Baldwin Park Living October 2023 by Orange Observer

BALDWIN PARK

LIVING OCTOBER 2023

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2023

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2023 395563-1

Kimberley R. Gernert Real state Specialist Baldwin Park Resident

(423) 381-5701

KimberleyRG@kw.com

Top Baldwin Park Realtor since 2016 Keller Williams #1 Individual Agent 2016, 2019-20

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I have been working with Kimberley through the years on various real estate transactions within Baldwin Baldwin Park's top Expesayrtenough aboutOne Park I cannot herof professionalism, BaldwinPark. 2015 since realtor patience and determination to find mesthe right home for nt reside aldwin Park to purchase. She always has a positive attitude, a ver 15 years op Produc d inbeyond Rankeand big smile on her face and went above to er 2015 since produc ine Since anked topshow Magaz aser many homes as necessary to make sure 2015 I was absolutely satisfied with the home I selected. When I decided to put my home on the market to sell, I could not think of a better agent to list my home than Kimberley. She worked tirelessly creating 1st class brochures, arranging a professional photographer, and would personally show my home every time a request came in. No matter what time of day or night, I could count on Kimberley to answer her phone or call me back with answers in a short time period. If you are looking for an agent that is knowledgeable, motivated, professional and gets the job done, then I highly recommend Kimberley Gernert as your agent.

SOLD

SOLD Jim S.

Top Realtor in Baldwin Park since 2015

Meeting Place 18782019 Lane winHOT 25 Lake Bald Orlando 100 Realtors since Baldwin Park Resident for over 183 years bedroom 2.5 bath 3 bedroom 2 bath Room Bonus Ranked in Top Producer Magazine since 2015 Lovely Courtyard with Pool ard Courty Great Garage Keller Williams Winter Park Luxury Division Member Car 2

AVAILABLE! Member of Keller Williams Winter Park Luxury Division; Gold Key Certified Orlando 5 Star Professional Realtor by Orlando Style Magazine 2017, 2018 & 2019

3929 Corrine Drive 4 bedrooms | 3.5 bath Master bedroom downstairs |Bonus room Open floor plan |Double porches

SOLD 2633 Meeting Place 4 bed 4.2 baths Salt water Pool Full Outdoor Kitchen 2 Large SideYards

Gold Key Certified Orlando 5 Star Professional Realtor by earted, then I dgeable, experienced, professional, savvy and kind-hthe knowle r who issince Realto g for aStyle lookin are you "If Orlando Magazine 2017 market to te naviga ically strateg us end Kimberley Gernert. She helped

strongly and unequivocally recomm atured wit alleviated stress every step of ind a home for our lifestyle. Her professionalism, enthusiasm and good-n the month. It was certainly smooth sailing the way. Then, she turned around and sold our current home within genuinely cares about clients and their who ne and so nice knowing we were in such good hands with someo families." NEW LISTING! Kimberley R. Gernert KMP of Winter Park / Baldwin Park, FL

(423) 381-5701

3 bedroom | 2.5 bath Sits on a mew, excellent location!

Kimberleyrg@kw.com

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423–381–5701 KimberleyRG@kw.com Kimberley Reed Gernert Real Estate

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BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2023

CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS OCTOBER 2023

PUPPY LOVE

8 BALDWIN PARK NOTEBOOK Read about recent decisions made by community leaders. 12 WE ARE BALDWIN PARK It’s finally fall, y’all! Time to reflect on your warm fuzzies!

PET PROJECT A Baldwin Park couple offers dogtraining services.

16 MASTER PLAN Learn about the planning process behind Baldwin Park. 18 COMMUNITY CALENDAR Fill your calendar with plenty of community fun. 19 OKTOBERFEST Tactical Brewing Company celebrates Oktoberfest. 21 BEAUTIFUL BALDWIN October is chock full of fun, family events in Baldwin!

Winter Wonderland EXTRAVAGANZA

Saturday, December 2nd

4:00pm - 8:00pm

New Broad Street in the Village Center LIVE PERFORMANCES COMMUNITY PARADE TREE LIGHTING PHOTOS WITH SANTA FOOD TRUCKS KIDS ACTIVITIES PHOTO OPS STILT WALKERS / FACE PAINTERS 6

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2023

Brought to you by: Joint Committee

BALDWIN PARK

LIVING OCTOBER 2023

Editor and Publisher — Michael Eng, meng@orangeobserver.com

EDITORIAL Design Editor — Jessica Eng, jeng@orangeobserver.com News Editor — Annabelle Sikes, asikes@orangeobserver.com Contributors — Brie Bernstel and Will Campbell

ADVERTISING

Sales Manager — Cyndi Gustafson, cgustafson@orangeobserver.com

PRODUCTION Graphic Designer — Andrea Rukstalis, arukstalis@orangeobserver.com

CONTACT 408425-1

To submit story ideas, calendar listings or have your event considered for coverage, contact Annabelle Sikes at asikes@orangeobserver.com. For advertising inquiries, call (407) 656-2121. Baldwin Park Living is a monthly publication of the Observer Media Group published in partnership with the Baldwin Park Joint Committee Inc.

