Lake Nona announces plans for a new seven-acre "linear" park, anchored by a waterway designed to serve as an alternative to stormwater management.
Surrounding the waterway, the park is planned to feature several trails, mini parks and space for activities stretching more than 30 meters wide along a half-mile path from downtown Lake Nona to the heart of the Laureate Park neighborhood. The proposed linear park is expected to begin construction next year.
"At Lake Nona, we're always looking for ways to do things better," said Tavistock Development Company President Jim Zboril.
"We could have gone down the traditional route of building a road and the infrastructure to manage rainwater underground, but instead we challenged our team to be resourceful and think differently. Creative thinking led to this linear park that not only provides a stormwater solution, but creates a convenience that our residents and visitors can benefit from. "
The proposed park, which incorporates recreational activities and several trails with a stormwater management solution, is the first of its kind for southeast Orlando. Unlike traditional stormwater treatment through a series of underground pipes, the park will replace more than a kilometer of east-west highway and its associated infrastructure with an open channel and a surrounding park.
Water will flow over a series of dams from west to east into an existing lake within Laureate Park. Recirculating water from the existing lake to a series of source points at the west end of the park will ensure that the water is always flowing.
"Tavistock continues to be a key partner in ensuring that our Orlando grows, is done in a sustainable way, focused on innovation, while serving and benefiting our residents," said City of Orlando Planning Officer Elisabeth Dang.
"This proposed project shows part of that same vision, with the potential to create not only unique places to gather, but also preserve and expand green spaces, more mobility options and increase water quality in one of the fastest growing areas in our city. "
Designed by local landscape architect Dix.Hite + Partners, the park's linear design supports multiple mobility paths with lush landscaping, water features and seating options that flow along the main waterway. The plans include transportation routes to support the Move Nona initiative with a multimodal network of paths for walking, running, cycling and autonomous buses. The paths will also connect to Lake Nona's 44 kilometers of planned trails. The pedestrian bridges will allow guests to easily enjoy both sides of the park, each offering different amenities parallel to the waterway. Inside the park, a two-acre common area will provide a new space to host even more community events with a large lawn, playground and shaded recreational areas.
In addition, the new linear park provides options for Lake Nona to support and expand two of its growing community programs dedicated to public art and the relocation of mature trees. The park's design offers several options for new outdoor art installations or sculptures added to Lake Nona's collection, which currently includes "The Beacon" and "Glass House," among others. The plans also call for the incorporation of relocated mature trees to further improve the quality of the green space and provide additional shade. Since the beginning of the year, dozens of relocated trees have been integrated into plans for current and future projects throughout Lake Nona, including Boxi Park, Lake Nona Town Center, Laureate Park and other residential projects. Lake Nona plans to relocate more than 200 trees in 2019.