OAKLAND PARK A Natural Habitat for All Residents

by JG Walker

Set on 258 acres along the shoreline of Lake Apopka, Oakland Park isn’t a large Florida residential community compared to some. Still, from the beginning it’s had a big heart for environmental preservation. The community has conservation areas, preserved oak hammocks, and other natural spaces that were years in the making.

Landeavor LLC, headquartered in Tampa, FL, and Atlanta, GA, is Oakland Park’s current developer, having purchased the community from the previous owner in 2018. True dedication to environmental preservation must be planned, and the work to create a naturally unique community began in 2008. Those efforts have been acknowledged with a number of prestigious awards for overall design, tree preservation, lake restoration, and homebuilding standards. In fact, Oakland Park is on the short list of just six communities statewide that have earned Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) honors as a certified green development.

“Prior to our purchase and involvement, we discovered just how thoughtful the plans were to protect the shorelines and native areas,” says Adam Lorry, Principal of Landeavor. “Oakland Park is unique in many ways— the lakefront location, the proximity to downtown Winter Garden, and the West Orange Trail that bisects the community—but the preservation plan, concern for the natural vegetation, and protection of the shorelines stood out as special qualities.”

Community amenities include the centrally located and FGBC certified green Oakland Park Clubhouse with flexible meeting spaces, a demonstration kitchen, a zero-entry pool, and a custom-designed playground for the kids. Meadowmarsh Park overlooking Lake Brim is another popular gathering place, with its pool complex adjacent to the community gardens. The 22-mile West Orange Trail runs through the heart of Oakland Park, giving residents walking and biking access to the shops, restaurants, and services in the adjacent municipalities of Winter Garden and Oakland. And within the community, there are several great lawns for recreational events and grassy mews for picnics, all connected by gravel pathways that meander around lakes and ponds in the cooling shade of towering oak trees.

Mary Edwards is a certified arborist with the Town of Oakland and the City of Winter Garden. She’s also worked with Oakland Park and has high praise for their commitment to tree protection.

“There are not many occasions in the life of an arborist,” Edwards says, “in which one is chosen to work on a project where development is created around the placement of an existing [tree] canopy and not as an afterthought. I have had the rare opportunity to work with the Oakland Park team, who, through the years, have maintained the vision to preserve at all costs the natural integrity of the beautiful historic live oaks in the community.”

The single-family homes in Oakland Park feature various traditional and contemporary architectural styles, but all are built to the highest FGBC certified green standards. On the outside, that means minimal site disturbance, landscaping with native plants, and use of local resourceefficient building materials. Interior features include healthy-home products that conserve both energy and water usage. As a result, Oakland Park homes are less expensive to operate and maintain their value over the years.

And humans aren’t the only new residents who are flocking to Oakland Park: In the spring of 2019, a bald eagle nest was discovered in a tree located within the West Orange Trail easement that runs through the community. A 660-foot buffer surrounding the nest was promptly established that included a slice of Oakland Park property. As a result, Landeavor and its community home builders agreed to adhere to strict noise and activity guidelines during eagle mating and nesting season. After two successful years that have produced a number of healthy eaglets, resident birdwatchers have reason to be optimistic that they’ll have even more new neighbors in 2021.

When celebrating the environment is the community’s theme, that’s a pretty strong celebrity endorsement for the natural quality of life at Oakland Park.

Experience the perfect balance of home and nature. Oakland Park combines the beauty of nature with the history and character of old-Florida architecture. With a charming small-town feel, our community is located only minutes away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Winter Garden. Take a stroll down our many nature trails to see stunning views of Lake Apopka, explore our multiple parks or jump on the West Orange Trail, one of Orlando’s top trails for biking, inline skating, running and walking. Enjoy an active, outdoor lifestyle while still being close to everything. Discover Oakland Park today. Newly constructed model homes are now open. Homes from the $300s.

David Weekly Homes * RCB Homes * J&J Building * Brierhill Homes

Oakland Park Community Clubhouse

1000 Civitas Way, Winter Garden, FL 34787