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BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2023

Baldwin Park notebook ROA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING BY STACEY FRYREAR

The following information is a glimpse of the ROA’s general updates for the month. A copy of the official Aug. 22, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes can be obtained on the Community Network, BaldwinParkNetwork.com. The board accepted and/or approved the following items/work: n Acceptance of the 2024 Reserve Study Update for Common Division 1 and Recreational Division 2. n Amendment to Exhibit C 3(d) of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for Baldwin Park Residential Properties — storage of trash cans as noticed and mailed to the members of the Association. n Remaining contract renewals as presented for fiscal year 2024. n Spending up to $4,000 of the $8,000 sponsorship monies from Hotwire for a kickoff event once a date is determined. n Replacement sign panels for Parks/Mews.

UPDATES

COMPLETED ACTIONS 1. August carpet cleaning at Enders and Grace Hopper. 2. Quarterly preventative maintenance inspections performed for fitness equipment at Enders and Grace Hopper fitness centers. 3. Painting all trim and doors in Grace Hopper Hall. 4. Touch-up paint on foyer doors at Grace Hopper Hall completed by SMI Maintenance (Sentry Management, Inc.)

5. Replace light in Grace Hopper Hall internal stairwell completed by SMI Maintenance. 6. Repaint inside Grace Hopper pool men’s bathroom door completed by SMI Maintenance. 7. Clean mildew on Grace Hopper sidewalks completed by SMI Maintenance. 8. Replaced vacuum gauge at Grace Hopper main pool and kiddie pool per inspector. 9. Replaced vacuum gauge at Enders main pool per inspector. 10. Clean mildew on Enders Park sidewalks completed by SMI Maintenance. 11. Chlorinator cap at Enders pool and the kiddie pool motor band were replaced. 12. Plant removal and install around pool pump equipment at Enders facility center. 13. High reach light/ballast replacements at Enders fitness center. 14. An inside pool light at High Park that was coming out of the wall as re-affixed. 15. SMI Maintenance painted the men’s restroom at High Park. 16. SMI Maintenance repaired a leaking sink in the handicap stall at High Park men’s pool restroom. 17. Screen repairs at Enders facility center completed by SMI Maintenance. 18. Roof decking repair on women’s pool bath overhang and shingle missing over fitness center. Met with MGC Roofing, and in the company’s opinion, this is an overhang area and can wait for the roof replacement in 2024/2025. 19. Dead wood removal from the Union Park oak tree that was denied for replacement by the City’s Permit Department and Urban Forester. 20. Replacement sign panels (10 — no parking or driving on grass) were ordered. 21. 2024 Reserve Study Updates in August Board packet.

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2023

PENDING ACTIONS 1. Modernization of elevator at Grace Hopper approved in February. Time blocked in October/November for modernization. 2. Replacing all shutters at Grace Hopper Hall. 3. Grace Hopper Sprinkler System backflow device repairs. Scheduled for Sept. 6, 2023. 4. Replace ballast and light in supervisor’s office at Grace Hopper. 5. Replace ballast in Grace Hopper Hall men’s first-floor bathroom to be completed by SMI Maintenance. 6. Plant replacements/fill-ins at Grace Hopper frontage. 7. Replace shower tile at High Park pool. Scheduled to go to ARC for approval Aug. 24, 2023. Scheduled with DRS for Aug. 28-30. 8. SMI Maintenance will paint inside High Park women’s restroom walls. 9. Painting of bike rack at High Park will be completed by SMI Maintenance. 10. Replacement weight bench for Enders fitness center. Contractor ordered. 11. Proposal to replace screen doors at Enders facility center. 12. Emergency light replacement in Enders fitness center. Parts ordered by contractor. 13. Replacement sign panels: emergency exit (HP playground and Enders pool), park rules (various parks) and dog waste panels (various parks). August 2023 packet. 14. Grinding of trip hazards at Upper Union and Union Park. These have been marked with paint. DRS to propose grinding. 15. Sidewalk inspections at all other Parks/Mews. Sidewalks will be marked with paint if trip hazards are found.

HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR OWNERS WILDLIFE IN STRUCTURES The tree-lined streets of Baldwin Park offer shady canopies for residents to enjoy the outdoors and provide homes for amazing animals like songbirds, squirrels and even bats. Bats provide great pest control. They are protected yearround from harm and cannot be evicted from buildings until after the end of the annual bat maternity season, between April 15 and Aug. 15. Now that the protected time has passed, you should evaluate your home for potential wildlife entry points and make necessary repairs. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission provided us with a comprehensive video addressing “How to Remove Bats from Buildings.” You can access it here: bit.ly/3PVPSJ3.

16. Union Park proposal for shade-tolerant plants in areas where sod can’t thrive because of roots/shade. 17. Proposals for Poured in Play Tot Turf Enders and Union Park playgrounds including root pruning. Have proposals for Poured in Play surface. Need proposal for root pruning before submitted to the board. 18. Fenwood Park proposal for St. Augustine repairs not related to weeds. 19. Bermuda replacement proposals for all parks not related to weeds. 20. Replacement plants for pots in City Homes No. 4 Mews. 21. SMI is looking into whether the filtration system at Grace Hopper pool needs to be replaced at this time. The current pool maintenance contractor advises it should to be done sooner than later. It creates a dangerous work environment for the pool tech, because the pool equipment is difficult to service. The contractor believes there are many leaks in the system, and chemical usage is way above what it should be. The system is not due for replacement until 2026 per the Reserve Study Update. Because of the cost of the system, SMI will try to obtain three proposals to bring back to the board. 22. Proposals related to 2023 reserve expenditures per the 2023 Reserve Study Update: Asphalt overlay 1-inch Enders parking lot. A proposal will be obtained and brought to the Board.

HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR TOWNHOME OWNERS Mulching is completed once or twice a year based on the approved budgets. The mulch used is pine straw (pine needles). The following reasons are why the TSAC decided to use pine straw: n Pine straw breaks down quicker into the soil, thus helping the very high pH leaves in the soil.

TOWNHOME SERVICE AREA COMMITTEE MEETING BY MELISSA PARKER

The following information is a glimpse of the business the Townhome Service Area Committee addressed in the Aug. 17, 2023, meeting. A complete copy of the official minutes can be obtained on the Community Network,, BaldwinParkNetwork. com. n The TSAC discussed 20242025 townhome property insurance with Sihle’s Insurance agent. n The TSAC discussed the 2024 Budget Workshop.

n Pine straw does not attract termites as pine bark/pine nuggets can.

n The TSAC discussed the 2024 Reserve Study Update.

n Pine straw is considered an all-natural or “green” mulch.

n Please remember to report any landscape, building or irrigation issues on Baldwin Park Solutions. Reporting items on Baldwin Park Solutions allows residents to share photos of the reported area(s) and receive real-time updates from management staff on corrective measures being taken. Baldwin Park Solutions can be accessed on the Baldwin Park Network.

n Pine straw doesn’t float away as easily during rain storms because the needles become tangled together. When pine bark / pine nuggets float away, many times it lands in the sod and can damage the sod. n The groundcover beds have pine fines installed instead of pine straw to help enhance the overall growth of the groundcover beds.

UPDATES

n City Homes No. 1 will be the next service area to receive roof replacements. The project has been divided into two phases. Townhome buildings within City Homes No. 1 will

receive roof replacements and new gutters. There was a pre-construction meeting scheduled for Sept. 21, 2023. More information will be sent out to the service area once a schedule has been created. Townhome owners will receive notices on their front doors advising on a construction start date prior to the project beginning. n New sod that was installed in September has been treated with a fungicide. n BrightView has continued to make multiple irrigation repairs throughout the townhome service areas. As the property ages, trees get bigger — as do their roots. Any plants that have suffered from a lack of irrigation will be removed and replaced if they do not recover. n Per DRS Inc., here is the Townhome painting schedule for October 2023: Mattamy n Per DRS Inc., here is the Townhome maintenance schedule for October 2023: Live/Work, City Homes No. 2 and Issa 22 — Lake Baldwin Lane. Schedules will be projected one to two months out to anticipate any possible future changes or delays. Notices are still being left on townhome front doors one to two weeks in advance to inform residents of any upcoming projects beginning in their address range.

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2023

Baldwin Park notebook

Continued from page 9

BALDWIN PARK COMMERCIAL OWNERS ASSOCIATION INC. BY BILL PATTERSON October is the month of goblins, treats and football! The Village Center has you covered for all three — and more! Check out one of our restaurants for food and drinks during the games. Our shops have all the Halloween decorations you could want for your decorating. Do not forget to pick up some Trick-or-Treat candy!

