Horizon West Regional Park will be area’s ‘crown jewel’

Horizon West’s Brett Buske watched his 2-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter running around the playground at the newly opened Horizon West Regional Park.

Buske said it’s wonderful to have a public resource for his family to go outside and play without it costing a penny. They had been driving to R.D. Keene Park in Windermere to use the playground.

The children laughed and smiles almost never left their faces while they went down the slides, across the bridges and around the playground.

The playground was bustling with kids Monday, Feb. 16, providing the perfect background noise as Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson cut the ribbon for the grand opening of Horizon West Regional Park’s Phase 1A. 

The park, located at 4715 Hamlin Groves Trail in Horizon West, originally opened about 15 years ago in December 2010 and only had horseback riding available. 

“Today, I say, ‘giddy up,’” Demings said. “Our commission has devoted a lot of time and resources to ensure we have green spaces throughout our county. We now have some 114 different parks, some 15,000 acres of parkland that we manage thanks to Kyle Ken and his entire team.”

Phase 1A includes a playground, restrooms and pavilions for picnics and birthdays. There also are about six miles of unpaved hiking trails, newly paved vehicle access from Hamlin Groves Trail, two paved parking lots totaling 165 parking spaces, pedestrian and bicycle sidewalk access, two grills, water fountains and a bike rack.

Buske was excited to have the trails so he and his wife can grab the jogging stroller and go on a walk and run with the kids. 

“There’s not a lot of walkability where we live, because we’re down farther on Avalon, so a spot where we can load up the stroller and actually get some miles in is great,” he said. 

The ribbon-cutting not only was to celebrate the completion of Phase 1A but also a time to look forward to the future phases of the park. 

Wilson said the county is fortunate to “have this space tucked away” on 215 acres that will provide active and passive recreation with all aspects of the park chosen by residents. She considers it the “crown jewel” of the county.

“This was a full collaboration from early days in getting out a survey, and we had hundreds of responses to the survey and we continue to get feedback from people,” Wilson said. “Look at the turnout even here (at the ribbon cutting), what that tells me is it’s wanted, needed and we’re going to continue to make sure we’re getting it the right investments in the right time. We’re going to keep pushing, pushing, pushing.”

Photo by Liz Ramos

Kyle Kent, the Orange County Parks and Recreation Manager, said Phase 1B will begin in about three months and will include a splash pad, a floating dock and kayak launch on Lake Hartley, additional sidewalks, parking areas, a third picnic shelter and a pavilion with a paved parking area on the west side of the playground. 

Once construction begins, Kent said it typically takes 180 days barring any issues in the process. 

Buske can’t wait for the kayak launch as he spent a lot of time as a kid kayaking. He looks forward to when his children are older to be able to take them out on Lake Hartley.

Kent said phases 2 and 3 are not yet funded. 

According to conceptual master plans from Mulligan Constructors, Phase 2 includes a large pavilion, paved parking, grass overflow parking, soccer fields and pickleball courts.

Phase 3 includes a dog park, a botanical garden, baseball fields, paved parking, restrooms, more pickleball courts and more restrooms. 

Phase 4 includes another botanical garden, community center and performing arts stage area, more soccer fields, basketball courts, a playground tot-lot and a potential YMCA.

Lastly, Phase 5 will have the tennis courts.

When all phases of the park are complete, Kent said it will be a “grand pearl” in Horizon West.

“It’s like Disney World without having to go there,” he said. “You’ve got the animal kingdom, you’ve got the water parks, you have the big picnic area, so this is accessible for everyone.”