The first targeted Park Avenue maintenance effort in nearly 30 years was discussed during a city commission work session on the afternoon of January 23.
The Park Avenue Refresh Project is billed as a polishing of the city’s “crown jewel” and will add new elements and necessary enhancements without affecting downtown charm. Winter Park Communications Department Director Clarissa Howard said the last renovation began in 1996 with a protracted construction schedule, but plans for this year’s effort are more focused and on a shorter timeline. Discussions with city department heads began in September of last year and Stringfellow Planning & Design was engaged in November to start concepting.
The project will provide lighting, landscape and hardscape, and technology upgrades along the avenue while maintaining current design standards. Work is estimated to begin during the summer at Fairbanks Avenue and progress north, block-by-block, to Whipple Avenue. Concepts brought forward at the January 23 work session include:
- Dark sky compliant street lighting
- Hidden speakers and outlets
- Irrigation for hanging plants
- Wifi compatible equipment and remote access control
- Entry lighting into Central Park
- Seasonal plantings and the removal of unhealthy trees
- Repair and replace planters
- Bump-out curbs to calm traffic and separate parallel parking
- New trash cans and benches
- Cameras at key locations
- Kiosk removal
- New signage and wayfinding elements
The list is the result of staff meetings with stakeholders that included the Park Avenue District and Chamber of Commerce. Feedback from a citywide survey yielded 1,306 resident and business responses that were also considered in the planning process.
Mayor Sheila DeCiccio suggested expanding the work area to include tree well improvements on New England Avenue and Morse Boulevard. She also noted that keeping construction to nighttime hours would minimize the impact on businesses. And she requested that construction start at the north end of Park Avenue, citing issues with failing streetlights in that area. “I get complaint after complaint, both from businesses and from pedestrians,” she said.
When asked by Vice Mayor Todd Weaver about the project budget, Assistant City Manager Michelle del Valle said $1 million was allocated in the CRA budget, but funding would also come from multiple sources as electric and stormwater utility services would be involved.
Stringfellow Planning & Design Principal Alex Stringfellow, who also serves on the city Planning & Zoning Board, said project planning revealed potential future enhancements, such as a refresh of New England Avenue and a West Meadow master plan that would upgrade the spaces used for the Farmers’ Market and the annual Cows ‘n Cabs fundraiser.
City staff also unveiled a Park Avenue Refresh addition to the city website where residents can find additional information and project updates. Stringfellow said the concepts will soon go into design development and be presented to city commission in February for final direction. Stringfellow estimates that construction documents and a project budget proposal would be presented in April with work beginning on approval.
