County plans groundbreaking for new Lakeside Village Park

WINDERMERE With a groundbreaking ceremony set for Tuesday, Sept. 26, Lakeside Village Park is coming to fruition after being in the works for nearly two years. 

The 9.28-acre park will be located at 10820 Village Lake Road in Windermere, nestled in between Village Lake Road, Iron Mountain Trail and Lake Spar. 

Construction of the park is set to take place in two phases, although construction on the second phase has yet to be scheduled. According to Orange County Parks and Recreation Manager Matt Suedmeyer, construction of phase one is expected to be completed within 180 days with the opening of phase one to be scheduled for sometime in April 2018. 

Phase one will include the construction of a gazebo, a play area, a concrete walkway, an asphalt trail and an open area. Construction of the park will also include stormwater swales, drainage structures and piping, grading, landscaping and irrigation, Suedmeyer said.

The estimated cost of construction is about $750,000, which includes the installation of a shade structure over the playground.

Phase one of construction will focus entirely on the south end of the park. Phase two will  encompass the area around Lake Spar.

Construction of phase two is currently not planned for either this year or even 2018, Suedmeyer said. But once construction begins, phase two will include an open field area, extensions of the concrete and asphalt trails and a dock.

Construction of the park mirrors the growth of the area, Suedmeyer said.

“This park location is one of many neighborhood parks located throughout the Horizon West development to meet the needs for park space as the community is being built out,” he said.

The groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26 and hosted by District 1 Commissioner Betsy VanderLey.