{"id":380595,"date":"2026-08-25T11:42:30","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T11:42:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/380595\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T11:42:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T11:42:30","slug":"orlando-leu-gardens-master-plan-halted-amid-property-tax-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/380595\/","title":{"rendered":"Orlando Leu Gardens master plan halted amid property tax concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"

ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 A proposed master plan for Leu Gardens has been paused as voters across the state contemplate a new property tax plan later this year, according to Orlando city officials.<\/p>\n

Previously<\/a>, Leu Gardens said the plan is meant to guide the 50-acre botanical garden into the future as visitation continues to grow.<\/p>\n

The conceptual plan includes a new visitor center complex, lakefront dining and retail, an outdoor pavilion, a children\u2019s garden and expanded parking.<\/p>\n

[RELATED: Orlando Leu Gardens plan draws pushback over park changes]<\/p>\n

But in a release on Monday, city officials said that Orlando has decided not to continue with the plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter careful consideration of… feedback, the needs and priorities of the Gardens, and the uncertainty surrounding Amendment 3 and future property tax revenues<\/a>, the City has decided not to move forward with the current conceptual plan and master planning process,\u201d the release reads.<\/p>\n

[RELATED: Here\u2019s how Florida\u2019s new property tax proposal works<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Furthermore, city officials said they heard from many residents who wanted to ensure that future plans reflect the character and history of Leu Gardens.<\/p>\n

Florida state Rep. Anna Eskamani released a statement after news of the pause came light, stating that she supports the city\u2019s decision to slow down.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to begin by thanking the hundreds of community members who showed up to public meetings, to our legislative office, and to their neighbors\u2019 kitchen tables to make their voices heard about the future of Harry P. Leu Gardens. You wrote emails, you asked hard questions, you stayed late, and you did it because you love Leu Gardens and Orlando. That participation is exactly how good public process is supposed to work, and I am grateful for every person who took part.<\/p>\n

The City\u2019s decision to pause this proposed master plan reflects that engagement, and I support it. Leu Gardens is a treasure, and any vision for its future has to be shaped by the people who visit, volunteer, and live alongside it, and it has to put environmental conservation and the long-term health of the Gardens first.<\/p>\n

Slowing down to get this right is not a setback. It\u2019s stewardship. I look forward to continuing to work alongside residents, City leadership, and Gardens staff to ensure that whatever comes next honors both our community\u2019s vision and the ecological integrity of this extraordinary place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rep. Anna Eskamani<\/p>\n

City officials said that they will keep the community informed as decisions are made regarding the future of Leu Gardens.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Amendment 3 is set to appear on the ballot in November\u2019s general election. The property tax proposal will need to garner at least 60% support from voters to pass.<\/p>\n

If it clears that threshold, it\u2019s set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.<\/p>\n

[RELATED: Amendment 3: Tax cut or ticking time bomb?]<\/p>\n

Copyright 2026 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 A proposed master plan for Leu Gardens has been paused as voters across the state…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":380596,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[15417,2159,1335,139,141,140,99,8527],"class_list":["post-380595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-orlando","tag-leu-gardens","tag-money","tag-orange-county","tag-orlando","tag-orlando-headlines","tag-orlando-news","tag-politics","tag-taxes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/380595","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=380595"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/380595\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/380596"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=380595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=380595"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=380595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}