Lake Eola Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Eola |
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View from the park site (2006)
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 Lake Eola
Location in Florida
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| Location | Downtown Orlando, Florida |
| Coordinates | 28°32′37″N 81°22′22″W / 28.54361°N 81.37278°W |
| Type | Sinkhole |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 23 acres (9.3 ha) |
| Average depth | 11 feet 5 inches (3.48 m) |
| Max. depth | 23 feet 8 inches (7.21 m) |
| Water volume | 103,802,700 US gallons (86,433,800 imp gal; 392,936 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 4,493 feet (1,369 m) |
| Islands | 1 |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Eola Park is a cool public park in Downtown Orlando, Florida. The main attraction is Lake Eola itself. You can find the Walt Disney Amphitheater on the park's west side. This is where many fun community events and shows happen all year. On the east side, there's a pretty Chinese pagoda and a playground. The park is surrounded by four streets: East Robinson Street, Rosalind Avenue, East Central Boulevard, and North Eola Drive.
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Discovering Lake Eola's Features
Lake Eola is a small lake in the South Eola neighborhood of Downtown Orlando, Florida. It's located right inside Lake Eola Park. This lake is actually a sinkhole, which means it formed when the ground above an underground cave collapsed.
The lake is famous for its amazing fountain. This fountain changes colors at night, putting on a cool light show! The deepest part of the sinkhole is about 23 feet 8 inches deep. It's located about 100 feet east of the fountain. The lake is about 4,493 feet around, which is almost a mile. It covers an area of 23 acres. A path about 0.9 miles long goes all the way around the water, perfect for walking or jogging.
The History of Lake Eola Park
How the Park Began
The story of Lake Eola Park started in 1883. A rich man from Orlando named Jacob Summerlin owned a lot of land. He was also the first president of the City Council. Summerlin decided to give a big piece of land to the city to create a park.
He had some important rules for his gift. He said the land around the lake had to be made beautiful and turned into a park. He also wanted the city to plant trees and build a "driveway" (a path) around the lake. To make sure the city followed his rules, Summerlin added a special clause. This clause meant his family could take the land back if the city didn't keep its promise. Years later, his sons actually threatened to do this if the city didn't improve the park! Because of Summerlin's rules, the park is still kept beautiful today.
Naming the Lake and Park Growth
The park officially started in 1888 with the first piece of land. Many other families also donated land to the City of Orlando over time. Jacob Summerlin's sons named the lake "Lake Eola" after a lady they both knew. The area was officially called a park in 1892.
Over the years, the park area has been home to different things. It once had a zoo, a horse race track, and tennis courts. There was even a pier with a dance area! A local radio station also used to broadcast from here.
The Iconic Fountain
The first fountain was put in the lake in 1912. It cost $10,000. Later, in 1957, a new, bigger fountain was installed. This one cost $350,000 and was first called the "Centennial Fountain." Its real name is the "Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain." This famous water feature is now a symbol of Orlando.
In August 2009, lightning struck the fountain, causing it to stop working. The city had insurance, but it was a big repair. On October 15, 2009, Mayor Buddy Dyer announced that the city would fix the fountain. They also decided to upgrade it with new lights and water jets, costing $2.3 million. The fountain was fixed and started working again on July 4, 2011.
Park Expansions and New Additions
Lake Eola Park grew in 1993 when Washington Street was closed. This made the park bigger and included a restaurant and apartments. An International Food Court was also created then.
In July 2013, the park expanded again to the southeast. This added more lawn space, new LED lights, wider sidewalks, and more paved areas. In September 2013, the city opened Eola House. This house is a welcome center, gift shop, and office for the park. Also in 2013, six cool sculptures were added to the park by a group called See Art Orlando.
Fun Events at Lake Eola Park
Lake Eola Park is a hub for many exciting events throughout the year:
- Spin City Classic (March): Watch professional and amateur bicycle races on the streets around the park.
- Fireworks Over the Fountain (July 4th): Celebrate Independence Day with entertainment and food. The fun starts at 4 p.m., and fireworks light up the sky at dark.
- Fiesta in the Park (First full weekend in November): Explore a huge arts and crafts show with 600 booths. There's also entertainment and delicious food.
- Come Out With Pride (October): This festival celebrates LGBT pride with a parade, vendors, food, and fireworks at night.
You can find monthly event listings on the Walt Disney Amphitheater billboard at the park's northwest corner. More event and park information is available here.
Other Activities to Enjoy
- Orlando Farmers Market: Every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., you can visit the farmers market. It's a great place to find fresh food and unique items.
See also
In Spanish: Parque del Lago Eola para niños
