Sunny Swan

Lake Eola Park is a public park located in Downtown Orlando, Florida. Lake Eola is the main feature of the park. Also located in the park (on the... more

by Christopher James

Title

Sunny Swan

Artist

Christopher James

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Lake Eola Park is a public park located in Downtown Orlando, Florida. Lake Eola is the main feature of the park. Also located in the park (on the west side) is the Walt Disney Amphitheater, which hosts many community events and various performances year round.
The park was informally established in 1888 using the first parcel of land; it was the first of many that were donated to the City of Orlando by several families. His sons named it Lake Eola, after a lady they both knew. {Of note, the daughter of Maj. Robert Dickinson Allen, 1836 - 1909, and Laura Adelaide Sims, 1842 - 1885, was named Eola J Allen. She was born about 1860. (1860 United States Federal Census Texas Bastrop, Bastrop) She was the niece of John Howard Allen, second mayor of Orlando.} The area was officially declared as a park in 1892. The park area has been home to a zoo; a horse race track; tennis courts; a pier with a dance area; and the broadcast site of a local radio station. The fountain was installed in 1912 at a cost of $10,000. A replacement, originally dubbed the "Centennial Fountain," was installed in 1957 at a cost of $350,000. It was renamed the "Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain" in 1966 to honor its biggest advocate. The iconic water feature is an official symbol of Orlando.
To add to the esthetics of Lake Eola, a number of Bald Cypress trees reside in the shallows of the lake and also harbor an abundance of water fowl, including 5 different specie of swans, ducks, and even a pair of the Egyptian Goose!!

Uploaded

March 23rd, 2023