THINGS TO KNOW

n Trash Talk. The dumpsters in the commercial lots are for use of commercial tenants and apartment residents only. Apartment residents are encouraged to throw their trash down the chute on the side. When the door is closed, it will compact. Commercial tenants are not to use the trash chute for discarding trash. Instead, they should go inside the enclosure and throw directly in the dumpster. Please do not leave trash bags in front of or around the dumpster; this attracts

bugs and rodents. If the dumpster is not working (or not there because of pick-up), please use one of the other parking lot dumpsters and contact the office so OUC can be notified to repair. n Bulk Pick-up. The dumpsters in the commercial lots are meant for trash bags and small items only. For all large items, please use OUC bulk pickup. Stuffing these items in the dumpster or leaving them causes multiple issues including dumpster break down and rodents. Visit orlando.gov/ Trash-Recycling for more information and to schedule future pick-ups. n Architectural Review Process. Any change to your building or landscaping must go through

the ARC Review process. There is a 30- to 60-day turnaround time, so please make sure you get them in early so you will have the review before the scheduled work. If the change is a like-forlike change, an application still must be submitted. All ARC documents can be submitted to Bill via email at BPatterson@ BaldwinParkCOA.com. n Covenant Inspections. Like the ROA, the COA also has covenant standards. The Community Association Manager conducts monthly inspections of the parking lots and building to ensure these standards are being kept. Any property not in compliance will get a violation notice. Covenant Committee Meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month as needed.

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n Commercial Parking Lots. There are nine commercial parking lots scattered in the Village Center. These lots are for Commercial Building employees, tenants and guests only. Commercial Buildings include apartments, office and retail. Anyone parked in these lots are subject to the COA rules and regulations. Please make sure your tags are up to date and your vehicle is parked properly.

Vehicles not following these rules or not approved to park will be tagged and towed if not corrected or removed. As a reminder, the Baldwin Harbor parking garages also have parking for commercial tenants and guests.

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2023

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#WEAREBALDWINPARK

Yes! It is finally fall! H

WILL CAMPBELL PRESIDENT BALDWIN PARK JOINT COMMITTEE

ello friends and neighbors, and welcome to what I consider, the start of fall! I know, I know: This is a divisive subject. Many say it’s September and that Labor Day is the start of fall, but my vote has always been for October, and I am sticking to it. In Orlando, October is also the month for LGBTQ+ Pride. While most other cities host Pride events in June, we are sensible and wait until it cools down a little bit for what has become Central Florida’s largest Pride event. Pride is an important time for many people in our community, myself included. It’s a time to look at the strides that have been made, while also realizing how much work there is still left to do. Thinking about Pride here in Orlando has made me reflect on how proud I am of so many things — especially within our little city within a city here in Baldwin Park. For starters, I am proud of my role here within the community, serving as president of the Joint Committee and as a director on the ROA. Both are volunteer positions, and sometimes, we feel as though we should be paid (ha ha), but it’s worth it to see how much Baldwin Park thrives because of what we are doing behind the scenes. We not only help make sure the neighborhood maintains its status as one of the prettiest in Orlando, but also we get to coordinate events, such as the upcoming Mini Monster Bash, that truly spark joy in the residents here. I am also proud Baldwin Park is lucky enough to be home to so many amazing small, indepen-

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2023

dent business … and, more important, that they are thriving! Although Baldwin Park may not be the perfect home for every business, those that do stay find themselves part of a community that supports each other. I may be a little biased, because I have become friends with many of the business owners, but I just have to say, we have some of the most amazing restaurants (looking at you Camille, Osprey and Seito) and most fabulous shops (eyes on Lafayette & Rushford, Apiary and Paper Goat Post) in the area — all along our main street. We even have some businesses that have expanded their footprint because they are doing so well here. A success for small business is a success for a community. All of that aside, on a personal note, I am most proud to be part of a community that consists of people from so many different walks of life who have come together to form a supportive, cohesive, diverse and accepting community that endlessly supports one another. As an openly gay man, it hasn’t always been easy to just “be myself” in public, but ever since moving to Baldwin — and especially since taking on more roles within the community — I have felt welcome and accepted. My husband and I have made friends with people in the neighborhood who we likely never would have met, let alone even considered the possibility of friendship with had we not met within the bubble. It’s easy to get caught up in being prideful about what material things we have, but I encourage you to look beyond that and see what else makes you proud.

