Watermark Park breaks ground in Horizon West

With hard hats on, shovels in hand and smiles on their faces, planners, District 1 County Commissioner Nicole Wilson and Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings on Wednesday, July 30, celebrated the groundbreaking of Watermark Park in Horizon West.

Watermark Park, the county’s 115th park, is a $1.8 million amenity located on 5 acres at 9940 Seidel Road, directly in front of Panther Lake Elementary School. 

Wilson said the park is an important quality-of-life investment. 

“This is a good health, safety and welfare investment for your well-being,” she said. “The memories that will be made here in the coming years — this is the stuff community is made of.” 

The park will feature a shaded playground, walking paths, a picnic pavilion, dog parks for small and large dogs, and recreational space. 

“Sometimes, just getting out zoomies is important,” Wilson said. 

According to Parks and Recreation representative Amanda Kimmer, Watermark Park is strategically placed for kids to enjoy after school. 

“The county has been really good about planning new parks as they build new elementary schools, middle schools, not so much high schools,” she said. “The idea is that kids would probably come over here after school and play, so they buy property for the school and they buy 5 acres next door and make it a neighborhood park.” 

Kimmer said the park will not have parking spaces or bathroom facilities. 

“It’s really intended as a neighborhood park to be just a walk-up,” she said. “It’s meant for the people who live around here.” 

Kimmer said the county will add a walking path connecting the sidewalks already in place, as well as some benches along the lake. 

As the park is intended for its neighborhood, Kimmer said it won’t have a rentable pavilion. 

“People who have 24 or (fewer) guests … can use it first-come, first-serve,” she said. “If they end up with 25 or more people, then they need to go and rent the pavilion in one of the bigger parks.” 

In addition, the open space that will be purposefully left empty won’t be accessible to teams or for rent. 

“It’s only intended for the public to use, so (the county) will put trees kind of strategically to keep anybody from trying to think it’s a field,” Kimmer said. 

Although a grand opening date has not yet been set, Kimmer said construction should take about 18 months.

She believes people will be happy with the park and its amenities. 

“I cannot wait to get back here as soon as it’s done being built,” Wilson said.