Celebration is a planned community developed near Orlando by The Walt Disney Company in the 1990s…read more Designed according to the principles of New Urbanism, it blends traditional early 20th-century American architecture with a walkable network of interconnected streets, parks, and a vibrant downtown district. Master planners Robert A.M. Stern and Jaquelin T. Robertson organized the town into distinct neighborhoods centered around parks and communal squares, with the goal of recreating the charm and sense of community associated with classic American small towns. One of the community's most popular green spaces is Founders Park, a hub for recreation and local activities. The park features a large athletic field used for soccer, football, and other sports, as well as tennis courts and a playground. Unfortunately, during my visit, the fields had recently been fertilized, and the overwhelming smell of horse manure quickly drove me out of the park. Before leaving, I stopped by my favorite part of Founders Park: the Veterans Memorial. The memorial was initiated by Eagle Scout Simon Sharp, who raised $15,000 for the project and created its original design. Tragically, Simon was diagnosed with leukemia during the effort. He received his Eagle Scout award for the project the day before he passed away from the disease. Volunteers completed the memorial in his honor. Today, the memorial stands as both a tribute to America's veterans and to Simon's service to the community. The park also contains a plaque honoring Simon's contributions, along with another commemorating Revolutionary War patriots. A popular spot for pictures is the large circle on the ground that says Celebration Florida with its founding date, 1994.

It's a park. With a flag pole. It's spacious, and has benches. Great place to see grass.read more

Dan Tarrell Memorial Point is a scenic spot within Lakefront Park. It was named in honor of former…read moreSt. Cloud Deputy Mayor Dan Tarrell. In 1997, at the age of 35, Tarrell entered Orlando Regional Medical Center for an expected routine surgical procedure. Unfortunately, complications arose during the operation, and he passed away. In recognition of his service and dedication to the city, St. Cloud named Dan Tarrell Memorial Point in his honor. In 2004, hurricanes caused significant damage to the point. The city later rebuilt and expanded the area. The walk to the point offers beautiful views of East Lake Tohopekaliga and the many birds that inhabit the shoreline. At the end of the pier like point is a covered pavilion that can be rented for private events at a rate of $50 per hour for city residents and $75 per hour for non-residents. Several benches are also available for visitors to relax and take in the scenery. Today, Dan Tarrell Memorial Point is a popular location for weddings, fishing, and watching sunsets over the lake. Despite the intense heat during my visit, I thoroughly enjoyed the walk to the point and the peaceful views of the lake, where people were even taking a swim.

In a town known as the "Soldier City," founded by Union Civil War veterans, you would expect a…read morespecial park and Veterans Park is one of my favorites. Below the surface his park tells a story about Florida's identity as much as it is about St. Cloud. In 1868 a formerly Confederate Florida reentered the Union after the Civil War but interestingly St. Cloud was established in 1909 as a retirement community for Union veterans. The land for Veterans Park was donated by the St. Cloud Woman's Club, whose members included the wives of Union Civil War veterans. Development of the park began in 1929 as part of a citywide beautification effort, with residents donating soil, bricks for the walkways, and labor to build an artificial pond. The park was formally dedicated by Mayor Clarence C. Smith on June 13, 1937. The signature bandshell was added in 1952. In an interesting juxtaposition, the park includes memorials to both sides of the Civil War. In 2006, the city erected an obelisk honoring local Confederate soldiers, making it one of the few Confederate monuments built in the United States since the 1970s. The grounds also display retired military equipment, including a helicopter and military truck, alongside a playground that makes the park a more family friendly destination. During my visit, the fence around the park was lined with a moving memorial created by the Rotary Club of St. Cloud. There were rows of American flags and white crosses, each bearing the name of a fallen service member. It's a moving tribute that adds to the sense of history and patriotism that I found while visiting this park. Veteran's Park reflects how St. Cloud has chosen to preserve and reinterpret its military heritage. A Union veterans' community took root in a former Confederate state. Veterans memorials like the ones found here help communities to express their respect, pride, and history. It's a story worth telling. .

In 2016, the conceptual planning and design for Centennial Park were funded by the St. Cloud…read moreCommunity Redevelopment Agency (CRA), an organization established to revitalize areas of the city, promote economic growth, improve infrastructure, and enhance property values. Centrally located in downtown St. Cloud, Centennial Park was designed to serve as a focal point for living, working, and recreation within the Downtown CRA District. This passive park features public art, a pavilion, picnic tables, bike racks, benches, and a spacious open lawn for community events and gatherings. A large free parking lot adjacent to the park provides convenient access for downtown visitors. Centennial Park offers a welcoming and relaxing setting where visitors can relax and take in the charm of downtown St. Cloud.