I am proud of the home I’ve built in this amazing neighborhood with my husband. I am proud to be living life on our terms, despite what others may think. I am proud to have friends who are doing the same, and who are proud to be who they are, no matter where they came from or what their history may be. I am proud to be part of a community — this wild tapestry of different people/places/things — that somehow comes together to create a beautiful, diverse, inclusive, safe and welcoming space for all. We should all take some pride in that last one, because it wouldn’t be possible without each of you — the people of Baldwin Park. Now it’s your turn: What are you proud of, aside from the stuff you have? Grab a cup of coffee, glass of wine or the beverage of your choice and take a few minutes to reflect on that. Hopefully, you get some of the same warm, fuzzies I do! Until next time, stay safe, stay well and remember, We are Baldwin Park!

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Pawsitive reinforcement

Baldwin Park residents Michael and Arissa Coyle are helping locals train their dogs using their experience with their own puppy, Cooper. ANNABELLE SIKES NEWS EDITOR

aldwin Park’s Michael and Arissa Coyle are using their passion project to help bring families and their furry friends closer together. What began as a hobby for the Coyles when they first started training their puppy, Cooper, has turned into much more. The pair has operated a private, local dog training business in the area for about a year and is looking to expand to help improve the lives of even more members in the community. “What I have heard is that some of the training Michael has done has changed the family dynamic in the household,” Arissa Coyle says. “That safety concern of if the dog were to run off or disobey isn’t there, so the owners aren’t worried and nervous to bring their dog out with other dogs or walk the dog off-leash. It’s a huge wave of relief when you feel like your dog is responsible and can be an active member of the little dog community. We felt that with our own pup, and in talking to our neighbors, we knew it was a skill we could help supply to others, as well.”

PASSION PROJECT

Michael Coyle’s love for dogs started at a young age. “I’ve had dogs around me my whole life,” he says. “I trained dogs when I was a kid. I mean, I started learning how to do this when I was 10. I trained my own dog and

Courtesy of Leah Paola Photography

Michael and Arissa Coyle said their toy-sized Australian shepherd and Alaskan klee kai mix puppy Cooper is the perfect fit for their family.

dogs in our neighborhood. The dogs that I trained when I was younger eventually passed away, and that was obviously really hard on me, so I stepped away from

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2023

dogs for a little bit.” Arissa Coyle also found it difficult to recover after experiencing the loss of her childhood dog. A 3-month-old, toy-sized Aus-

tralian shepherd and Alaskan klee kai mix changed their minds. Cooper is the perfect fit for the Coyle family. “We had family dogs growing up, and with that bond came fond memories, so owning a dog as an adult was something we desired,” Arissa Coyle says. “Living in Baldwin Park only sparked more interest in owning a dog, because the neighborhood is filled with pets.” After adding Cooper to the family about 18 months ago, the Coyles met other dog owners, and shared pet advice and stories. Those relationships sparked the idea for the private dog training business. “We would consistently hear that training is expensive, and they felt they didn’t always get what they wanted out of the training,” Arissa Coyle says. “Along with that fact that training wasn’t personable enough. We then researched trainers and actually took part in some, but it was an exhausting search and thousands of dollars, so we decided it may be best that we devote the time to it ourselves.” For the next six months, the Coyles dedicated themselves to training their 4-month-old pup. “We learned to allow her to be a dog — but with the restraints that we want for her safety out in the world,” Arissa Coyle says. Michael Coyle typically does not train dogs until they are at least 6 months old, because they are receiving a lot of shots that can make them more susceptible to diseases from other dogs in interaction. However, Cooper is a trainable breed and was responding well. “I have to get a feel for the dog first to see if it’s willing to listen, because I can always charge someone for the session, but it doesn’t give me any joy if I’m not able to actually make any progress,” Michael Coyle says. “There’s no point in me doing that to somebody when the dog is too young to even understand the skills.” Cooper is now completely offleash trained and listens to all commands.

Her training has decreased to about two to three times a week, and she recently mastered knowing to stop and sit down when she approaches a roadway.

TECHNICAL TRAINING

By walking around the neighborhood, the Coyles have built a rapport with the community, and Cooper always receives compliments. “Because she represented what we taught her, we had neighbors reach out asking to train their pups,” Arissa Coyle says. “So far, we have been working diligently with some local dogs and have seen great improvement over the past year and a half. We want to continue building rapport in the community and help strengthen dog and owner relationships.” The Coyles are open to any breed, size and age of dog — as long as the owner is fully committed to the dog training, which Michael Coyle refers to as “family training.” Building connection between the pup and the owner is one of

