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Families, Parks and Recreation
History of Families, Parks and Recreation
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Special Facilities
Dubsdread Golf Course
Carl Dann a major real estate broker in Orlando
began building this golf course in June of 1923. It was
opened in 1926. He built the course on old Apopka Road
at Par Avenue. It was named Dubsdread because it was a
difficult course and dreaded by "dubs", or unskilled
players. The City of Orlando purchased the golf course
at the end of 1977 for $1,250,000. This Orlando classic
course features the oldest public layout in the area,
originally designed in 1923. This Dubsdread Golf Course
has plenty of history associated with it as the former
site of the Orlando Open, when it hosted such golf
legends as Sam Snead, Ben Hogan and Claude Harmon.
Renovations in 2008 raised the difficulty of play with
additional yardage, varying elevations and contours in
fairways and greens. A new putting green, two short game
practice ranges and an aqua driving range with lights
were added to the practice facility.
Harry P. Leu Gardens
In the heart of the Gardens overlooking Lake
Rowena, the Leu House, listed on the National Register
of Historic Places, has been meticulously restored to
reflect the history of the house exemplifying
turn-of-the-century Florida living.
Mizell Family 1858
The first owners, Angeline and David Mizell and their
seven children, staked their claim on the around 1858.
The property was originally settled and farmed growing
cotton, corn and sugar cane. David Mizell was the only
sheriff of Orange County who died in the line of duty;
he was ambushed and murdered in 1870. The family is
buried in a small cemetery on the garden grounds.
Pell
/Gardner Period 1902
Duncan Pell, who came to Florida
seeking a speedy divorce, purchased the property and
married the silent screen star Helen Gardner. Pell hired
John Mizell, son of David and Angeline, to add on two
wings to the house more than doubling the size. Duncan
and Helen used the house as a weekend get-a-way
entertaining many guests.
Woodward Family 1906
The third
owners of the Leu House added charm and nostalgia.
Joseph and Martha Woodward from Birmingham, Alabama
bought the house as winter retreat. They named the
estate “LaBelle” after the family’s original iron works
business. They also built on to the house bringing it to
its present size.
Leu Era 1936
Harry P., a native to
Orlando, and his wife, Mary Jane, purchased the property
in 1936. Mr. Leu owned a successful industrial supply
company in Orlando and Miami. The Leus traveled
extensively and brought back plants and seeds for their
garden. The beautiful gardens bear witness to the legacy
that Harry P. Leu left to the City of Orlando.
Orlando Sports Campus
The Orlando Sports Campus opened in 1986. It
has been a partnership between the City of Orlando and
Jones High School in which the school uses the complexes
athletic facilities for its programs.
Orlando Skate Park
On August 2, 2003 the City of Orlando answered
many requests from youth in the community and opened the
City of Orlando's very first skate park. The purpose for
the facility is to meet the ever increasing demand of
recreational and professional in-line and skateboarding
participants. The skate park provides a quality,
challenging, controlled environment to cultivate their
sport.
Parks
Bill Frederick Park and Pool at Turkey Lake
The history of Bill Frederick Park at Turkey
Lake goes back to the 1970's when it was a visionary
purchase during Mayor Carl Langford's administration.
Fortunately, Former Mayor Bill Frederick and Mayor
Glenda E. Hood recognized the value of keeping this
recreational and ecological jewel maintained and
sustained for future generations. On January 24, 2004,
the City of Orlando's largest park was renamed in honor
of former Mayor Bill Frederick to Bill Frederick Park at
Turkey Lake.
The park opened to the public in 1978 after seven years
of planning and construction. The original vision for
the park was a place that offered passive recreation,
nature education, and conservation. The property was
originally covered with more than 2,000 producing orange
trees, and in 1980 a reforestation plan was developed to
safely relocate the trees. This opened up space to
create a campground in 1981, a tree farm in 1984, and a
playground in 1987. The original playground was designed
by Robert Leathers and local children and was
constructed in the course of 4 days with the help of
volunteers.