Water towers frequently dominate the skylines of Florida towns. In addition to serving the…read morepractical function of storing water, they often double as advertisements for their communities, displaying welcoming messages and colorful graphics. Rarely, however, does a water tower have a story as fascinating as the St. Cloud Water Tower. Look up, and you'll spot the St. Cloud Water Tower standing watch over downtown St. Cloud. The city's first water tower, a wooden structure, was constructed in the early 1910s by the Seminole Land and Investment Company to serve the growing community. The steel water tower that dominates the skyline today was built later and became famous for an unusual reason. During the 1960s, a 12-foot illuminated Latin cross, donated to the city, was installed atop the tower, making it a well-known landmark throughout rural Osceola County. In 1987, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), representing local resident Ron Mendelson, filed a lawsuit arguing that the city funded display violated the constitutional separation of church and state. In August 1989, U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp ruled that the cross had to be removed. That October, the city briefly replaced the Latin cross with a Greek cross featuring equal-length arms, describing it as a "plus sign." The ACLU threatened additional legal action, and after a costly three-year legal battle that exceeded $100,000, the St. Cloud City Council voted 3-2 in April 1990 to remove the cross entirely. Visitors interested in this unique chapter of local history can learn more at the St. Cloud Heritage Museum. Today, the historic water tower is owned by the city. Although it no longer stores water, it remains a landmark, sealed and preserved as a symbol of St. Cloud's past. The tower now displays the city seal along with the words "St. Cloud, Florida," welcoming residents and visitors alike. A park with with a basketball court, playground, and t ball field is at the base of the tower. Since 1995, the former water tower cross has stood atop a 60-foot tower at a church in Intercession City, where you can still see it today.

Orlando Veterans Memorial Park is a small park located on the northern part of Lake Baldwin and is…read morenot far from Semoran Boulevard (State Road 436). Parking is a bit limited, but I was able to get a parking spot as it was not too crowded. There are a few smaller monuments, but the focal point in this park is the monument for the Vietnam War. It is an impressive monument depicting two soldiers. This is a great park to visit and to remember and pay respect to those who fought for our country and for the basic concept that we are born with the right to live a life where we exist in freedom. This is why we must remember those who fought so that we may live free. Orlando Veterans Memorial Park is a great park in Baldwin Park and I would definitely recommend a visit here. I.give it five stars overall.

Located on the north shore of Baldwin Lake, the four acre Orlando Veteran's Memorial Park was…read morecreated to honor the contributions of military veterans. The park has a large green space, shade trees, benches, a gazebo. In the park there are 9 unique memorials for groups including the Daughters of the American Revolution, Vietnamese-American Memorial Committee, Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, United States Marine Corps., and the Fleet Reserve Association. The park has a walk/jogging/bike path that connects this park to Blue Jacket Park, Harbor Park, and Fleet Peoples Park. On the day I visited there were many people taking advantage of this great opportunity to exercise along picturesque Baldwin Lake. The park is open every day 5 AM to sunset.

I love spending time in nature, so I was delighted to discover this short trail tucked away inside…read moreDr. P. Phillips Community Park. While there isn't any parking directly next to the trailhead, it's only a short walk from the main parking area. The trail was created through a corporate sponsorship between Orange County and Orlando-based LongHorn Steakhouse, helping to fund and preserve local green spaces for the community to enjoy. Fun fact: The very first LongHorn Steakhouse opened on August 10, 1981, on Peachtree Road in Atlanta in a building that previously housed an adult bookstore. The LongHorn trail meanders through 10 acres of Florida scrub habitat, also known as a xeric hammock community. This unique ecosystem is one of the state's most endangered habitats because it occurs on higher, well-drained elevations, he same areas that are often targeted for development. It's a challenging environment where plants and wildlife have evolved adaptations to survive the dry, sandy conditions. As you stroll along the sandy path, you may see native species such as sand pines, sabal palms, Adams needle yucca, grapevines, ferns, lichens, songbirds, cicadas, raccoons, and perhaps even a threatened species of gopher tortoise crossing the trail. This is an easy hike that just about anyone can do as long as you can walk on soft, sandy terrain. Benches are placed along the trail, offering spots to rest before reaching an observation area overlooking Big Sand Lake. Once there you can sit quietly, enjoy a picnic, or simply take in the scenery. Although Dr. Phillips orange groves that once covered this area have long since been turned into residential and commercial development, it's nice to know that you can still find pockets of Florida's natural landscape that have been preserved. Trails like this offer a peaceful escape and a place for Florida's native animals and plants to find a home.

Quiet and peaceful. Nice playground but it's hot in the summer sun. Plenty of shaded seating and…read morepublic restrooms. The boardwalk trail to walk is pretty short.