GET CONNECTED

Email: lifeofcooperblue@ gmail.com Phone: (904) 226-2568

the most important parts of the personalized training. Michael Coyle can tell whether the dog has been working on a skill or not. “The nice thing about private dog training is it can be flexible,” he says. “You like to build a semi-cadence to the schedule, so the dog can get used to me. But most of it is working with the owner and the dog together. What I’ve learned in training so many dogs is I can do some of it and the dog will eventually learn to listen to me, but I’m not at home, so I’m not there to enforce it. That’s why it’s so important to have that connection to family training of dogs, not just me training the dogs.” Training schedules depend on individual needs for both dog and owner. “Throughout this process, we realized there is a gap in training options that can be personalized to the owner and the dog’s needs,”

Arissa Coyle says. “Also, not every dog can learn the same way and not every owner can develop the same relationship. There has to be options and flexibility in the training.” Michael Coyle suggests twice a week training for the first week. The training can progress to as much as three times a week and as little as once a week — or even once every two weeks if the owner is busy but is practicing at home. The training benefits the dogs just as much as the owners. “They get so much more joy on their walks when they can kind of just mosey around, sniff everything they want to and there’s no stress with the owner because the dog isn’t ferociously pulling down the sidewalk on the leash,” Michael Coyle says.

PUPPY LOVE

Arissa Coyle, 30, is originally from Ocala, while Michael, 32, hails from Jacksonville. The couple was set up on a blind date by mutual friends. About two years after meet-

ing on Dec. 23, 2016, they were married. The private dog-training business is another passion they now share together. The progress they have seen in Cooper has been the most rewarding part of the journey. “I get such peace with having her as part of our family,” Michael Coyle says. “I also enjoy seeing how happy the dogs and the owners that I’ve worked with are and the progress they make. “It eventually turns into something that you just naturally incorporate into your everyday life,” he says. “That’s how spending time with pets should be. Not a chore but something you love and enjoy.” Arissa Coyle works in financial operations for a technology company, while Michael Coyle is a physician’s assistant at an intensive care unit. The couple would love for the business to grow into a full-time gig, but it isn’t the goal. It’s simply just something they enjoy doing.

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BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2023

Baldwin Park is a stunning, successful example of new urbanism.

ost of us who live and work in Baldwin Park have come to know it as a special place to eat, shop, work, raise families and interact with neighbors. But what exactly sets Baldwin Park apart from the typical developer-driven housing project?

MIMI SIMMONS

WELCOME TO A NEW, I MEAN OLD, WORLD

When the previous U.S. Navy base was decommissioned at the end of the 20th century, leaders of Orlando were given an unusual opportunity to create something of significant scale within proximity to its burgeoning downtown. Rather than repeating the all too frequent closed-off “gated community” or “spaghetti-bowl

NEW URBANISM 101

According to The Congress for The New Urbanism, a group of multi-disciplinary professionals involved in the built environment, new urbanism is a “planning and development approach based on the principles of how cities and towns had been built for the last several centuries.” These principles include walkable blocks and streets, housing and shopping in close proximity, and accessible public spaces.

FLORIDA IN THE FOREFRONT In the early 2000s, the first few waves of this type of development had been implemented mostly to great acclaim. Earlier Florida-based projects include Seaside, located on the Gulf Coast, and Celebration, near Disney. Baldwin Park drew on this successful lineage.

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321-252-8722

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2023

OFF THE DRAWING BOARDS

Now almost 20 years old, Baldwin Park is no longer just a bright idea but an actual functioning place. Yet we often aren’t conscious of the concepts that make it work. Walkable communities. Planners of Baldwin Park wanted to ensure residents have an opportunity to walk to shopping, school and places of work. Most homes are located within a 10-minute radius of Baldwin Park’s town center including restaurants, shops, Publix and a plaza facing the lakefront of Lake Baldwin. When was the last time you walked to dinner on New Broad Street, to buy groceries, work out, have coffee, or to attend an event like the monthly Saturday morning Baldwin Park Community Market? Accessibility to nature and open space. Planners made sure to incorporate a variety of common open spaces within the community. Every section of housing includes a muse, crescent, water feature and/or neighborhood-scaled park, some with additional amenities

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By design

suburban cul-de-sac” formats, designers turned to a relatively recent movement at the time called new urbanism (aka new town planning), which embraces the timeless accomplishments of historic town planning.

