WINTER PARK, Fla. — Winter Park commissioners on Wednesday will get a final look at the city's Park Avenue Refresh Project, which aims to improve the avenue between Fairbanks and Webster Avenue. 

What You Need To Know

  • Winter Park officials will move forward with the Park Avenue Refresh Project to improve the avenue between Fairbanks to Webster avenues

  • Officials are looking to add new streetlights and infrastructure and update outdated signage and landscaping to improve the overall aesthetic

  • City commissioners will vote to approve the official design and Phase 1 efforts for the Refresh project

  • The $1 million project will be carried out in phases and is set to begin in the summer

Enhancements include new streetlights, new infrastructure and public safety improvements recommended by residents through a city survey conducted last year.

City officials said the survey received over 1,300 responses from members of the community about changes they wanted to see enacted.

Some recommendations include better lighting, designated locations for ride-sharing services and more parking.

However, roughly 30% of survey respondents reported ride sharing was “fairly common” on Park Avenue, according to the city. And for the lack of parking, Winter Park Communications Director Clarissa Howard said that falls under the Public Works and Transportation Department.

Through the “refresh” project, Howard said the city aims to identify and address the needs of the community, like safety.

The city plans to replace some streetlights and include Dark Sky Lights, which improve visibility for pedestrians walking at night.

City officials also want to incorporate mobility hubs for electric vehicles and e-bikes as part of its initiative to become a “smart city.”

Winter Park's Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has allocated $1 million for the project that it will phase out throughout the year.

Howard said this project has been a long time coming.

“The last time Park Avenue had a major renovation was actually back in 1996 to 1999, when we bricked the avenue, and in 30 years, there’s a lot of things that happen during that timeframe and it’s time for a refresh. Park Avenue is our crown jewel,” Howard said.

City commissioners will review the project design Wednesday afternoon and vote on its approval before Phase 1 starts.

Once officially approved, construction for the multiyear project will begin in the summer at Webster Avenue toward Canton and Garfield avenues.

The city said it is too early to know when the project will be completed. 

Park Avenue Refresh Project