversed the streets, hit a couple of dead ends, doubled back, asked two bicyclists for directions, crested a hill, spotted the water tower, and boom! There it was.

Imagine my surprise to see a small sign welcoming visitors to the park. Do you know what it said? "Welcome to the Highland Lakes FIELD OF DREAMS" I, of course, took a picture. It's #5 near the top of this article, in the small squares above.

With the truck parked, I jumped out and started shooting photos. I had only managed around twelve pictures before the batteries gave out on my camera. (Note to self: when exploring new areas, even old areas, bring extra batteries!)

With the camera now useless, I stopped and drank in the moment: The green grass, the whispering breeze, the swaying tree branches, the raked dirt with fresh white chalk lines...

It is plain to see that this field is immaculately maintained. Loved even.

In recent adventures I've enjoyed discovering abandoned hotels, sunken boats and forgotten Florida theme parks, but the sight before me now was the exact opposite. This was not a location of decay and ruin; but a place of attention, detail. Of life.

And as the sunshine gleaned brightly, accentuating the field, God reminded me of the quiet work He continues in me. How deeply different I am because of His touch, His care, His love.

I could see it now. The touch of love makes everything different...

And that's no dream.

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Pictures:

►See a Slideshow of pictures that I took of this field: Click Here

Maps:

►See the field on Bing Maps: Click Here
►See the field on Google Maps: Click Here

Community Pages:

►Highland Lakes' Web Page: Click Here
►Legacy of Leesburg Retirement Community (they're the ones with the flag!): Click Here

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Also by Ron:

►Splendid China - The Abandoned $100 Million Florida Theme Park - Click Here
►Titusville's Abandoned Tropical Wonderland Theme Park of Johnny Weissmuller - Click Here
► The Lost Submarines from Disney World's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea - Click Here
► The Abandoned Treasure Island Hotel in Daytona, FL - Click Here
► 2010 Slideshow Pictures from Johnny Weissmuller's Tropical Wonderland -Click Here
► To see all of my articles, videos, slideshows ..... Click Here