‘Time for a new upgrade’: City leaders to discuss making changes to Lake Eola

ORLANDO, Fla. — The city of Orlando is planning to give Lake Eola Park a face-lift, and it’s taking suggestions now.

The first community meeting about making changes to the park is Thursday night.

Lake Eola is a beloved feature of downtown Orlando, but it wasn’t always that way.

Orlando parks division manager John Perrone first saw it 34 years ago.

“Everything was overgrown. It was sad," he said.

The park was renovated 30 years ago into what we see now.

“Now, we have over 100 events a year and 3 million people (visiting) a year,” Perrone said. “It’s time for a new upgrade for the park.”

People still love walking the path, renting swan boats and seeing the swans.

Orlando city leaders want to know what else people would like to add to the park.

So far more than 1,500 people completed an online survey that will stay up until November. Anyone can fill it out.

The city hasn’t read the suggestions yet, but Perrone said technological updates like WI-FI are on the list, plus new restrooms.

Anyone can chime in during the first stakeholder meeting set for 6 p.m. Thursday.

To participate, just register online to improve on 130 years of history.

“If you live around the park, it’s your front porch. It’s so many different things to so many different people,” Perrone said.

The city said a master plan should be complete in spring 2021.

There is no projected cost yet.

Cox Media Group

Cierra Putman, WFTV.com