The City of Ocoee, Florida, retained GAI’s Community Solutions Group to revise a previous master plan for the development of a new Wellness Park around the site of two existing stormwater retention ponds owned by the City and FDOT. Located one block from HealthCentral Hospital and in proximity to several medical offices and clinics, the 5-acre Wellness Park includes a half-mile, 10-ft-wide walking path circling a landscaped pond that utilizes Low Impact Design (LID) techniques and stormwater planters. The park also features gathering areas for health-related events, as well as four wellness stations placed at points around the park’s perimeter. Other amenities include boardwalks, scenic overlooks, and city gateway features.

Wellness Park was opened to the public in spring 2023; the park was developed simultaneously with the design and construction of the City’s Bluford Avenue corridor streetscape—which includes a 12-ft-wide multiuse trail that connects the park to downtown Ocoee. These efforts demonstrate the City of Ocoee’s commitment to improving walkability in the community and promoting health for residents. This retrofit of an existing conventional stormwater pond represents another aspect of GAI’s rapidly growing practice of environmental parks and open space. GAI is committed to integrated ‘One Water’ stormwater management approaches that provide improved environmental health while incorporating usable park amenities to enhance local quality of life and walkable access to nature.

Photo courtesy of City of Ocoee