The heart of Kissimmee, Fla., Lakefront Park is Ruby Plaza, which is connected by the wide brick promenade (Pine Hall Brick Co.) that runs along the shores of Lake Tohopekaliga. The specialty light columns (Hess "City Elements') have RGBW color changing 30-watt LEDs, with 70-watt T6 metal halides for the top light. Tall sabal palmettos, the state tree of Florida and South Carolina, are ubiquitous throughout the park.

The city of Kissimmee (pop. 59,682), just southeast of Orlando, is situated in central Florida on the northwest shore of Lake Tohopekaliga (Tohoe to locals). The name "Kissimmee" (kə-SIM-ee) is most likely derivative of a Jororo Indian word. The Spanish place missions close to Jororo villages, and as far back as 1752 called the area "Cacema."

At the park's northwest corner is a redesigned plaza where resides the 50-ft. tall "Monument of States," an inspiration of Dr. Charles Bressler-Pettis for the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Dedicated March 28, 1943, the monument had 1,500 stones (from each of the 48 states) collected by the doctor and his wife mortared into concrete slabs, plus stones inscribed by 44 governors. It's reported FDR sent a rock from Hyde Park. More stones were added over the years, including ones from Alaska, Hawaii and 21 countries. A concrete bald eagle and American flag top the pyramid, with "Tourist Paradise" sculpted beneath a concrete planet Earth. The monument was refurbished after 9/11. In-grade 70-watt ceramic metal halide adjustable uplights (B-K Lighting) illuminate the curious historic piece.

Kissimmee has been working diligently for many years to renew its downtown. One of the most critical assets and challenges it has faced is the access and use of the Lake Tohopekaliga waterfront, and the link between that waterfront and potential infill/redevelopment. Unsuccessful attempts to address these issues have included proposals to convey a significant portion of the waterfront parkland to private development, and allow that development to back up to the lake, effectively reducing public access in exchange for economic development and improvement to the remaining park lands. In 2005, Glatting Jackson, now AECOM, was commissioned to develop a master plan for the park that could reconcile public access to the waterfront, the need for community events and economic development on several unusually shaped parcels of land between a CSX rail line (a class-1 railroad company based in Jacksonville with about 21,000 route miles), utility sites and several streets. In addition, the community wanted a park that "felt like Kissimmee," something with historic references, sustainable design, relevant recreational and community activity opportunities and a friendly sense of scale. The master plan for Kissimmee's new Lakefront Park achieves all these goals. The new park reconfigures Lakeshore Boulevard and roadways to create a more functional public open space, while providing highly attractive and usable adjacent parcels for economic development.

The largest of the park's picnic shelters (Poligon Structures) is here at Ruby Plaza, set between Lakeview Drive and the lake. The shelters feature brick seat walls and column walls capped with concrete. The main shelter has a beautiful brick fireplace, mantle and hearth, the perfect spot for the city's "story readings by the fireplace." The fireplace is accessible from both sides of the shelter. Mounted on the shelter beams are 70-watt Elliptipar ceramic metal halide wash lights, which really dazzle at night. The fireplace is up lit with 15-watt Winscape Hensley LEDs (Winona Lighting), and down lit with 22-watt LED monochromatic accent lights (Hydrel, 4640 knuckle mount). The planting beds have purple Queen and Society garlic. The tree is an Allee elm (at left).

The result is a repositioned 25-acre community park on Lake Toho, new green streetscapes connecting the lake to downtown and about eight acres of new redevelopment property on the new Lakeview Drive, and proximate to a planned downtown SunRail commuter rail station.

This complex project began with the redesign of the streets and their network. The use of roundabouts, brick paving, street trees and narrow lane widths result in calming traffic around the park. This traffic calming helps pedestrians cross the street safely to and from the park. These streets are no longer barriers between downtown and the lake, but unifying elements where the community may gather and feel safe. Often the streets are closed for festivals throughout the year, such as the 4th of July, which brings tens of thousands of people to the park to watch one of the greatest firework shows in central Florida.

