WINTER PARK, Fla. – The city of Winter Park wants to update a beloved playground after three decades of fun and games.
You might know it as “Castle Park,” the wooden structure located in the Community Playground in Martin Luther King Junior Park. It’s a popular place for families to visit off of Denning Drive, but the city says after years of wear and tear its in need of some renovations and upgrades to meet today’s playground safety standard.
Thursday, there will be a public meeting at 6 p.m. at the Winter Park Community Center where planners hope people will reaffirm what they’ve been working on since 2022.
A presentation posted on the city’s website shows the concept to not only improve the playground, but also honor the legacy of Dr. King and the historic Hannibal Square neighborhood by focusing on “better neighborhood and internal connections, integrating recreational and cultural programming, and strengthening environmental sustainability.”
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A site analysis found that structures like the “tower” and spiral slide are enjoyed by children but have lost connection to the main wooden castle structure. The plan they’ve developed would update the existing castle with new, innovative, and accessible play systems, while keeping the playground’s original character.
There is also the opportunity to add a splash pad in a nearby open space and create additional access points from the northern side of the park into the playground.
According to the city’s presentation, updates would be made while keeping “natural play as part of the playground’s feature.”
Families our News 6 team spoke with at the park Wednesday admitted they were nervous about changes being made to the playground because it is loved by so many people.
Lisa Sojourner, who lives in Orlando, said she came to the park as a child, and now she takes her own kids there.
“I remember coming to this park and playing on this particular playground when I was like 5 years old,” said Sojourner. “Living and growing up here I became a camp counselor for the YMCA and we would go on field trips and then we would stop here for lunches on the way back. So, I would take my campers here, and now many years later I bring my kiddos here.”
Hundreds of people have commented on the city’s Facebook page notifying the public about Thursday’s meeting and shared similar memories and adoration for the playground.
It was built by volunteers and designed by architect Robert Leathers with suggestions made by children at local elementary schools, as reported in March 1987 by Yvonne C.T. Vassel of the Orlando Sentinel.
Once our News 6 team shared images from the city’s plans with Sojourner, she said it looked great. She particularly enjoyed the added climbing structures and splash pad idea.
“Our kids love that,” said Sojourner. “Especially Florida when it’s brutally hot outside, there’s nothing like a splash pad, because if you have a baby that can’t swim they can still play in the splash pad.”
Carolyn Doster, who was visiting the park with her grandchildren, said she loved the plans as well.
“I love the natural part of it,” Doster said. “That’s really, really nice.”
Doster said she is glad to see the city plans to invest money into making the playground even better.
“I just love to see kids outside and playing. I mean, they need to get away from screens a little more and I just love seeing all the kids out here.”
You can read the full notice from the city about Thursday night’s meeting below:
The City of Winter Park and its Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will host a Neighborhood Public Meeting Thursday, February 20, at 6 p.m., in the Winter Park Community Center located at 721 W. New England Ave. The purpose of this meeting is to reaffirm concepts developed from public and stakeholder input received during public meetings in 2022 and 2023, regarding enhancements to the Community Playground and surrounding area in Martin Luther King, Jr. Park.
During the summer of 2022, the city held public meetings to receive feedback on necessary renovation and upgrades of the Community Playground, also known as Castle Park. After decades of wear and tear, the playground is in need of renovation. The intent is to incorporate key elements of the existing park while cultivating a creative and exciting refresh, adding safety improvements, accessibility, community amenities, splash pad and more.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Park has become more enlivened and engaged with the 2021 opening of the Winter Park Library & Events Center which overlooks Lake Mendsen and the 23-acre park. In recent years, the CRA has worked to establish parameters for public investment into the park, including a Unity Corner Memorial near the intersection of South Denning Drive and West Morse Boulevard, and an overall park Master Plan approved by the CRA and City Commission.
For additional information, please contact Parks & Recreation at 407-599-3357 or MLKParkRenovatoin@cityofwinterpark.org.
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