Ongoing street repairs and electric utility undergrounding are arguably the projects that Winter Park residents most want completed. But as the city continues work on both, several other projects, issues, and event plans will reach their conclusion in the coming months.
The first commission meeting of 2025 will include a review of the city’s purchase agreement for the Winter Park Playhouse property. The effort to find a new home for the popular musical theater began in February of 2023 when landlords announced their intent to sell its 711 N. Orange Ave. building. The city agreed to partner with the nonprofit in an application for TDT funds to finance the purchase and renovation of the property, which was granted in October. The plan is for the city to lease the building back to the playhouse.
Mayor Sheila DeCiccio will also participate in City Hall’s CoffeeTalk series of community conversations on Thursday, Jan. 9, at 8:30 a.m. The Q&A-style event follows no specific agenda but residents are welcome to attend, either in-person or virtually.
The following is a list of additional events and estimated project completions on the 2025 calendar.
City election
Kris Cruzada will run for a second term in City Commission Seat 3 but Todd Weaver has opted not to seek another term in Seat 4. Potential candidates must qualify by January 21 and so far, criminal defense attorney Warren Lindsey has filed to fill Seat 4. Lindsey, a first-time candidate for office and current Planning & Zoning Board member, is the only person to file for the election. The last city election to be canceled over a lack of candidates was in 2023 when Marty Sullivan and Sheila DeCiccio ran unopposed for their respective reelection bids.
The March 11 ballot will also decide the ongoing debate over the ban on gas-powered leaf blowers. The current ban, passed in 2022 and scheduled to go into effect this year, was not enforced after residents and landscaping companies rallied against the measure. The option of allowing voters their say was presented to the city in February by Sen. Jason Brodeur and an ordinance placing a referendum on the March ballot passed City Commission by a 3-2 vote in April. Commissioners agreed at their December 11 meeting to authorize the referendum to be conducted by mail in the event this year’s election is canceled.
Parks projects
The renovation plan for the 37-year-old playground at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park is among several approved projects that residents have been looking forward to. The project was made possible with resident input that guided the inclusion of a splash park, handicapped accessible elements, and the reuse of iconic spires that influenced its “Castle Park” moniker. City staff have been working with the contractor on a schedule that is expected to begin early this year. Parks & Recreation Director Jason Seeley previously told the32789 that the goal was to have the renovations ready in time for the summer months. And once construction begins, the time from start to finish would be about four months barring any weather-related issues.
Another parks project in progress is the Unity Corner community space by the intersection of Denning Drive and Morse Boulevard. Ground was broken in January and construction teams are currently awaiting a 9-foot bronze statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that will be at the center of the space. Designed with input from Hannibal Square Heritage Center and a committee of residents, the project will pe part of the city’s annual Unity Heritage Festival that commemorates Dr. King’s birthday.
And the long-awaited completion of Seven Oaks Park is expected within the next few months. The $4.96 million project was subject to several delays with design changes, additional public restrooms, and an inflationary cost increase of 11% requiring additional approvals. According city staff, work is expected to be finished before the end of the first quarter but an exact completion date remains unavailable.
Arts
The city ended 2024 with the unveiling of the Public Art Collection: an online platform developed by the Public Art Advisory Board that showcases more than 90 works including “Best of Show” pieces from the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival in an interactive locator map. Next month, the 20 organizations that make up the city’s Arts & Culture Alliance will participate in a four-day schedule of events during Arts Weekend, February 20-23. “The goal is to raise visibility and awareness of the arts in Winter Park as a whole,” said Alliance Senior Advisor Anda Lucia Ariail. “We’re hoping this event will reach residents and visitors coming into the community over the weekend.” A schedule of events is available on the Arts Weekend web page.
Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts also has big plans for the new year as it prepares to occupy the old library building in a long-term lease with the city. Executive Director Chris Cortez told the32789 that the first phase of its renovation will open in the spring and include a 200-seat performance venue, the expansion of a planned concession space, and an intimate 60-seat theater. Additional spaces will open within a three-year timeframe.
The first commission meeting of the year is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 8. The agenda and virtual access is available at cityofwinterpark.org/meetings along with virtual access for the Mayor’s CoffeTalk event.
Which Winter Park projects or news items are you looking forward to in 2025? Email us at news@the32789.com.