Lake Eola Park
Lake Eola Park was established in 1888 when the
first parcel of land, the first of many that were
donated to the City of Orlando by several different
families. Lake Eola is actually a sinkhole lake like
many of the lakes in central Florida. The actual
sinkhole is located north of its signature fountain and
goes to a depth of approximately 80 ft. Lake Eola Park
since 1892 when it was officially established as a park
has been through many changes. At various times there
has been a zoo, a horse race track, tennis courts, and a
pier with a dance area and music broadcast by a local
radio station. The first band shell in the park was
built in 1910 and since then three others have built in
the same location. The first signature Lake Eola
fountain was installed in 1912, by Mayor Sperry at a
cost of $10,000, since then a second fountain was
installed for approximately $350,000 in 1957. The total
acreage of the park is approximately 43 acres of which
23 acres is water. In 1988, during a revitalization of
the park, the Lake Eola Fountain underwent a major
overhaul and was returned to the public as an important
historical landmark. 2007 has been a great year for Lake
Eola Park with the addition of the new modern children's
playground and the renovation/re-dedication of the
Amphitheatre by Disney (R).
Orlando Wetlands Park
In the late 1800’s this land was used as open
range for cattle grazing by the settlers moving into the
Christmas area following the Seminole Wars. In the early
1900’s many of the red cedar trees were logged with this
durable wood being used for furniture, construction and
fence posts. Pine trees were tapped for turpentine and
later were logged for lumber. In the 1940’s the land was
used as a dairy farm.
Community Centers
Recreation
Division History
On August 15, 1925, after vigorous promotion by the National Recreation
Association, the Orlando Recreation Department was created. The department’s
first superintendent, Thomas W. Lantz, worked with an appointed Board of
Recreation, in his words, “selling” recreation to civic organizations through
speeches, editorials and news stories promoting the department’s activities.
Those initial activities ranged from the creation of bowling, volleyball and
basketball leagues as well as a popular tennis program, the institution of
lifeguard supervision at several beaches, and the organization of holiday
activities. WDBO Radio worked with the department to produce an evening radio
broadcast of volunteer-read bedtime stories for children. The first summer
playgrounds to be under trained leadership opened, with leaders including the
young Buddy Ebsen (of later “Beverly Hillbillies” fame) and his sister Vilma.
There was also a tourist program—the Chamber of Commerce held weekly tourist
parties and the Recreation Department was responsible for organizing party
activities. These parties, along with other tourist activities held at Sunshine
Park, sometimes attracted as many as 1,000 participants.
By the next year, the Recreation Department expanded even more, offering
programs as diverse as civic celebrations and dramatic and musical
presentations. Mr. Lantz hired his first paid staff members. A municipal
bathhouse was constructed at Lake Lorna Doone to accommodate the nearly 500
bathers who visited the lake each day. Tennis courts were constructed at
Delaney Park and Lake Eola, baseball diamonds, volleyball courts and a football
field were installed at the fairgrounds, and playground equipment was installed
at both Lake Eola and Lorna Doone.
In 1926, Orlando’s population was approximately 31,000, and it is estimated
that in the Recreation Department’s first seven months of operation, 32,000
people were involved in its activities as either spectators or participants.
Building on the department’s success, its one full-time employee and handful of
part-time employees worked to bring even more to the community. By 1928, enough
playgrounds had been constructed to provide easy accessibility to every child
in Orlando. More playing fields were built, four more bath houses were
constructed, neighborhood centers were established at every school, a municipal
auditorium opened, a municipal golf course was established, and larger parks
were created.
College Park Community Center
This Community Center construction was made
possible by a collaborative effort by the City of
Orlando and Orange County Public Schools. Land along
with residents' homes was purchased by the City of
Orlando and leveled to start the process of a land swap.
This swap with the school board was necessary to get the
Community Center adjacent to the already existing City
swimming pool. Agreements had to be brokered on such
things as parking areas, right of ways, relocation of
portable classrooms, etc. The Princeton Park, Pool and
College Park Community Center are very popular amenities
in the College Park Neighborhood.
Colonialtown
Neighborhood Center and John Long Memorial
Pool
On April
25, 1934, the wives of the Colonialtown Area Merchants
organized and became the Women’s Auxiliary of the
Colonialtown Improvement Association. Their purpose was
to undertake projects to improve their community.
Constitution and by-laws were drawn up and accepted on
May 9, 1934.
On April 19, 1935, the Colonialtown
Improvement Association disbanded and renamed itself the
Colonialtown Women’s Club. Construction of the original
clubhouse at 1204 N. Ferncreek Avenue began on February
15, 1937. It was through the aid of the City and
National Youth Administration that this was made
possible. On July 11, 1938, the facility was completed
and the original dedication held.
