Outside the World - Lake Eola Park

Moving to Orlando was one of the absolute best decisions of my life, but aside from all the people I've met and the blessings I've received, I love this city itself. It has an old history and a dedication to the arts. It has my beloved Disney World and a surprisingly wide variety of wildlife, from manatees and dolphins to armadillos and otters, herons, purple martins, anhingas, panthers, and bears.

I've met so many people from all over the world who've come here to live for a myriad of reasons, then of course, we get the snow birds in winter and I treasure the ones that will sit and share their stories with you.

I've met some truly fascinating people.

As I prefer independently owned and operated businesses over chains, I find Orlando very conducive. From the little place that serves authentic and delicious Mexican food, to the metaphysical shops, to art galleries, vegetarian eateries, and all the unique shops sprinkled over Downtown Orlando and I Drive. We even have a traditional burlesque lounge.

One of the absolute Jewels of this city however, is Lake Eola Park, a wonderful patch of green in the center of downtown. The buildings around the park often house stores and restaurants on the first floors and condos and apartments on top. The architecture is eclectic and varies from art deco to modern. You'll find an apartment building from
the fifties setting right next to a modern office complex from today. There are some arts and crafts and Victorian style homes dotted in as well. As you walk along either the city streets, or the path that circles the lake, you'll find sculptures and memorial plaques dating back as far as 1911 that I've seen so far.

The park has an interesting history as in 1883, wealthy Orlando resident Jacob Summerlin—owner of the Summerlin Hotel, came to a city council meeting and offered the land around the lake on the condition that it was beautified and turned into a park. He was the first City Council president, and financial lender for the construction of Orlando's courthouse in the 1870s too. He donated a large tract of land to establish a park and required that the city plant trees and put a "driveway" around the lake. To ensure that the city followed through with the stipulations of the donation.

He even put reverter clauses in the contract to allow his heirs to reclaim the property if the city failed in its obligations. Several years later, his sons did indeed threaten to exercise the reverter clause if the city did not make good on its promise.

Today, the park is still maintained according to his requirement that it be kept beautiful and I find it to be a gift every time I go out there.

I sometimes like to just walk through the park and read the dedication on the trees. I saw an oak tree once that was planted and dedicated in 1925. It made me feel connected to lives that have spanned a hundred years and more.

I love feeding the swans, and they of course have swan pedal boats you can rent and pedal across the lake as well.

The Walt Disney amphitheater is where they perform concerts year round from all genres of music. That is a special night out for me. Live music in the park, and a stroll around the lake either before or after is romantic and I love it.

They have events like Paws in the Park where they do low cost vaccinations, pet adoptions and of course all kinds of booths selling anything you could need for your fur baby. Also on Sunday mornings, you'll find the Orlando farmer's market set up along the bridge just inside the park. It was something I never expected to find when I came here, and something I've grown to love nearly as much as I love Disney.

The fountain at Lake Eola is a very special part of the park and is even the "unofficial" symbol of Orlando with its image on everything from street signs to the city seal.

Though its official name is the "Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain", the fountain has also been called the Centennial Fountain, but it is most commonly referred to just as the Lake Eola Fountain.

The first signature Lake Eola fountain was installed in 1912, but a replacement, originally dubbed the "Centennial Fountain," was installed in 1957. The fountain was damaged by lightening in August of 2009 when it was rendered inoperable!

As the aging fountain needed some attention anyway, the repairs to it included a complete renovation with a new exterior frame, Plexiglas skin, lighting, pumps, piping, electrical controls and spray jets.

Additional colored lights were added to the fountain's upper and lower rings too. The overhaul has added more sophisticated lighting that can be programmed to change with music played through speakers around the park and oftentimes there will be a themed color to support certain causes.

For instance the fountain glows red in honor of heart health or pink for breast cancer. After these renovations the fountain was turned back on to the delight of many citizens and visitors in June, 2010.

I love the city, the history, the wildlife, the arts, the one of a kind shops and restaurants, the parks and events... I feel so blessed to have made this home.