Lake Nona Is Getting a New 14-Acre Public Park With a Splash Pad, Pickleball Courts, Walking Trails and a Landmark Sculpture

Orlando is moving forward with plans for Poitras Park, a new community recreation destination along Luminary Boulevard in Lake Nona. The proposed park combines sports courts, playgrounds, outdoor fitness areas, shaded gathering spaces and a performance pavilion. Now the city is seeking an artist to create a permanent sculpture that will become the park’s signature landmark.

When people talk about development in Lake Nona, the conversation usually centers on new homes, medical facilities, technology companies and commercial projects.

But one of the most useful additions to the community could be something considerably simpler.

A public park.

Not a small playground tucked behind a subdivision.

Not a private amenity reserved for homeowners.

A new 14.2-acre City of Orlando community park designed to give residents a place to exercise, play, walk, gather and enjoy outdoor events.

The project is called Poitras Park, and it is planned for the growing Poitras area of Lake Nona, along Luminary Boulevard.

The latest development came in September 2026, when the City of Orlando opened a competition for a permanent public artwork that will become a central feature of the new park.

The application deadline is October 18, 2026, and the city anticipates installing the sculpture during summer or fall 2027. City of Orlando

That gives us a clearer picture of what Orlando wants this new public space to become.

And for Lake Nona residents, there’s quite a bit to look forward to.

First, Where Will Poitras Park Be Located?

The new park is planned along Luminary Boulevard, in the Poitras East development area of southeast Orlando.

The approximately 14.2-acre property is situated in a growing residential district near the area’s newer schools and neighborhoods.

Unlike many older Orlando communities, where parks were established decades before surrounding neighborhoods became heavily developed, Poitras is growing with much of its infrastructure still being planned and constructed.

The city acquired the park property through an arrangement involving the area’s developer and park impact-fee credits.

The idea is to provide public recreational facilities as the surrounding residential community develops. Lake Nona Social

That is particularly important in southeast Orlando, where new housing construction continues to create demand for schools, roads, utilities and recreational space.

Pickleball and Basketball Courts Are Planned

One of the park’s major features will be dedicated areas for court sports.

Orlando’s current plans include both pickleball and basketball courts. City of Orlando

Pickleball has become increasingly popular across Central Florida, particularly among adults looking for a recreational sport that combines exercise with social interaction.

It is also appealing because players don’t need a large team or expensive equipment to participate.

Basketball provides another option for residents who want a place to exercise without joining a private sports facility.

Earlier project documents contemplated as many as 12 pickleball courts and two basketball courts, although the city’s latest public-art announcement does not confirm final court quantities. ConstructConnect

The important point is that Poitras Park is being designed for active recreation rather than simply providing open lawn space.

A Splash Pad Will Give Families Another Place to Cool Off

If there’s one feature that could make Poitras Park particularly popular with families, it’s the planned splash pad.

Central Florida’s heat makes water-play areas useful for much of the year.

And unlike swimming pools, splash pads can accommodate children who simply want to run through water features without requiring the same type of swimming experience.

The City of Orlando specifically identifies a splash pad among the park’s planned amenities. City of Orlando

For parents with younger children, that could make Poitras Park a regular weekend destination.

Instead of planning an expensive outing, families could spend time at the playground, enjoy the splash pad and have lunch under one of the park’s shaded gathering areas.

Of course, the final operating hours and any specific rules for the splash pad will need to be confirmed once the park opens.

Playgrounds and Outdoor Fitness Areas Are Also Included

Poitras Park is being designed for more than children.

The current concept includes playgrounds, outdoor fitness pods, walking trails and shaded seating areas.

The fitness pods are particularly interesting.

Rather than requiring residents to visit an indoor gym, these areas would provide opportunities for exercise in a public outdoor setting.

Someone could walk the park’s paths, stop at a fitness station and continue exercising.

That combination could appeal to adults of different ages and fitness levels.