The Kissimmee Lakefront master plan illustrates the realignment of the streets to create a contiguous 25-acre park that interacts closely with Lake Tohopekaliga (Lake Toho). The previous park area was subdivided by streets and parking. Lakeshore Boulevard used to parallel the water's edge, thus cutting off pedestrian connections to the lake. Lakeshore Boulevard was removed and replaced by a 14-ft. wide pedestrian path. A large horseshoe shaped walk unifies the Civic Lawn and forms the large green space. Plazas, playgrounds, a splash pad, picnic shelters intimate gardens, a marina, storm water treatment basins and interpretive signage make this park a popular community amenity.

The street redesign also includes an integrated design of rain gardens and park-scale planted biodetention basins to filter stormwater from the street, adjacent park space, but also from the future redeveloped parcels that lie west of the park. This design also helps buffer the park from the street and create wildlife habitat.

Signage informs park users about the rain gardens and their benefits to the water quality of Lake Toho. Boardwalks traverse these basins, which are heavily planted with native grasses, perennials and trees. The lake edge has also been planted with native aquatic vegetation and trees and provides great nesting habitat for migratory birds.

AECOM developed two distinct play areas fitting the play needs of younger and older children. The play structures are from Landscape Structures and Kompan. Play surfacing includes artificial turf (Forever Lawn), poured-in-place rubber (DuraPlay Surfaces) and engineered wood fiber (Wood Carpet). AERIS 150-watt metal halide wide floodlights (Lithonia Lighting) are mounted to the shade canopy (Shade America) columns. Most of the lights are directed to reflect off the shades, reducing the amount of direct light into the children's eyes, creating a pleasant glow and ensuring safe play at night. A large grass mound, a large picnic shelter with restrooms, biodetention areas for stormwater treatment and a large flexible "Civic Lawn" are adjacent. The existing live oaks were preserved, and provide ample shade

Park Lighting
If you've been to central Florida, you know that during the summer the air is still balmy long after sunset, which makes the park a popular destination during the evening hours. As such, park lighting plays an important role. Many different active areas in the park are lit. Children can use two playgrounds and a splash park, while their parents can sit comfortably on caf????(R)???(C) chairs and watch them play.

Couples can stroll along the waterfront promenade, and view the preserved miniature lighthouse, a beacon at the terminus of one of two breakwater parks. Parties can reserve a picnic shelter and gather to celebrate a special occasion. Each shelter includes lighting, ceiling fans, trash receptacles and a large grill to cook food with friends under the stars. After dark, many families enjoy the city's "story readings by the fireplace," and "movies in the park."

The historic Berlinsky Community House has been preserved and restored to host weddings and special functions. These functions allow guests to spill outside and enjoy a large patio space on the east side of the venue, or on the Wedding Lawn on the west side. The patio and Wedding lawn include specialty lighting to highlights trees and garden architecture.

The performance stage and fishing pier at the lake edge are also areas that experience activity after the sun goes down. The lighting throughout the park serves a functional need that stretches out the usable hours of the park, but also highlights interesting focal elements in the night landscape. Specialty lighting is used to create different moods throughout the 25 acres.

Whether its tree uplighting or DMX controlled LED color-changing light columns, different programmed areas in the park come to life at night through specialty lighting.

The new park strengthens the relationship of Lake Toho to the downtown, and provides a variety of community engagement opportunities. The northern half of the park is designed to reinforce the garden-like character of the park, respond to a significant live oak canopy and several important civic monuments and community buildings.

The placement of the low concrete walls and steps in the plaza recall the orientation of the former Lake Tohopekaliga shipping docks. This location was a transportation hub for central Florida, and a jumping off point to the Everglades. Steamships passed through carrying goods, cattle and ferrying people. Bega 18-watt compact fluorescent recessed wall lights make the steps safe to navigate at night. Two large live oaks and a large picnic shelter are across the way.