Forty-nine years
later, on May 9, 1983, the building was rededicated as a
Community Center by the City of Orlando's Recreation
Division. In addition to daily activities, programs, and
community meetings, the city has also held annual
city-wide special events including a haunted house,
holiday festivities, plays, along with children and teen
programs.
Realizing that the center programs were
growing and the need for more room to serve the
community, the city undertook the project to build a new
facility. In September 1986, the Women’s Club was
leveled and construction for the new facility began. An
upbeat design and variety of activity rooms ranging from
a fully-equipped kitchen, game, weight and stage rooms,
and a large meeting room was completed in the Fall of
1987. Programs will accommodate every age group. The
center was officially dedicated on October 20, 1987.
Dover Shores Community Center
Prior to
1992, Dover Shores was a Summer Camp Playground site
that operated out of a portable classroom at Dover
Shores Elementary School. In 1992, the Dover Shores
Community Center was constructed adjacent to the Dover
Shores Pool. In 2000 the center was renovated to include
a gym a new lobby and fitness center.
Dr. I. Sylvester Hankins Park Recreation Site and Pool
The Dr. I. Sylvester Hankins was born in
Orlando in 1895. Dr. I. Sylvester Hankins opened his
medical practice in Orlando, Florida in 1926. He
gradated from Howard Medical College and practiced in
Orlando for more than 50 years. In 1974, Dr. I.
Sylvester Hankins was honored for his civic work through
the dedication of a 14-acre park in his name on Columbia
Street at cost of $170,000.00. In 1994 the City of
Orlando placed the first module building on-site to
conduct recreational activities. In 2003, the City of
Orlando began renovations of Dr. I. Sylester Hankins
Parks and by 2004 a new building opened. The
rededication for Dr. I. Sylvester Hankins Park was held
on January 24, 2004.
Dr. J. B. Callahan Neighborhood Center
The Black
population of Orlando has long been associated with the
west side of town. According to W.R. O’Neal, who was an
early settler and author of the book, “Memoirs of a
Pioneer,” the first black development in Orlando was
located on the site of what today is the Dr. J.B.
Callahan Neighborhood Center. This area was platted by
Parramore in the 1880’s and resettled in 1886 by Revered
Andrew Hooper. Hooper built a group of small cottages,
known as Hooper Quarters north of West Central Boulevard
to house black servants. The black area grew and became
known as Black Bottom and later changed to Pepperhill.
Today is known as the Callahan Neighborhood. In 1895 the
first school for blacks was built, it was called Orlando
Black and later became Johnson Academy. Because of
increased enrollment, the building was moved to the
corner of Parramore Avenue and Washington Street and was
renamed Jones High School. The first commencement was
held in 1922. After Jones High School was relocated
again in the early 1950’s, the building stood vacant for
a long time. The building was then renovated and was
dedicated as the Dr J.B. Callahan Neighborhood Center in
1987. Today the Dr. J.B. Callahan Center is the
cornerstone of the Parramore community and provides a
variety of programs and events for citizens of all ages.
Dr. James R. Smith Neighborhood Center
The Dr. James R. Smith Neighborhood Center was
built in 1983 and totally renovated with an addition of
a south wing in 1996. The Dr. James R. Smith
Neighborhood Center is named after the late Dr. James R.
Smith, a prominent physician from Aurora, Illinois. He
received his BS Degree from Northwestern University in
1941 and his Doctorate of Medicine Degree from Meharry
Medical College in 1948. Dr. Smith became the first
black physician in Orlando to establish a maternity
clinic for black women. Despite his flourishing medical
career, Dr. Smith found time to better his community.
Dr. Smith was one of the founders of the Washington
Shores Federal Savings and Loans bank; the first
establishment in the State of Florida founded and
operated entirely by African Americans, which is now
known as Metro Savings Bank. He was also the founder of
the Washington Shores Association for Recreation, Inc.
(W.S.A.R), a non-profit organization that offered
similar programs to what the Smith Center offers today.
Currently, the Frontline Outreach Center is located in
the location of the old W.S.A.R. facility.
Engelwood Neighborhood Center and Pool
The Engelwood Neighborhood Center was built in
1975 and funded through the Edyth Bush Charitable
Foundation. The Boys & Girls Club occupied the building
from the opening until 1997. From 1997-1998 the building
was renovated to be a regional neighborhood center.
Several new classrooms were added, the weight room was
expanded to a state-of-the-art facility, a computer lab
was added, and a beautiful larger game room was built.
