Winter Park’s Emerald Necklace

August 21, 2020

Imagine Winter Park’s urban parks and waterways connected by a series of shaded green bike and pedestrian pathways like an emerald necklace.  That term was coined by Frederick Law Olmsted, the architect for New York’s Central Park and an 1,100-acre string of parks in Boston, Massachusetts. During his career, Olmsted pioneered the country's first and oldest coordinated system of public parks and parkways.  The Winter Park Land Trust has adopted this idea for a plan to connect our parks and waterways for the enjoyment of its citizens. 

A significant piece of Federal legislation signed by the President in early August could help make Winter Park’s Emerald Necklace a reality. On July 22nd, the House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act which was enacted earlier by the Senate. This program will guarantee money to the Land Water Conservation Fund, a portion of which will go to individual states. States can then allocate funds to their local governments.  The most relevant part for Winter Park will be that the city may be able to apply for those funds to buy land and to build or restore parks.

The Winter Park Land Trust is working closely with the City of Winter Park to monitor decisions at the state level regarding access to these funds.  So, what would that look like? Let’s take a virtual stroll around Winter Park’s Emerald Necklace using the map below.

Starting at the base of Morse Blvd. and Lake Osceola, head west to Central Park, the centerpiece of the necklace, down Morse Blvd. to MLK Park where the new Winter Park Library is underway, and on to Lake Killarney, finishing off by enjoying the spectacular sunset across the lake. 

Or what about beginning at Mead Botanical Garden on the south side of Winter Park, taking the new pedestrian/bike path down Denning Drive to the proposed park at Progress Point, the newest link of the emerald necklace, and then heading north to MLK Park and the new Winter Park Library. 

A third route could take one from Lake Sue, weaving through the lakes, canals, and blue-ways of Winter Park to Howell Branch Preserve and onward toward Lake Howell – in a kayak!

Winter Park’s commitment to urban green spaces is one of the characteristics that has made the city the most desirable place to live in Central Florida. In addition to providing valuable green space for the city, the Winter Park Land Trust feels the creation of the park at Progress Point will encourage quality development on the Orange Avenue corridor and would firmly set the course for the Winter Park Emerald Necklace.