It is being called the “Jewel of the West Side.” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who has been central to the development of Lake Lorna Doone Park, says this 12-acre historic community park, located in Orlando’s West Lakes neighborhood, is on par with Lake Eola Park. The Park re-opened in July after having been closed since summer of 2019 for a $9 million renovation.
The funding for the project came from a variety of sources, with the city being the largest contributor, dedicating $5 million to the park and with Florida Citrus Sports kicking in an additional $3 million. The project is rich with meaning and significance for so many in Orlando and boasts an impressive list of community partners. The Collage Companies served as General Contractor for the park which was built for Florida Citrus Sports Association and the City of Orlando.
One of the oldest parks in the city of Orlando, in 1955 Lake Lorna Doone Park was the site of the first integrated Little League Baseball game played in the south as the Orlando Kiwanis took on the Pensacola Jaycees Little League team. The West Lakes neighborhoods and residents have been actively involved in the revitalization effort, the park continues to serve as the community meeting spot and is used for everything from cookouts to exercise. The Collage Companies, General Contractor for the park, was recognized during the grand opening ceremony for exceeding minority and small business participation, and for engaging the neighborhood as the park was being built.
The reinvigorated space features the city’s first “Inclusive Playground” designed to allow children of all abilities to grow. According to the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD), playgrounds and well-designed playground activities can create opportunities for collaborative play and social interaction, and it is important that playgrounds and other potential public play spaces are inclusive of all, including children, parents, grandparents, and caregivers with varying conditions and abilities.
During the Grand Opening Ceremony in July, Commissioner Regina Hill thanked key partners for their passion and dedication to the project including West Lakes neighborhood community members and HOA leadership as well as Lift Orlando and Polis Institute. The renovation was made possible through a partnership with the City of Orlando and Florida Citrus Sports. Corporate and philanthropic partners including the Orlando Magic (basketball courts), Wayne Densch Charities (city of Orlando’s first splash pad), OUC-The Reliable One (central solar pavilion with photovoltaic power system), College Football Foundation (fitness equipment and art walk), the Arnold and Winnie Palmer Foundation (provided nature walk and a putting experience which mimics the back 9 holes of Bay Hill Golf and Country Club) and the Collage Companies (provided focal-point fountain).
A central part of the project is the installation of a focal-point fountain in the center of Lake Lorna Doone. “The fountain will forever be a symbol of the vibrant spirit of the people living in the Communities of West Lakes,” says Brian A. Walsh, Founder of The Collage Companies who served as General Contractor for the project as well as donating the $50,000 needed to design, build and install the fountain.
