Lake Nona’s Greenlink Reinvents Resident Recreation and Mobility
With more than seven miles for fun, activity and relaxation, the Lake Nona Greenlink looks to combine engineering innovation with groundbreaking green spaces and dedicated autonomous mobility lanes.
March 10, 2021
Lake Nona’s development continues to push the envelope with transformative above-ground infrastructure, so why not rethink what’s below the ground as well? Enter: Greenlink.
“In Lake Nona, we’re always looking for ways to do things better,” said Tavistock Development Company Vice President of Development, Ralph Ireland, in the announcement last July. That includes stormwater and drainage systems, which is what Greenlink will reinvent.
The series of canals will be seven miles long and more than 100 feet wide, anchored by an open waterway, and featuring multiple trails, pocket parks and activities along the way. Greenlink will stretch from the heart of the Laureate Park neighborhood into bustling Lake Nona Town Center.
Ireland says that in Florida, you typically have to bury the drainage systems because of high amounts of rain — especially in the summer. “What we wanted to do was to turn something that’s traditionally hidden into something to showcase,” he says. “In doing that, we hope to make the residential environment a lovelier place.”
The Greenlink is part of a larger mixed-use development plan, which includes multi-modal transportation options like pedestrian lanes, autonomous vehicles and bicycle lanes. “We hope to get a better understanding of how our residents move around Lake Nona, making it as seamless as possible.
Spanning the waterway, Greenlink will also feature pedestrian bridges so residents and visitors can enjoy both sides of the park, as well as its major public art installations, including The Beacon and Code Wall at Lake Nona Town Center and The Glass House outside Canvas Restaurant & Market in Laureate Park Village Center.
Lake Nona’s commitment to enhancing the environment through development, and preserving important environmental elements, has led to the relocation of dozens of trees. In 2019 alone, more than 200 trees were relocated. These trees now hold an integrated place in Lake Nona’s present and future projects, including Boxi Park, Lake Nona Town Center, Laureate Park and others.
This incredible undertaking will position Lake Nona as an innovator and leader in the land development space, with Greenlink serving as a huge advancement in the beautification and reinvention of stormwater mitigation combined with increased resident quality of life.
