Viera, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Viera, Florida
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Planned community
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Location of Viera, Florida
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Brevard |
Viera (pronounced 'vee-AIR-uh') is a special kind of town in Brevard County, Florida. It's called a planned community, which means it was carefully designed and built from scratch. Viera is located near the coast in central Florida.
Even though it's close to Melbourne, Florida, Viera is actually part of an area that isn't officially a city. For counting people, Viera is split into two main parts: Viera East and Viera West. In 2020, Viera East had about 11,687 people, and Viera West had about 16,688 people.
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Where is Viera?
Viera stretches for about 8 miles (13 km) along Interstate 95. The area covers a large space of about 14,500 acres (5,868 hectares). A big part of this land, about half, has been set aside to protect nature.
Neighborhoods in Viera
Viera is made up of 76 neighborhoods. These are divided between Viera East (38 neighborhoods) and Viera West (38 neighborhoods). There are also special communities for adults aged 55 and older, like Bridgewater at Viera and Heritage Isle. There's even a community for retired military members called Indian River Colony Club.
Viera East Neighborhoods
Some of the neighborhoods in Viera East include Auburn Lakes, Bayhill, Crane Creek, and Hammock Lakes. The Viera East Golf Club area has communities like Aberdeen and Parkstone. The Villages of Viera East include Bennington and Somerville.
Viera West Neighborhoods
In Viera West, you'll find neighborhoods such as Adelaide, Fairway Lakes at Duran, and Summer Lakes. The North and South Villages of Solerno have communities like Capron Trace, Cortona, and Sunstone.
Viera South Neighborhoods
Viera South is located west of Interstate 95 and south of Wickham Road. It includes communities like Avalonia, Bridgewater at Viera, and Strom Park. New communities like Crossmolina are planned for the future.
How Viera Started
The land where Viera now stands used to be known as Cocoa Ranch. It was owned by a company called A. Duda and Sons. On August 4, 1989, they started building this new community. The name "Viera" comes from the Slovak word for 'faith'. This was chosen to honor Andrew Duda, the family's leader, who came to the United States in 1912 from what is now Slovakia.
Starting in 1990, the Duda family began to create a community with many different uses. This included various types of homes, offices, medical buildings, shopping centers, and places for fun and sports.
The first plan for Viera East was approved in 1990 for about 3,000 acres (1,214 hectares). Building began in 1992. Later, in 1995, a much larger expansion of 6,000 acres (2,428 hectares) was approved. In 2006, plans for an even bigger expansion of 11,567 acres (4,681 hectares) were approved. A large part of this expansion, 5,112 acres (2,069 hectares), will be kept as protected land, parks, and open spaces.
The Viera Wilderness Park will connect with the 44,000-acre (17,806-hectare) River Lakes Conservation Area. This area includes 14,000 acres (5,666 hectares) of Cocoa Ranch land that was bought in 1999 to protect nature. More land within Viera will also be set aside for conservation, making over 50 percent of the expansion area protected.
Viera's Economy
Viera is home to more than 350 businesses. These include companies that offer money services, health care, and many different shops.
Shopping and Dining
The Avenue Viera is a popular outdoor shopping center that opened in 2004. It has over 100 shops and restaurants, covering a huge area of 600,000 square feet (55,742 square meters). There's also a movie theater and many well-known restaurants and stores.
Local Organizations
Viera has several important organizations and offices. These include the Brevard Zoo, Brevard Public Schools, and the Viera Hospital.
Community Fun
The Viera Company, which developed the area, hosts many events each year. These events are for both people living in Viera and those in the wider Central Brevard area. Some main events include the Light Up Viera Holiday Parade, the July 4th Great American Celebration, and the Viera Nature Festival.
Many national charities also hold successful events in Viera. These include the American Heart Association's Heart Walk and the March of Dimes Walk for Babies.
Sports in Viera
Golf Courses
Duran Golf Club is an 18-hole golf course that opened in 2005. It's located in Central Viera and covers about 130 acres (53 hectares). It has a clubhouse with a restaurant. The Duran Development Center offers a large practice area with a driving range and putting greens. There's even a 9-hole course that can be played at night.
Viera East Golf Club opened in 1993. It winds through several neighborhoods in Viera East.
Baseball
The USSSA moved to the Space Coast Stadium in 2017. The USSSA focuses on amateur sports, especially youth baseball and softball.
In 2018, Viera was proud to host the 2018 Women's Baseball World Cup.
Parks and Recreation
Viera Regional Park
Viera Regional Park is a large park built on 125 acres (51 hectares) of land given by the Viera Company. It has a community center, a playground, and lakes. There are also many sports fields, including:
- Two lighted Little League baseball fields
- Two lighted "major league" baseball fields
- Eight soccer fields (two lighted)
- Lighted tennis and basketball courts
- Two youth softball courts
Youth football teams from the area have won national championships. For example, the Suntree-Viera Lightning Mighty Mites (under-10) won in 2009.
Community Parks
Viera has 13 community parks, three dog parks, and many smaller "pocket parks" within neighborhoods. These parks offer children's play equipment and walking trails. La Roca Park in Viera West has the only outdoor skating rink in the community.
Fun Things to Do
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The Brevard Zoo is located at the south end of Viera. Also nearby are the 200-acre (81-hectare) Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands, which are great for seeing nature. Viera has over 100 miles (161 km) of trails for walking and running. Many fun run/walk events are held throughout the year, like the Christmas Fit-mas and the Super Hero 5k.
Schools in Viera
Viera has four elementary schools, a charter school, two academies, and a high school. While there are plans for a Viera middle school, students currently attend middle schools in other parts of Brevard County. All of Viera's schools have received "A" grades from Florida and have won other state and national awards.
- Ralph M. Williams, Jr. Elementary School
- Manatee Elementary School
- Quest Elementary School
- Viera Elementary School
- Viera Charter School (K-8)
- Pinecrest Academy Space Coast
- Amazing Explorers Academy Viera
- Viera High School
Public Safety
Brevard County Fire Rescue has two stations in Viera. Station 47 handles special hazardous materials incidents across the county. Station 48, opened in 2011, is also a training station for special operations. It has a 9/11 memorial with a piece of steel from the fallen World Trade Center towers.
Images for kids
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Location of Viera, Florida
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Space Coast Stadium
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Brevard Zoo