Courtesy photo

such as gyms, meeting spaces and swimming pools. Fitness paths connect Lake Baldwin with Lake Susannah, downtown Baldwin with Lake Baldwin Park’s dog park and the baseball fields of Blue Jacket Park. Pedestrian-oriented design. Baldwin Park’s streets are narrower than typical city streets. In addition, prolific sidewalks and trails, traffic calming devices such as median planters, and physical barriers between auto traffic and pedestrian areas create a feeling of comfort and safety to encourage more walking. Human-scale design. In most of Baldwin Park,

garages face back alleys rather than dominating street side elevations like many typical developments. This minimizes auto traffic intersections with sidewalks and promotes even more use of sidewalks. At the same time, this opens up front façades to incorporate porches — quasi-public, quasi-private space, where neighbors can interface with passing pedestrians. Variety of housing types. Rather than a monoculture of three- and four-bedroom homes of the same square footage, Baldwin Park boasts a variety of single-family home sizes

ranging from custom homes along New Broad Street and Meeting Place to smaller cottages. We also see townhomes, apartment buildings and live/ work spaces. This housing assortment serves a diversity of lifestyles allowing residents to stay in place as they move through various life stages. Regional connections. Roads that used to terminate at the formerly secure edge of the old Navy base have been reconnected to create a seamless interface between adjacent neighborhoods of Orlando and Winter Park. For instance, Lakemont used to be

a dead end at Lake Baldwin Park. It now continues. This not only prevents traffic jams at limited vehicular entrances and exits but also blurs the boundary between where Baldwin Park begins and ends. Sustainable Design. As demographics and technologies shift in economies, the time-tested town planning principles of New Urbanism safeguard the utility and longevity of our community translating into sustained property values, sought-after storefronts and meaningful measures of a sense of place where we feel at home.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mimi Simmons is an architect who served as a former member and chair of Baldwin Park’s Architecture Review Committee. She currently works with Baldwin Park homeowners to elevate elements of property exteriors through her company, Mimi Simmons Designs.

Trunk or Treat Sunday, October 29 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

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BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2023

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Community Calendar SAVE THE DATE

WINTER WONDERLAND EXTRAVAGANZA This year’s Winter Wonderland Extravaganza will take place from 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, right on New Broad Street! The Winter Wonderland Extravaganza will feature a tree lighting ceremony, parade, food vendors, live music, photos with Santa and tons of fun. The parade will begin between 6:45 and 7 p.m. If you are interested in joining the parade or in sponsorship opportunities, please email Adam at Adam@TimWebberEvents.com. LIGHT UP BALDWIN PARK Decorate your home, patio or porch and enter in any of the categories listed below to win a gift basket full of spa gift cards, wine, goodies from local shops and $100 gift card to your favorite Baldwin Park restaurant! The categories will be Sugar Plum — Apartments; Winter Wonderland — Businesses; Holiday Cheermeister — Most Creative; and Traditional Tidings — Classic Christmas. Find more information on the Baldwin Park Network.

FRIDAY, OCT. 6

FIRST FRIDAY STROLL 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on New Broad Street. Enjoy shopping, live music and even to snag some dinner. Find the full vendor list by searching “BP Community Market Day” on Facebook.

MONDAY, OCT. 9

BLAST FROM THE PAST DANCE CLASS 6-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9, at Enders Park Gathering Room. This energizing, fun dance class blends all forms of easy-to-follow dances with your favorite songs from the past. All dance levels are welcome, and take a friend or neighbor with you. Take water and a towel. The cost is $5, and the class will be held every other Monday until the end of the year. For more information, email dance instructor Page at pperrigan26@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, OCT. 12

ROA ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE Meets at 6:30 p.m. twice monthly on Thursdays, Sept. 14 and 28, virtually. Because of the high volume of ARC applications, the number of applications accepted is being capped at 25 per meeting. Once this number is reached, subsequent applications will be held for the next scheduled meeting. More information can be found in your weekly newsletter.

FRIDAY, OCT. 13

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS DAY If you visit the association office, wear pink to support breast cancer awareness.

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2023

MONDAY, OCT. 16

ROA COVENANTS HEARING 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, virtually. More information can be found on the Baldwin Park Network or by emailing Erin at covenants@ baldwinparkpoa.com.

MONDAY, OCT. 16

MOVIE NIGHT IN THE PARK 7:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at Corrine Commons in front of Grace Hopper Hall. We are thrilled to bring back Movie Night in the Park during the cooler months of the year. The first movie that be shown is “Hocus Pocus”. ICE NY will be serving delicious treats before and during the movie. Please take your own blanket or chair. We also ask everyone is respectful of others during the movie and refrain from walking in front of the movie screen. More information, including weather updates, can be found on the Baldwin Park Network along with your weekly newsletter.

TUESDAY, OCT. 17

BABY AND ME YOGA 11 a.m. Tuesdays at Enders Park Gathering Room. Lisa Schreiber, a Baldwin Park resident, mom of two boys and yoga teacher, leads this six-week session. Join other new moms in a safe space for gentle movement for both you and your newborn/infant, as well as connection and conversation. Starts Oct. 17 and runs through Nov. 21. For more information and to register, email Lisa at lisafineman@yahoo.com.

