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Lake Lily Park a Hidden Little Gem in Maitland
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A little gem of a recreational retreat lies hidden within the quiet city streets of Maitland. Lake Lily Park offers an approximately half-mile loop for walkers and runners as well as a mini historical tour of Maitland's origins. The park is located at the intersection of Maitland Avenue and U.S. Highway 17/92 (Orlando Ave.) and two blocks away from the Maitland Municipal Complex on Independence Lane, connected by a bicycle path.
The park is not for cyclists or rollerbladers but a bike path passes through it, beginning at the Maitland Municipal Complex and continuing through to Lake Avenue a quarter mile away. It continues east on Lake Ave. toward Eatonville, and from that point on is designated only by a white line on the side of the road. It is the beginning of a much longer bicycle trail through Maitland slated for completion in the distant future.
Lake Lily encompasses approximately five acres and includes a wedding gazebo and boardwalk, and the Park features a large playground for children, several covered picnic areas, clean restrooms and the Waterhouse Residence and Carpentry Museum. Benches and picnic tables abound, and a large lighted water fountain provides the centerpiece of the lake, which is buttressed by dozens of cypress trees, thousands of lily pads, gangs of turtles, ducks, frogs, egrets and birds of all types.
This is a great stop for those looking for a quick run, a walk, a stroll with the children out for lunch and a little playtime, or a tour of the Museum ($3). Take a walk on the bike path toward the Maitland Municipal Complex and there are several restaurants along the way, as well as salons, shops and other stores in a small shopping center on 17/92. It is not an area to take a long walk or make a day of of it but it's a convenient and peaceful stop within the city limits for those with just a couple hours to spare.
The brick road around the southern part of the park was once known as Lake Lily Drive, linked to Maitland Ave. It continued south on what is now 17/92 and the road was used by the U.S. Army during the Second Seminole War as a stopover for the troops, with an army fort situated along the west side of Lake Lily. Lake Lily Drive was once a part of the Dixie Highway, which opened in 1925, leading from Michigan to Miami. The bricks were covered by asphalt in the 1980s but the Maitland Historical Society, the City of Maitland and the Florida Department of State restored the original brick path in 1998.
The park is host to a weekly farmer's market, numerous festivals, charity walks, outdoor movies and other events throughout the year, and a frequent destination for weddings, photo shoots and group activities. A large indoor conference center sits at the eastern side of the park and there is ample parking at the entrance off Maitland Ave. Look to several signs along the walkway for brief histories of the park, the museum, Lake Lily Drive and the nearby railroad and Black Bear Trail.
For more information about Maitland and upcoming events, visit the Maitland Chamber of Commerce Web site or stop by the park.
See also: BobDeakin.com
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