In 1995, the pool facility was built.
Ivey Lane Recreation Site
The Ivey
Lane Recreation Site originally was a program of the
Police Athletic League (PAL) between 1988-1989. The
Orlando Housing Authority allowed the City to use a
portion of their grounds to have a module building
positioned to offer youth residing in the neighborhood a
safe haven where they could participate in after school
and summer progams. As the facility usage grew, as well
as programs that were offered; the Orlando Housing
Authority offered to the City's Recreation Division a
five bedroom unit to be converted into a recreation site
for community benefit. This expansion allowed the City
of Orlando's Recreation Division to serve more citizens
from the Ivey Home Housing Authority and the surrounding
neighborhoods.
However, in 2004 property was purchase by
Orange County Parks Bureau and the Orange County School
Board and donated to the City of Orlando for the Ivey
Lane Recreation Site. A variety of progams are offered
at this site and the number of participants have
increased by sixty percent.
John H. Jackson Community Center and Pool
Clifton
Tobias Williams a successful business owner and tireless
activist for the black community of Orlando in the
1930’s encouraged City Officials to organize
recreational activities for black children in the
community. The Orlando City Council designated an area
on Carter Street for recreational use for blacks.
Williams took it upon himself to prepare the site to be
a recreational area. The area became know as Williams
Ball Field and later as the John J. Jackson Community
Center.
John H. Jackson dreamed of a place where
Orlando’s youth had access to positive recreational and
educational opportunities. As Orlando’s first black
Recreation Superintendent, he began working towards his
dream in 1941 and began transforming the vacant piece of
land at 1002 West Carter Street into a premiere
recreation site.
On February 25, 1995, the doors opened
to a newly renovated John H. Jackson Community Center,
which fullfilled the dream of Mr. Jackson, Mr. Williams
and the Parramore Heritage community.
L. Claudia Allen Senior Center
L.
Claudia Allen spent 48 years as an educator. She was an
elementary school teacher, assistant principal, county
supervisor and coordinator of migrant services. Allen
founded Orlando's first black Cub Scouts pack and Boy
Scouts Troop in 1938, in addition to the first black
Girl Scouts Troop #87 in 1940. Her passion for children
expanded into organizing the Orlando Council for
Retarded Children. In 1957 she worked tirelessly to
build a school for retarded blacks and her dream was
achieved in 1964 with opening of a school. She served as
a dedicated member of the Board of Directors of the
American Red Cross in 1960-1972, and opened a school for
the severely mentally challenged children on West
Cypress Street in 1964.
The L. Claudia Allen Senior
Center was built in 1980, four years after her death. On
February 24, 1984, the City of Orlando dedicated the
Washington Shores building in her memory and in
celebration of her life, dedicated to children and the
black community of Orlando.
Loch Haven Neighborhood Center
The
facility was the first youth facility built in the City
of Orlando in 1958.
Mayor Carl T. Langford Park Neighborhood Center
This park was originally developed in 1937 as
Central Avenue Park, and rededicated in 1981 as Mayor
Carl T. Langford Park. Mayor Carl T. Langford was
Orlando's Mayor from 1967-1980.
Mayor William Beardall Senior Center
“Coming
full circle” is the title of the bronze sculpture of
Mayor Beardall that overlooks the rose garden on the
front lawn of the Mayor William Beardall Senior Center.
It is a very fitting phrase for the Center. Constructed
in 1920, it was named Delaney Elementary School.
Some
older adults who enjoy classes and events at the center
now, actually attended grammar school here more than 80
years ago. In 1983, Orange County Public Schools sold
the building to the City of Orlando. After completing
award-winning renovations, it was dedicated as the Mayor
William “Billy” Beardall Senior Center on November 13,
1986.
Northwest Community Center and Pool
The Northwest Community Center complex was a
joint venture between the City of Orlando, Orange County
Government and the Central Florida Police Athletic
League. The Northwest Community Center opened in the
Spring of 1994. Joe A. Evans, Jr., a young participant won the
naming contest. This is the only center in the
Recreation Division that from its conception has been a
total collaborative effort between the City of Orlando
and Orange County government.
