A Walk Around Lake Eola Audio Tour
Duration: 40 minutes
Drawing inspiration from Copenhagen in Denmark, Orlando wanted to create its pedestrian-friendly “Green” downtown to energize the community and attract tourists and events. Lake Eola Park was a perfect location for such a project.
Lake Eola Park is located in Downtown Orlando and boasts an old oak tree called the Indian River Oak Tree that draws people from all across the world to visit. In 1881, Colonel Robert Maitland visited Orlando, and he planted some orange trees in Lake Eola Park, which is also where he produced his original citrus trees at his homestead called “Maitland Terrace. “The park was designed by William H. Clark, the parks commissioner of Orlando, and it took Clark three years to complete. Lake Eola Park’s original design included two large fountains, which were deactivated in 1914. Later that year, Lake Eola Park gained further popularity when it hosted a rededication party for the completion of the Orlando Public Library building located next to the park. In addition to the Indian River Oak Tree, Lake Eola Park also contains other trees, such as: crape myrtles and cypresses.
Lake Eola Park includes several public art pieces, such as the “Maitland Terrace Wall.” The wall is named after Colonel Robert Maitland, who first planted orange trees in the park and for whom this park is named after. The wall has a plaque at its base honoring Major General William A. Irvin, who was also responsible for building the other part of the Orlando Public Library, located next to Lake Eola Park.
The main attraction of Lake Eola Park is a large statue called “The Indian River Oak Tree,” which was designed by artist Raynor Johnson and created by sculptor Edward Crookshank in 1912.