THURSDAY, OCT. 19

TOWNHOME SERVICE AREA COMMITTEE Meets at 6:30 p.m. virtually. All information for the meeting can also be found on the Baldwin Park Network, along with the link to join the meeting.

THURSDAY, OCT. 26

SATURDAY, OCT. 28

MINI MONSTER BASH 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at Corrine Commons Park across from Grace Hopper Hall. Hosted by the Baldwin Park Residential Owners Association, this event will feature plenty to fall family fun, including a pumpkin patch, stilt-walkers, caricature artists, photo ops, DJ, dancing, candy, games and more. More information can be found on the Baldwin Park Network.

TUESDAY, OCT. 31

TRICK-OR-TREATING Celebrate Halloween by trick-ortreating in Baldwin Park — one of the best trick-or-treating communities in the nation.

Locals participated in Masskrugstemmen, a Bavarian feat of strength where contestants hold a one-liter bier stein with one arm, out in front of them and parallel to the floor, for as long as they can. A polka band played lively tunes for the packed brewery.

2023 OKTOBERFEST AT TACTICAL BREWING COMPANY

Left: Kris Holland, co-owner at Tactical Brewing Company, helped lead the festivities.

Tactical Brewing Company hosted its annual Oktoberfest Saturday, Sept. 9, in the heart of downtown Baldwin Park. The event included special can releases, brats and beer cheese from Cholo Dogs, ice cream from Chill in Tacos Ice Cream Taqueria, a live polka band, and bier games for prizes. Attendees who wore lederhosens got their first Festbier free.

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BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2023

#BEAUTIFULBALDWINPARK

The perfect October in Baldwin Park! O

BRIE BERNSTEL MULTIMEDIA & COMMUNITY COORDINATOR

ctober is the kickoff to festive fun around Baldwin Park, and this may be the busiest and most exciting year yet! The weather starts to cool down, the seasonal drinks start flowing, and everyone remembers why they chose to live in Florida. The fall season kicks off with the first Movie Night in the Park, and in the spirit of Halloween, the first movie has to be “Hocus Pocus”! Join your neighbors at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at Corrine Commons to watch this cult classic. We are delighted to welcome Baldwin Park local business ICE

NY, which will be selling their tasty ice pops, brownies, cookies and more. Mark your calendars and check your resident weekly eblast for more details. Can’t make the movie? Don’t worry! You can still attend the Mini Monster Bash that takes place every year at Corrine Commons. Join your neighbors and their guests from 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 28. This community favorite event features stilt-walkers, balloon artists, a pumpkin patch and tons of activities for kids of all ages. Don’t forget a bag for candy — there will be a lot of it!

If you are a business interested in sponsorship opportunities, email Adam Bailey at Adam@TimWebberEvents.com for more details. Did you know Baldwin Park is ranked nationally for trick-ortreating? It’s true! A poll taken by HomeUnion Research showed Baldwin Park ranked in the top 20 in places to trick-or-treat in the entire country. Bring the little ones around the community or sit on one of the many patios around New Broad Street to see all of the creative, scary and adorable costumes that take over the streets on Halloween night. If you are trick-or-treating, don’t forget to hit up the local businesses for candy, too. They are dying to see you! If you are not able to walk the neighborhood, take a drive around any night to also see all of the resident’s spooky decorations.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Heather Booth Sentry Management, your on-site management team for the Baldwin Park Residential Owner’s Association Inc., Commercial Owner’s Association Inc., Joint Committee Inc. and the agent for the Urban Orlando Community Development District, is made up of an experienced group of licensed community association managers and individuals. Our team talks with homeowners, meets with board members, supervises contractors and maintenance personnel and provides leadership to the association’s Board of Directors. The staff is cross-trained to accommodate peaks and valleys in the workload, and encourages you to take the time to visit the offices at 1913 Meeting Place to meet the team! At Sentry, people are the difference. We are thrilled to welcome Heather Booth to the Sentry Management team. Heather was

hired for the receptionist position in August. She enjoys engaging with people and has a background in customer service that includes hospice home health, Seminole County Public Schools and Publix Supermarkets. Heather hails from Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Roll Tide!), but has lived in Florida for 20 years. She and her husband have been together for 20 years, and they have a 17-year-old daughter, Olivia, who recently graduated from high school. Heather owns a small pet sitting business and in September she adopted a 3-year-old dog she named Brie, who was trained through the prison system. Please stop by Grace Hopper Hall during business hours and introduce yourself to Heather. She is eager to get to know the residents of Baldwin Park, as well as their pups!

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2023

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