Orlando Downtown Recreation Complex
In September 1937, the City of Orlando donated
the land at 649 W. Livingston St. and $80,000 to keep
the U.S. Army National Guard from relocating to another
City. On December 23, 1938, the City of Orlando
dedicated the building as the Orlando Armory. In 1941,
the Orlando Armory was used as a disbursing station for
the U.S. Air Force and had its first use as a recreation
club. In May of 1941 the building was renamed for the
late Ltc. Robert C. Davis (1898 – 1941). Ltc. Davis was
the first Orlando native to give his life in World War
II. Ltc. Davis is laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery. In
1951, the building was leased to the U.S. Naval Reserve
and used as their training facility. In the 1960’s the
military relocated the Armory to a new location on
Primrose Street and the City of Orlando converted the
building to its present use as the Orlando Downtown
Recreation Complex, which the native Orlandoans fondly
refer to as the (Old Davis Armory).
Orlando Tennis Center
The
Orlando Tennis Centre was established by Orlando City
Council action on November 4, 1931 when the
Superintendent of Recreation, Clarence Varner, was given
authorization to go ahead with “four clay courts” at the
Fairgrounds.” In 1932, the Orlando tennis playing
community began officially using the Orlando Tennis
Centre, which makes the centre today the oldest
operating public recreation facility in the City of
Orlando. “Big” Bill Tilden, widely considered to be the
father of American tennis, was the featured player in
1933 at the Orlando Tennis Centre. His celebrity tennis
event launched a long series of appearances by world
famous tennis players at the Orlando Tennis Centre, many
of whom are honored at the International Tennis Hall of
Fame. These events continued into the late 1960’s and
included such world famous athletes as Don Budge, Fred
Perry, Jack Kramer, Bobby Riggs, Fred Stolle, Pancho
Segura, Poncho Gonzalez, John Newcombe, Rod Laver, Ken
Rosewall, and Roy Emerson.
Reeves Terrace Recreation Site
At one time, the location of the Reeves Terrace
Recreation Site was originally known as Jonestown. Prior
to the City of Orlando providing the current site, the
Orlando Police Department offered recreational
activities for youth in the community various times
during the week. Later, the City’s Recreation Division
counselors offered recreational activities from their
vehicles until a doublewide trailer was presented to
provide a central haven for the children and families in
the neighborhood. And most recently, a solid facility
was constructed to provide activities and programs for
children and their families. Citizens from the Langford,
Reeves, Lawsona and Hampton communities enjoy the
programs and activities offered.
Rock Lake Community Center
On August 5, 2002, the Orlando City Council
approved a real estate donation agreement with Orange
County Public Schools (OCPS). OCPS donated land behind
Rock Lake Elementary School for a new City of Orlando
Park. On October 31, 2002, the City of Orlando and OCPS
completed a joint use agreement between Rock Lake
Elementary School and the City of Orlando’s Families,
Parks, and Recreation Department. Rock Lake Elementary
School has exclusive use of the basketball courts,
playground, and field during school and after-school
program hours. The Neighborhood Center, tennis courts,
and parking are available for public use during regular
hours of operation. The official grand opening event was
held on May 21, 2005.
The Pottery Studio
The Orlando Pottery Studio evolved some 40
years ago. Initially it was a slip-casting studio. All
the work that was produced came out of molds and was
painted by the participants. Then, in the early 70’s,
hand made pottery became very popular and the trends
changed from slipware to taking a raw piece of clay and
creating your own piece of work. A woman named Helen
Bennett established a clay program over at Loch Haven
Art Center. Helen, also established, what we know as
Bennett’s Pottery. She inspired Ann Robinson who was
then in charge of the program, to change the course of
the studio forever. She managed to acquire the small gas
kiln across the hall and after that, the potter’s wheels
arrived and the rest is history.
Since that time, the
studio has evolved and grown in many ways: we’ve
acquired more equipment, expanded the work space, built
the big gas kiln, developed loads of glazes, provided
extended studio hours, engaged guest artist from all
over the country to give workshops, etc.; The City of
Orlando is proud to support this first class studio. If
you have had the opportunity to attend clay classes at
any of the other local clay programs, you’ll have
recognized that the Orlando Pottery Studio is a special
place.
Wadeview Community Center and Pool
In 1985 the community surrounding Boone High
School lobbied for a new community center. In
partnership Orange County Public Schools and the City of
Orlando, Wadeview was built and named after Lake Wade in
1989. Since its inception, Wadeview has served as the
meeting place for Boone High School, Wadeview Park
Neighborhood Association, and a host of other
organizations.
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