ORLANDO, Fla. — When most people think of Orlando, they think of the major amusement parks nearby. But for the locals, the sights and sounds bring many of them to Lake Eola.

“I love it, man. It’s probably one of my favorite places in the whole world, and I’ve been coming here since I was a kid, too," said Orlando native Juan Gutierrez. "It’s a nice place to just walk and kind of clear your mind and just relax and people watch a little bit.”

What You Need To Know

  • Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando is set to get a $60-million renovation

  • The park has not had a major update since 1988

  • Potential updates include adding a possible shade canopy to the amphitheater, moving the swan boat launch to the southeast corridor of the park, refreshing the bathrooms, widening sidewalks, and installing a new clean water system

  • Officials with the city of Orlando says they will continue to accept bids from potential contractors until Feb. 28

Gutierrez walks his dog Stella at Lake Eola Park almost every day, and officials at the city of Orlando want to keep people like him coming back.

Orlando’s iconic Lake Eola is set to receive a $60-million makeover, and the city is now taking proposals from potential contractors.

“This is our home base and it is a beloved part of our city," said Orlando director of Parks and Recreation Lisa Early. "And like every other park and playground in our city, it needs to be refreshed every few years." 

Lake Eola hasn't had a major renovation since 1988, and now it's getting a big-money makeover with most of the funds coming from the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency.

Years of master planning and community feedback has given the city some of ideas of what needs to be done.

“One of the things that we get a lot of feedback about is that the amphitheater needs some sort of shade so that people on the stage are not having the sun hit them directly," Early said. "And then the people in the audience also have some kind of shade."

Other potential changes include moving the swan boat launch to the southeast corridor of the park, refreshing the bathrooms, widening sidewalks and installing a new clean water system.

The potential upgrades are making residents and businesses owners in the area excited.

Relax Grill has been at Lake Eola for almost 20 years, and while they’ll be sad to see the swan boat launch moved, manager Noemi Pickett said she thinks the changes will be good for business.

“I think it’s going to improve business. It’s going to improve tourism, as well," she said. "I mean, for all of the local businesses. So, it’s something that’s going to be good for Orlando and stuff like that. So we’re really excited about it.”

Pickett said the restaurant will remain open during the entire redevelopment.

Early said the upgrades will be made in sections. So while a part of the park might be closed, the park as a whole will remain open.

City officials say they will continue to accept bids from potential contractors until Feb. 28.