Lake Eola
View from the park site (2006)
Location	Downtown Orlando, Florida
Coordinates	28°32′37″N 81°22′22″W / 28.54361°N 81.37278°W / 28.54361; -81.37278Coordinates: 28°32′37″N 81°22′22″W / 28.54361°N 81.37278°W / 28.54361; -81.37278
Lake type	Sinkhole
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	23 acres (9.3 ha)
Average depth	11 ft. 5 in.
Max. depth	80 ft.
Water volume	103,802,700 gal
Shore length1	4,493 ft.
Islands	1
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Eola Park is located at 28°32′37″N 81°22′22″W / 28.54361°N 81.37278°W / 28.54361; -81.37278 in Downtown Orlando, Florida. Lake Eola is the main feature of the park. Also located in the park (on the west side) is the Walt Disney Amphitheater, which hosts many community events and various performances year round. On the east side of the park is a Chinese pagoda, a Confederate States of America monument, and a playground. The park is surrounded by four streets: East Robinson Street (State Road 526), Rosalind Avenue (SR 527), East Central Boulevard, and North Eola Drive.

Lake Eola[link]

Lake Eola is a small lake in Downtown Orlando, Florida, located at 28°32′37″N 81°22′22″W / 28.54361°N 81.37278°W / 28.54361; -81.37278 in Lake Eola Park. The lake is actually a sinkhole and is famous for its fountain. The sinkhole is approximately 80 feet deep and is located 100 feet east of the fountain. The fountain changes colors at night like a light show. The lake is 4,493 feet (1,369 m) in circumference and 23 acres (93,000 m²) large. A 0.85-mile (1.37 km) multi-use sidewalk surrounds the water.^[1][2]

History[link]

In 1883, wealth Orlando resident Jacob Summerlin - known as the owner of the Summerlin Hotel, the first City Council president, and financial lender for the construction of Orlando's courthouse in the 1870s - donated a large tract of land in order for a fine park to be established in Orlando. In 1883, Summerlin came to a city council meeting and offered the land around the lake on the condition that was beautified and turned into a park. He also required that the city plant trees and put a "driveway" around the lake.^[3] To ensure that the city followed through the stipulations of the donation, Summerlin put reverter clauses in the contract to allow his heirs to reclaim the property if the city failed in its obligations.^[3] That park is still maintained to his orders of it being kept beautiful. Several years later, his sons threatened to exercise the reverter clause if the city did not make good on its promise.

The park was informally established in 1888 using the first parcel of land; it was the first of many that were donated to the City of Orlando by several families. His sons named it Lake Eola, after a lady they both knew. The area was officially declared as a park in 1892. The park area has been home to a zoo, a horse race track, tennis courts, a pier with a dance area, and the broadcast site of a local radio station. The fountain was installed in 1912 at a cost of $10,000. A replacement, originally dubbed the "Centennial Fountain," was installed in 1957 at a cost of $350,000. The actual name of the fountain is the "Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain". The iconic water feature is the unofficial symbol of Orlando.

Lake Eola Park was expanded in 1993 with the closure of Washington Street, which ran between Lee's Lakeside restaurant and the park. With the expansion, the restaurant and Post Parkside Apartments were now located in the park. The International Food Court was also created at this time.

In late August 2009, lightning struck the fountain, rendering it inoperable. The city has a $1,000,000 insurance policy on the fountain, with a $500,000 deductible. Due to the city's current budget crisis, the fate of the fountain was unknown.^[4] On October 15, 2009, Mayor Buddy Dyer announced the city will not only repair the fountain, but "also replace its cracked plastic skin and install a state-of-the-art system of lights and water jets" at a cost of $2.3 million. The fountain was rededicated and resumed operation on July 4, 2011.^[5]

Events[link]

• Spin City Classic (March): sanctioned professional and amateur bicycle racing on the streets around the park
• Fireworks Over the Fountain (July 4th): celebration, entertainment, and food. Starts at 4 p.m. with fireworks at dark.
• Fiesta in the Park (First full weekend in November, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.): a 600-booth arts and crafts Show with entertainment and food

Other Activities[link]

• T'ai chi & Kung Fu Classes: Monday, Wednesday, & Saturday evenings, Spring & Autumn Martial Arts offers donation-based Wudang Mountains style T'ai chi ch'uan, Qigong, & Kung Fu training at Lake Eola Park.^[6]

References[link]