Marion Oaks, Florida

Marion Oaks Community Center

Marion Oaks is an unincorporated community in the outskirts of Ocala and Belleview, Florida, USA. It is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area. The current population is approximately 15,000 and the community is currently exploring becoming an incorporated city, with a feasibility study underway.

The area has been steadily growing in population and so has retail space. The main shopping in Marion Oaks is a Winn-Dixie Shopping Plaza on Marion Oaks Boulevard, which is anchored by a Winn-Dixie grocery store with several other retail spaces along its strip. There is currently an expansion project underway to the plaza to add more retail space. A Walgreens Pharmacy was recently built at the intersection of Marion Oaks Boulevard and Marion Oaks Lane. There are also a couple of new banks nearby including a Bank of America. There are plans to keep expanding the shopping in the area over the next couple of years including a new shopping plaza near the entrance to the community.

I-75 and Highway 484

Marion Oaks is located one mile west of Interstate 75 on Highway 484. The area of I-75 and Highway 484 has seen new construction projects over the recent years including 3 hotels (Sleep Inn, Microtel, and Hampton Inn), redevelopment of the former Marion Crossing Outlet Center into an office/retail interstate center, and several new restaurants including Dunkin Donuts, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Cracker Barrel, Zaxby's, Sonny's BBQ,McDonalds, and Subway. A few gas stations serve the area including a Ractrack and Pilot Travel Center, which houses a Dairy Queen and a Wendy's.

Education

Compulsory education

Marion Oaks has three schools: Sunrise Elementary School (K-4), Marion Oaks Elementary (K-4), and Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks (5-8). Marion Oaks Elementary has an ESE wing.^[1]

The majority of Marion Oaks is zoned for Sunrise Elementary School, Horizon Academy and Dunnellon High School. The Northern section of Marion Oaks is zoned for Marion Oaks Elementary and West Port High School.

College and vocational

College of Central Florida is a large community college which provides service to the entire Ocala metro area. CF offers multiple programs of study including bachelor's degrees and vocational training. Also on the campus is the University Center which houses satellites for state and private schools including University of Central Florida, Florida State University, University of Florida and St. Leo University.

Also serving the area is Community Technical and Adult Education. CTAE is a vocational training center in Ocala which provides technical training for various medical specialties and numerous other fields including welding, cybersecurity, cosmetology, and massage.

About Marion Oaks

Marion Oaks was developed by "The Deltona Corporation" more than thirty years ago. The real estate prices and taxes rose dramatically during the 2000s (far beyond the norm due to heavy investing and speculation); this happened only to fall back to more reasonable levels by the end of the decade. Deltona Corporation, the developer of Marion Oaks, has relocated their headquarters in the community. Marion Oaks has community areas, medical facilities, houses of worship, and a community center with a 450-seat auditorium, meeting rooms, a well-stocked public library, and recreational facilities such as lighted multi-purpose sports courts.

Marion Oaks holds a Spring celebration every year in April. The celebration includes a parade, health fair, book sale, talent show, car show, and lots of individual booths selling everything from homemade crafts to ethnic foods that are popular in the area.

Currently there is cable TV and high speed internet services available to a good section of Marion Oaks, with Brighthouse Networks being the largest provider in the area.

Marion Oaks has a profound amount of natural wild animal life, including turtles and rabbits.

Emergency services

Marion Oaks public safety services are currently provided by Marion County.

Fire rescue

Marion Oaks has one fire station, which is located at the corner of Marion Oaks Lane and Marion Oaks Course. It is known as Marion County Fire Station # 24. The Fire Station currently has 18 Career Firefighters assigned (5 firefighters and 1 Lieutenant per shift) working 24 hours on and 48 hours off per shift and few local Volunteer Firefighters. The Station currently average anywhere from 8 to 20 calls a day. Apparatus assigned to the Marion Oaks Station. Tanker 24 has a 2400-gallon tank with a 1500 GPM Pump rating made by E-One, Brush 24 has a 150-gallon tank with a 750 GPM Pump rating also made by E-One, Engine 24 has a 750-gallon tank with a 1500 GPM Pump rating also made by E-One which carries ALS Equipment, and Rescue 24 is an ALS Transport Ambulance made by E-One. Station 24 covers all of Marion Oaks, part of Florida Highlands, Hwy 484 and I-75 from Marion County Line to Hwy 200, and also responds to areas such as "Friendship". Marion County Station # 21, which is located out on Hwy 200 and is the busiest in the county, "Belleview" Marion County Station # 18 (second busiest), Shady Station # 16, The Villages Station # 10, Liberty Station 32, Marion County Station # 31, Florida Highland Station # 5 (Volunteer Station) and Pedro Station # 23 (Volunteer Station) all provide additional resources as needed .

Sheriff's office

Law enforcement for Marion Oaks is provided by the Marion County Sheriff's Office. There is a lieutenant, a detective, and 8 patrol deputies assigned to the area. The MCSO has a district office located in the Marion Oaks Community Center on Marion Oaks Lane at the intersection of Marion Oaks Boulevard. This office is open Monday-Friday from 8am to 5pm and is closed on the weekends. MCSO does not investigate traffic incidents as they are handled by the Florida Highway Patrol.

References

1. Marion Oaks Elementary to add ESE wing

External links

Coordinates: 29°00′31″N 82°10′59″W / 29.00861°N 82.18306°W