Leesburg’s Lakefront Enhancements

THE VENETIAN CENTER

With the completion of Phase III of the Venetian Gardens Master Plan, the natural beauty and enhancements of the grounds are stunning. The Venetian Center, unveiled in November 2019, is the perfect facility for any event. With 20,700 square feet, it offers a beautiful lobby and three meeting rooms, the largest of which seats 1,000 people in the auditorium layout and 450 people for a banquet. The covered portico and terrace include a walking bridge to Martin Luther King Jr. Island. The building was designed to enhance the views of Lake Harris, accentuating the natural beauty of the park.

“Venetian Gardens is one of the intrinsic assets that Leesburg offers,” City Manager Al Minner says. “By investing in Leesburg’s Lakefront, not only do we improve this beautiful asset for residents of Leesburg, the investment has the ability to be a stimulus for the entire Lake County region.”

Through a public/private partnership, another welcomed addition to the Lakefront will be a 9,700-square-foot restaurant similar to its companion restaurant, Eaton’s Beach Sandbar & Grill in Weirsdale. Situated near the Leesburg Boat Club and the Venetian Center, it will include a tiki bar, transient boat slips, waterfront dining and an extended boardwalk along the shores of Lake Harris. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2020.

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SKI BEACH

This area, locally known as the “Point” of the Lakefront, boasts several new improvements as well, including sand volleyball courts, rentable pavilions, lakefront walking trails, boat ramps, a sand beach, boat dockage and public restrooms. Park users can access Ski Beach through walking trails, by water or the main entry located at the intersection of Lake Shore and Lake Harris Drive.

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ROGERS PARK

The addition of a splash pad to Rogers Park in 2017 significantly increased visits to this corner of Leesburg’s Lakefront. The splash pad has 20 play features and is aimed at giving participants a good soak. Children can cool off with spray tunnels, a blooming spinner, a fun-brella, flow puddles and a confetti sprayer. The 2,100-square-foot playground also has a LifeFloor surface that is slip-resistant, and a pavilion and picnic tables also are available.

Add to that Kids Korner Playground, which is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and it’s a great place for family fun. The addition of new swings includes Zero G swings to accommodate children with disabilities and even a swing for the generations, which allows parent and child to swing together.

A 75-foot zip line has become the most popular part of the park. The seated rider on the zip line goes from one side of the park to the other. Surrounded by benches and plenty of beautiful shade trees, the park offers something for everyone.

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VENETIAN COVE MARINA

With boat slips and access to Lake Harris, Venetian Cove Marina is a one-stop service zone complete with boat storage areas, fuel, supplies and public restrooms. The Dock Master Building has a 147-slip dry storage area along with 44 wet slips. What’s more, the city is in the planning phases of expanding the marina by adding additional wet slips.