For active seniors, especially those who enjoy walking and outdoor exercise, the park could become a convenient alternative to commercial fitness facilities.

And for parents, the combination of walking paths, playgrounds and sports facilities creates the possibility of several family members enjoying different activities during the same visit.

Walking Trails Will Connect the Park’s Features

Another major component is the planned system of meandering walking trails.

These aren’t being presented as a long-distance regional trail.

Instead, they are intended to connect the different recreational areas within the park and provide space for walking and casual exercise. City of Orlando

That matters because a good neighborhood park should be useful even when someone doesn’t want to play a sport.

Not everyone plays basketball.

Not everyone plays pickleball.

And not everyone has children who want to use a playground.

But almost anyone can enjoy a walk.

Shaded seating areas along the paths should also provide places to rest and enjoy the surroundings.

For a community that continues to grow, accessible public walking spaces are an important quality-of-life improvement.

There Will Be a Performance Pavilion

This is where Poitras Park begins to look like something more than a conventional recreation area.

The city plans to include a performance pavilion designed to accommodate community events.

Additional picnic pavilions will provide space for smaller gatherings. City of Orlando

A performance pavilion creates possibilities that sports courts alone cannot provide.

Community concerts.

School performances.

Cultural activities.

Neighborhood celebrations.

Outdoor educational programs.

And other events that bring residents together.

Those are potential uses, not an announced event calendar.

But the infrastructure would give Orlando another location for public programming in southeast Orange County.

For residents who currently travel toward downtown Orlando or other parts of the region to attend community events, having a venue closer to home could be particularly convenient.

The Park Is Getting a Major Public Art Installation

Now for the newest development.

On September 10, 2026, Orlando began accepting submissions from professional artists and artist teams for a permanent monumental sculpture at the new park.

The city wants something substantial.

Not a small decorative statue.

The official description calls for a large-scale contemporary sculpture that will serve as a recognizable landmark and help establish the park’s identity.

The city is providing a custom concrete pedestal with integrated lighting for the artwork. Artsume

That suggests Orlando wants the sculpture to become one of the park’s most visible features.

Something residents recognize.

Something visitors photograph.

And something that gives the park a distinctive appearance rather than making it look like every other recreation facility.

Orlando Has Budgeted $130,000 for the Sculpture

The public-art commission carries a total budget of $130,000.

That amount includes the artist’s compensation and the costs associated with designing, engineering, fabricating, transporting and installing the sculpture.

The city will separately provide the concrete pedestal and integrated uplighting. Artsume

Artists must also consider Central Florida’s climate.

The sculpture needs to withstand prolonged sun exposure, humidity, heavy rain and hurricane-force winds.

It must meet structural and public-safety requirements and be appropriate for a family-oriented park.

Those requirements are important.

Public art in Florida has to survive considerably more than occasional rain.

The city wants something that can remain part of the park for years without becoming an expensive maintenance problem.

Local Artists Still Have Time to Apply

Professional artists and artist teams can submit proposals through Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

The competition is open nationally, so it is not restricted to Central Florida artists.

Applicants must provide a professional portfolio, conceptual design, preliminary budget, project timeline and other supporting materials.

The city is seeking original work, and the application rules specifically prohibit AI-generated artwork, renderings and concept images. Artsume

Artists interested in the opportunity can review the requirements through the official announcement.

City of Orlando Public Art Competition and Application Details

The current schedule anticipates installation of the selected sculpture during summer or fall 2027.

That is a target for the artwork, not a confirmed grand-opening date for the park.

When Will Poitras Park Actually Open?

This is an important distinction.

Poitras Park is a planned public facility. It is not currently being advertised by Orlando as an open, operating park.

Earlier reporting in December 2024 identified a projected completion date near the end of 2026 and an estimated project cost of approximately $12 million. WFTV

However, those were earlier projections.

More recent project information includes construction planning activity in 2026 and the anticipated public-art installation in 2027. ConstructConnect

As of October 11, 2026, we have not verified an official public opening date.

