ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s the site of Orlando’s first settlement, and neighbors are making a passionate plea to preserve the history of the Fort Gatlin site. An old administration building owned by the Orange County School District sits on the location, and two different groups are making the push to preserve Orlando’s history.
What You Need To Know
Fort Gatlin was the first settlement in Orlando
Neighbors want Orange County to buy the site and operate it as a public park
An anonymous potential buyer wants a privately owned park open to the public for use
Two historic displays near Edgewood tell the story of Fort Gatlin. In 1838, the U.S. Army established it as a military outpost, the first settlement for people living in the Orlando area during the Seminole Wars. In 1856, Fort Gatlin became the county seat of Orange County.
Laura Pooser and other residents who live near the site formed the Fort Gatlin Historical Group to protect almost 200 years of history. Pooser says, “If it gets developed for condos or homes or whatever, then our opportunity to share that story about the founding of Orlando is lost.”
This past summer, the Orange County School District delayed a plan to put the abandoned building and land up for sale. Supporters say the property is perfect for a public park with exhibits to preserve Orlando’s history.
Tina Sideris, another founding member of the Fort Gatlin Historical Group, said “It would not only be a park, but it would have an educational portion where we could bring school children in or any of the nearby residents or visiting folks, to know that this is where Orlando started.”
Residents are putting up hundreds of signs to let people know what they are trying to do and to try to win more support.
Orange County District 3 Commissioner Mayra Uribe is urging the county to acquire the site to run it as a public park. Uribe says county leaders are talking with the school board. She points out, “You’ve got the county that’s looking at every option, and then you’ve got this community that says please. Please protect this. Don’t develop it.”
But Spectrum News 13 has learned there’s another mysterious player in this mix.
The Orange County School District sent a statement saying, “OCPS has entered into a letter of intent with a law firm representing a charitable organization that is interested in acquiring the property and converting it into a public park. School board approval would be needed before moving forward.”
Spectrum News 13 Reporter Keith Landry spoke with Attorney Jim Willard with Shutts and Bowen, LLP. Willard says his client is a community-minded person who wants to preserve the site and wants to remain anonymous. Willard adds this person wants to have a building for the nonprofit group on the site with a private park, not owned by Orange County, but open to the public for them to use.
Willard said his client is in the due diligence phase, and they are waiting for a second appraisal to come back on the property. Willard says his client and the school district have not yet reached a final purchase price.
Laura Pooser and her fellow grassroots activists hope their plan will win in the end. “So it’s something that’s very important to us to see the history of this site preserved,” she said.
Neighbors say they plan to hold meetings with school board members soon to discuss their push for a park owned by Orange County.