The southern half accommodates large community events, including an enhanced marina/restaurant complex, which will become the focus of the fishing tournaments that Kissimmee is known for. The center of the park is Ruby Plaza and the pier, market pavilions and waterfront steps. Rain gardens, native plantings, rebuilt seawall and educational signage make the park a demonstration of green design principles. The waterfront promenade, walking trails, playgrounds, pavilions, splash park and events areas insure the park is meaningful to all members of the community, whether for large events, daily play or breezy afternoons on the lakefront.

This master plan is the answer to a prior time in which this land was slated for private development. The local community rose up and challenged the idea of privatization, and their voices were heard. Today, the effort continues to create a publicly accessible and friendly northern edge to Lake Toho. This park project, following the master plan, is still growing. It will be complete at the end of the year. Meanwhile, the city is pursuing redevelopment opportunities adjacent to the park consistent with the larger plan vision.

The old pier was dilapidated and closed to public access. The new pier, called "Ruby," was rebuilt with a gangway that leads to a floating dock for direct lake access for small boats. Park visitors now have the opportunity to be over the water and in the shade. The pier, like the promenade, is lit by the color changing 30-watt LEDs, with 70-watt metal halides for the top specialty light columns. The picnic pavilion has beam-mounted Elliptipar ceramic 70-watt metal halide wash lights. The pier has stainless steel cable railings for safety.

Project Team
Owner: City of Kissimmee, Dan Loubier, Director, Kissimmee Parks, Recreation & Public Facilities Consultant Team: AECOM, Master Planning, Landscape Architecture, Wayfinding & Signage.
Kimley Horn & Associates
Civil Engineering & Site Structural Engineering
Boruff Architects, Architecture; Computerized Design Services: Irrigation Design ; Delta Fountains: Water Feature Engineering; Electrical Design Associates: Electrical Engineering; Horton Lees Brogden: Lighting Designer; Milan Engineering: MEP; ONM&J: Structural Engineering
Construction Team
Burkhardt Construction: Construction Manager/General Contractor
Landreth: Lighting Rep
Terry's Electric: Lighting and Electrical
The Watauga Co.: Vertical Construction
Valley Crest Landscapes: Landscape, Irrigation Installation and Maintenance
Alliance Pavers: Brick paving install
Johnson-Davis: Utilities
Jr. Davis: Tree Removal
Rep Services: Playground & Site Furniture Rep.
Sign Access: Custom Signage
Weller Pools: Water Features
Wilco Construction: Marine
Utilities: Kissimmee Utility Authority & Power TOHO Water Authority

Stainless steel cable railings (Amazon Metals) provide safety along the waterfront.

Vendors
Paving: Pine Hall Brick Co. & Cemex
Cast Stone: S & S Precast
Lighting:
ANP Lighting: Sign Lights
B-K lighting: Uplights
Bega: Recessed Wall Lights
Designplan: Exterior Wall Lights
Elliptipar: Shelter Lights
Hess: LED Color Changing Light Columns
Hydrel: LED Downlights
SeLux: Pedestrian Post Tops
Winona Lighting: LED Uplights
Railings
Amazon Metals:
Stainless Steel Cable Railing
Trex Co.
Site Furnishings
Dero: Bike Racks & Bike Repair
DuMor: Benches, Trash Receptacles
Emu Americas: Caf????(R)???(C) Tables & Chairs
Ironsmith: Tree Paver Grates
Most Dependable Fountains: Drinking Fountains with ADA & Dog Bowl
Poligon Structures: Picnic Shelters
See Coast Manuf.: Binoculars
Playground Equipment
Landscape Structures
Kompan Play Equipment
Playground Surfacing
DuraPlay Surfacing System (Rubberized Surface)
Forever Lawn: Artificial Turf
Wood Carpet: Engineered Wood Fiber
Plants
Cherry Lake Tree Farm, Marshalls Tree Farm, Stewarts Tree Farm