Residents should therefore treat the park’s features as planned amenities rather than facilities available for use today.

We’ll continue watching for a confirmed construction schedule and opening announcement.

Why This Project Matters for Lake Nona

Lake Nona has developed a reputation for modern neighborhoods, medical institutions, technology and carefully planned development.

But those features don’t automatically make a community enjoyable to live in.

Residents also need ordinary public amenities.

Places where children can play.

Places where adults can exercise.

Places where neighbors can meet.

And places where families can spend time without purchasing an attraction ticket.

Poitras Park is intended to address several of those needs in one location.

The combination of sports courts, playgrounds, walking trails, outdoor fitness areas and gathering spaces gives the property the potential to serve residents with very different interests.

A family with young children may come for the splash pad.

An adult may come for pickleball.

Someone else may simply want to walk.

And eventually, a neighborhood event could bring everyone together at the performance pavilion.

That flexibility is what makes a community park valuable.

Public Parks Should Grow Alongside New Neighborhoods

One of the recurring challenges in Greater Orlando is the timing of development.

Homes can be constructed relatively quickly.

But public facilities often take years to plan, fund and complete.

That creates situations where thousands of people move into a new area before the surrounding community has enough parks, schools, sidewalks and other infrastructure.

Lake Nona is not immune to that challenge.

Poitras Park represents an effort to incorporate public recreation into the area’s continued development.

And because the property is being developed as a City of Orlando park, it is intended to serve as public recreational infrastructure rather than simply another private subdivision amenity.

The distinction matters.

A public park can serve residents from surrounding neighborhoods, not only people living behind a particular community entrance.

A Good Park Doesn’t Need to Be Enormous

At 14.2 acres, Poitras Park won’t compete in size with Central Florida’s largest regional parks.

But it doesn’t need to.

Its value comes from combining multiple recreational opportunities in a location near the people who will use them.

A park that residents can visit regularly may provide more everyday benefit than a much larger facility requiring a long drive.

That is especially true for families with young children and adults who want convenient opportunities for exercise.

The planned shaded seating areas are another practical detail.

In Central Florida, shade makes a difference.

A park that looks attractive in February can become uncomfortable in August if visitors have nowhere to escape the sun.

Including shaded gathering spaces in the original design is a sensible approach.

What About Parking and Restrooms?

The park’s construction planning materials include parking and restroom facilities.

A June 2026 contractor solicitation described work involving parking, two restroom buildings, sports courts, playgrounds, a splash pad, landscaping and walking paths. ConstructConnect

Those details are encouraging, but they should not be treated as final operating information.

The city has not yet published a complete visitor guide confirming parking capacity, restroom availability, operating hours or facility reservation procedures.

Those are details we’ll want to see before recommending a specific family outing.

Poitras Park: What We Know So Far

Information reflects the City of Orlando’s current public-art announcement and published project information available October 11, 2026. City of Orlando

Another Step Toward Making Lake Nona a Complete Community

Lake Nona has no shortage of development projects.

But there is a difference between building a place where people can live and building a place where people enjoy living.

Public parks are part of that difference.

Poitras Park is being designed to accommodate several generations of residents.

Children get playgrounds and water play.

Adults get sports courts and fitness areas.

Walkers get paths and shaded places to rest.

Families get picnic areas.

And the community gets a performance space and a permanent public artwork.

There are still important questions about construction timing and the eventual opening date.

But the city’s latest plans provide a useful picture of what is coming.

And with the public-art competition now underway, another piece of the project is moving forward.

For Lake Nona residents, this is one development worth keeping an eye on.

Because as Central Florida continues growing, the projects that improve everyday life aren’t always the tallest buildings or largest shopping centers.

Sometimes they’re the places where families can spend an afternoon together, neighbors can meet and residents can enjoy their community without having to buy anything.

That’s what Poitras Park has the potential to become.