ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County residents continue their campaign for a public park at the site of Orlando’s first settlement. On Tuesday, the Orange County School Board is expected to vote on a contract to sell the Fort Gatlin site so a park can be built.

What You Need To Know

The Orange County School Board could vote Tuesday to approve a land deal that could lead to a public park

The anonymous buyer is offering $600,000 for the Fort Gatlin site

The Fort Gatlin Historical Group says it has 900 online signatures supporting its plan for a public park

Neighbors near the site say they are happy the proposed buyer has offered to turn the land into a public park and donate it to Orange County, but they want to make sure all the history that happened at the site does not get glossed over.

Tina Siders lives across the street from the historic Fort Gatlin site, owned by the Orange County School District. She has watched the buildings fall into disrepair and become eyesores. Siders and neighbors formed the Fort Gatlin Historical Group to push for a public park on the site instead of a residential development.

Siders says, “We thought that the history of this particular area would be lost if that happened.”

The group spent the last eight months urging elected officials to support them. The current plan calls for a public park with green spaces, walking trails, a boat ramp and restrooms.

Laura Pooser with the historical group wants to make sure visitors can see displays that explain the site’s history. The U.S. Army founded Fort Gatlin as an outpost in 1838.

“There was a fort here on this site, and that is something that we believe is so important in knowing how this city came about. Having a fort here was way before the city was founded, before things kind of moved towards downtown and Lake Eola,” Pooser said.

The Orange County School District has a contract to sell the property to an anonymous buyer for $600,000. The buyer originally wanted to own the land and let the public use the park, but during negotiations he changed his mind and now agrees to convert the land into a public park and to donate it to Orange County so they can maintain it.  

Orange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe represents District Three. She has been working for several months with neighbors, Orange County leaders and the school district to push the park plan through.

“The fact that the county’s on board, OCPS is on board, and hopefully the community will start feeling a little bit of comfort in knowing that there’s a lot of vested parties who are going to make sure this is done the right way,” Uribe said.

Attorney Jim Willard sent a statement on behalf of his anonymous client.

“My client is a community minded local resident with an interest in converting the current Ft. Gatlin site to a community park. He wishes to remain anonymous but has both the means and desire to carry out the site purchase, demolition of existing buildings, environmental remediation and park construction. A privately constructed park in Orange County requires a special exception from the county which will entail a detailed application, park development plan, a community meeting and public hearings at both the planning and zoning commission and the board of county commissioners. This will take time but provide plenty of opportunity for public input. Preliminary discussions with the county indicate a willingness to accept donation of the park upon completion for permanent county maintenance pursuant to the development plan approved per the special exception process. We are confident the project is in keeping with the public interest and will be supported by the neighborhood residents.”

Siders is trusting the process.

“We are cautiously optimistic, but want to make sure that everything, you know, all the fine details are worked out,” Siders said.

The Fort Gatlin Historical Group says it has 900 online signatures supporting its effort for a public park owned by Orange County.

Pooser says she would like to see a replica of Fort Gatlin built on the historic site.

The Orange County School Board is expected to vote on the contract when it meets Tuesday. Orange County Commissioners would have to approve a zoning change in the future for the project to move forward.