More than a year after breaking ground and a month after its expected opening, the Unity Corner memorial at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park remains in progress as upgrades are on the way to the nearby Castle Park playground.
The plan for Unity Corner, located by the intersection of Denning Drive and Morse Boulevard, began in 2012 as an effort by residents of the Hannibal Square neighborhood to create a public memorial to Dr. King and to remember the 1950’s displacement of Black families who resided on what became Lake Island Park. A portion of the park, renamed in 2012 in honor of Dr. King, will feature a 9-foot bronze statue of the civil rights leader that will be set inside a concentric pattern of stone benches. A memory wall will display quotes from Dr. King along with the names of the displaced families.
Kyle Dudgeon, assistant director for the City of Winter Park Economic Development Division, told the32789 that delays in materials deliveries have extended the construction timeline. The statue will be the final piece installed at the site and delivery is expected in April.
Design concepts for Unity Corner were created by landscape architecture firm Dix.Hite + Partners, Inc., which also designed the renovations to Community Playground, aka Castle Park, located at 255 S. Denning Dr. The play structures were built in 1987 using donated materials and feature a castle design for which the playground became known. Renovations meant to bring the facility up to safety and accessibility codes were designed with community input and include the following interactive features:
- Splash pad and spray features
- Nature sensory station
- Roller slides
- Bridge connections
- Climbing walls
- A “dragon” climbing feature and play area
- Rope swing
- Inclusive and accessible access to play areas
The latest in a series of public meetings was held on February 20 and focused on the final details before construction documents are to be complete and submitted to city commission for review. Parks & Recreation Director Jason Seeley told the32789 that recommendations at the February 20 meeting focused on materials, surface finishes, and fine tuning the arrangement of the play structures.
“Staff will review with the commission in the spring,” Seeley said of the next steps in the process. “Construction would likely begin mid to late summer.” The anticipated construction timeline is between seven and nine months and will not be impacted by the delays at Unity Corner. However, Seeley noted that materials delays could affect the timeline.
Additional updates
Additions to Central Park West Meadow are under way with completion expected in September. Restrooms, a landscaped plaza, and shaded seating will complement the farmer’s market and seasonal events.
And the Park Avenue gateway arches are expected to arrive in May. The installment of the structures at either end of the downtown corridor that runs between Fairbanks and Whipple Avenues will be scheduled during the Park Avenue Refresh Project, expected to begin this summer.
