WHAT A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD WE LIVE IN

WHAT A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD WE LIVE IN! Summertime in the City

WILL CAMPBELL PRESIDENT BALDWIN PARK JOINT COMMITTEE

And just like that, we’re moving into another season — or at least, as much as seasons change here in Florida. As the school year comes to a close, kids will be roaming the neighborhood more frequently, and their teachers are getting a much-needed break. Families are planning and preparing for their summer vacations. While some people in the neighborhood will be out of town, we usually get an influx of out-of-towners visiting our little corner of the City Beautiful by way of visiting family and even tourists.

We often pride ourselves on our neighborhood not being what a lot of people consider Orlando as a whole to be: a tourist trap. With that said, we have a lot to offer — especially for the more discerning of travelers. We’ve even got some new blood in Downtown Baldwin Park that you should definitely show off to your visiting friends and family.

Provision & Buzz got a face-lift and soon, a new name. Paper Goat Post left its original home in College Park and moved into the former home of Farris & Fosters and has succeeded in making it a little bubble of happiness — complete with a confetti faucet (seriously, so cute in there, be sure to check it out). Pedego bikes has joined the neighborhood, offering not only sales of their electric bikes but also day-rental packages that include a little piece of Baldwin Park by way of a gift card to one of our other amazing businesses when your rental concludes. Each of these new neighbors offers something special to do on these long, hot summer days.

If you’re looking to be a tourist yourself in the area, there’s so much to do that a theme park doesn’t even need to be on your list. If you’re looking to beat the heat and take advantage of the A/C, there’s the Orange County Regional History Center in the heart of Downtown Orlando, where you can learn about the area from over the past 12,000 years. Yes, I said 12,000, and yes, that’s a lot! There’s also the Orlando Museum of Art, which hosts a rotation of 10 to 12 unique exhibits throughout the year, so it’s never the same thing twice. Another super fun option is the Orlando Science Center, which is especially great for the little ones.

If you’re looking to be outside but still aren’t feeling like a butter beer at Hogsmeade, just a short ride past the attractions and off Interstate 4, you can find Bok Tower Gardens. This beautiful 250-acre garden and bird sanctuary offers walking paths that you could get lost one with plenty of shady spots for you to take a break a clear your head. In the same vein, and much closer, is Harry P. Leu Gardens at the corner of Corrine Drive and Forest Avenue. Leu Gardens showcases all of the beauty central Florida has to offer by way of plants, gardens, and the beautiful lake it sits along with so many different paths to take that you could spend an entire day and still not see everything.

If you’re looking for something completely different and don’t mind venturing a little further out of the bubble, head up to Daytona and take yourself and five friends on a cruising tiki boat tour of the intracoastal. We did this for my birthday once, and I assure you, it will not disappoint. You are literally cruising the intracoastal waterways on a floating tiki bar, what can go wrong?! Another out-of-the-box option is the Limo Cycle. Yes, equally as ridiculous as the tiki bar boat but equally as fun. Plus, you get to learn something about the town as you pedal along the brick paver streets of Historic Downtown Sanford.

With so many amazing options in and around Baldwin Park, the summer possibilities are endless. You likely will find the husband and I sitting along New Broad Street at one of the restaurants or grabbing a glass of wine at Golden Hour along Lake Baldwin Lane, relaxing after our long days of work, and planning our own summer days. We’re already counting down the days until a seven-day cruise we have booked with a group of friends in mid-July, but there are always those random days off that we have together when we’re looking for something new to see or do.

Oh yeah, before I forget, speaking of July (you like that segue?): Don’t forget about the Baldwin Park Independence Bash on Sunday, July 3, in Downtown Baldwin Park. This is our premier event for the neighborhood, and it’s going to be one of the best we’ve ever done. Tons of work has been going on behind the scenes since the end of last year to really put on an event of which Baldwin Park can be proud. Be on the lookout for more details in the weekly e-blasts, here in Baldwin Park Living and on BaldwinParkNetwork.com. We can’t wait to see you all out there.

No matter what your summer plans, I hope you take advantage of all that we have within our reach, or drive, within Central Florida. I know we don’t like to leave the bubble too much, but sometimes it’s OK!

Until next time, stay safe, stay well and remember, We Are Baldwin Park!

Baldwin Park notebook

Continued from page 9

BALDWIN PARK COMMERCIAL OWNERS ASSOCIATION INC.

BY BILL PATTERSON

Summer has arrived! Cool off with the amazing summer merchandise at our local Baldwin Park businesses or stop in one of our many restaurants for a cool drink. You can find a list of all the great Baldwin Park businesses on the Baldwin Park Network. Just scroll down and click on the criteria you are looking for.

NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT

n During COVID, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer passed an executive order allowing temporary signs. This has since expired. The COA will start enforcing the sign guidelines again. Please note that in the Neighborhood Business District A-frame, banners and bandit signs are not allowed. Any temporary sign must be hung in the proper fashion according to the guidelines. They must be hung on the inside of the window/door and for no more than 30 days. Any signs up longer than 30 days are considered permanent signs and must be approved by the ARC Committee. Please get in touch with Bill Patterson if you have any questions.

GENERAL UPDATES

n Commercial owners, tenants and managers can submit work requests through our new Baldwin Park Solutions system. It is located on the Baldwin Park Network. Simply click “Resident Home” at the top right, and you will find the link in the middle of the page. If you do not have a Baldwin Park Network account, you can request one from that page as well. Visit baldwinparknetwork.com to start.

n The parking lot dumpsters are not meant for large items. This can break or clog the city’s dumpsters and cause further issues. If you have any bulk items, the city of Orlando offers bulk pick-up — in most cases, free of charge! This can be used for most items that cannot fit in the commercial dumpster. Visit orlando.gov/ Trash-Recycling for more information and to schedule future pick-ups.

n Architectural Review Committee meetings take place twice a month — on the second and fourth Tuesdays — for application reviews regarding commercial changes to exterior structures (roofing replacements and painting), landscaping and signage. All corresponding applications can be located on the Baldwin Park Network under Commercial Owners Association and Commercial Architectural Review Committee. For questions and application submission please feel free to email Bill at BPatterson@ BaldwinParkPOA.com.

n The conversion of the parking light to LED continues throughout the year. LED lights are much more efficient and brighter than the old bulbs.

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