ORLANDO — Lake Eola Park, one of the jewels of downtown Orlando, has long been known for its swans and the spectacular light displays at the Fountain inside the lake.
Now the city is hoping the lake will soon become known for something else: butterflies, relaxation, and meditation.
Today, Mayor Buddy Dyer and Commissioner Patty Sheehan were at the park to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Butterfly Sculpture Garden. The groundbreaking kicked off with a butterfly release at area near the Sperry Fountain where the large-scale butterfly sculptures and curated landscaping will be created.
What is the Butterfly Sculpture Gardens at Lake Eola?
This new garden is projected to be completed this fall, and will include interactive elements for visitors. This is the inaugural project for the non-profit Orlando Lando trust, which is committed to improving green spaces in the city, and hopes to transform the area where the new garden will be created into a peaceful retreat for city residents and visitors alike.
As the city notes on its website, “This butterfly release event will honor the Orlando Land Trust’s ongoing commitment enhancing the park’s beauty and further contribute to preserving Lake Eola as Orlando’s signature park. At the event, grandparents and grandchildren will join together to let butterflies fly free as a tribute to transformation.”
Located in the heart of downtown at 512 E. Washington St., Lake Eola Park is a popular spot with its sidewalk that circles the lake 0.9 miles in length. Named a Top 5 Best City Park in the U.S. by USA Today’s 10best Readers’ Choice Awards, the park is also known for its view of Orlando’s skyline, swan-shaped paddle boats and live swans inhabiting the park, and the Walt Disney Amphitheater with its prominent clam shell. There are also numerous local restaurants at the park, making it one of the city’s most heavily visited spots.
The new Butterfly Sculpture Gardens project will eventually feature a renovation of the area immediately surrounding the Sperry Fountain. That will include:
- Wider stairways
- New pavers
- New seating
- and enhanced landscaping.
This project is just the start of a more ambitious effort to improve downtown, the City notes.
“The Orlando Land Trust’s mission is to preserve, protect and improve green spaces for a healthier, more vibrant Orlando,” the City notes. “This expansion of Lake Eola Park furthers the goal of Project DTO to enhance downtown Orlando by adding more green space and provide another unique gathering spot for residents, workers and visitors.”
The Butterfly Sculpture Garden will be the first of many projects by the Orlando Land Trust to acquire the southwest corner of Lake Eola Park and “convert it into a welcoming public space,” the City notes.
Don’t Forget About Lake Eola’s Fountain
Lake Eola Park is also popular for its refurbished fountain, which dates back to the 1950s and is the centerpiece of the lake. The fountain suffered electrical and mechanical problems in the summer of 2009 when it was struck by a lightning bolt. In 2011, the fountain benefited from improvements and upgrades made by the city.
Construction of the fountain was completed in 1957, when it was known as the Centennial Fountain – and was unveiled to mark the 100th anniversary of the naming of Orlando.
It was renamed the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain in 1965, a tribute to the local businessman who had been inspired by similar fountains he had seen in Europe, and believed Orlando should have one as well.
The fountain was re-dedicated and resumed operation on July 4 2011. The following October, the city began daily jazz shows at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., featuring a choreographed water, light and sound show that ran four minutes and 35 seconds long.
In 2012, the city had a special booth at the park commemorating the fountain’s unique history, and attendees could buy a piece of the old Lake Eola Fountain as a souvenir, with proceeds directly benefiting the Orlando Community & Youth Trust, Inc., a non-profit organization created to support the mission of the city’s Department of Families, Parks, and Recreation. The money was also used for the upkeep and future enhancements at Lake Eola Park.
Michael Freeman is an Orlando journalist, playwright and author of the terrifying book “Bloody Rabbit”. Contact him at Freelineorlando@gmail.com.
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