City of Orlando

Orlando Fire Department: A Story of Heroism and Compassion On October 22, the Orlando Fire Department demonstrated their unwavering commitment to our community. When a woman's vehicle overturned at Colonial Drive and Fern Creek Avenue, crews from Fire Station 4 and Tower 6 quickly arrived on the scene. They safely rescued her and her dog, Disco, providing medical care and transporting her to a nearby hospital. Susan, the woman involved, expressed her gratitude for the team's quick response, especially for Firefighter Tim McGuire, who helped keep her calm during the rescue by reassuring her that her dog, Disco, was safe. A week later, Susan and Disco returned to personally thank the team for their heroism. On that same day, Firefighter McGuire was also honored with his 20-year service award—a perfect tribute to a career built on bravery and compassion. This heartfelt reunion was a testament to the bravery and compassion of our firefighters, who not only save lives but also leave a lasting impact on the people they help. Thank you, Orlando Fire Department, for all you do!

Let's Celebrate Our Champions ? Last night the Orlando Pride capped a historic season by winning the National Women’s Soccer League championship. The Pride, who set a league record for victories, are the first professional sports team in Orlando to claim a major league title. To celebrate the championship and to honor the team’s players, we invite you to join us for a parade and celebration on Monday, Nov. 25 in downtown Orlando. The parade will kick off at Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard at 4:30 p.m. and include Orlando Pride players, a band and special guests as they make their way to Orlando City Hall. Following the parade, the festivities will continue outside City Hall from 5 – 5:45 p.m. with a celebration ceremony. During the ceremony, our community will get?the first look at the championship trophy. Those attending the parade and celebration are encouraged to avoid traffic by utilizing SunRail via the Church Street or LYNX Central stations, LYNX or grab a bike or scooter. Road closures associated with the parade can be expected between 3:30 – 5:15 p.m. on Orange Avenue between Washington Street and Anderson Street. Learn more --> https://lnkd.in/eXdDhkmX

Florida Classic weekend is here ?? On Saturday, Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman will meet at Camping World Stadium in one of the nation's premier college football rivalries. But the Classic is more than just a matchup on the field. It's about the bands, the tailgating and reuniting with family and friends. It's a celebration of two of our state's HBCUs and a showcase of Orlando's vibrancy. The Classic also brings visitors from around the state and country to our region who support Orlando's small businesses and help fill hotels. We're looking forward to another fun Classic weekend and welcoming so many to our community.

For years, Orlando has been recognized as a community that puts inclusion at the forefront of all that it does. We have not and will not get complacent in our collective efforts to ensure that our city is welcoming for every single resident and visitor. We're proud that for the 11th-consecutive year, the City of Orlando has earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index. Shared each fall, the Municipal Equality Index ranks the LGBTQ+ inclusivity of government laws, policies and services of cities across the Untied States. More than 500 cities were surveyed this year and Orlando was one of 130 to get a perfect score. As a municipal government, the City of Orlando is continuing partnerships with groups offering critical services, resources and assistance to LGBTQ+ residents. This includes a collaboration with Zebra Youth that offers housing and support to young LGBTQ+ individuals experiencing homelessness. Orlando United Resiliency Services continues to operate out of The Center to provide mental health support and programs to help those impacted by the Pulse tragedy or who’ve experienced trauma. Last month we were proud to support Come Out With Pride during its biggest event over its 20-year history. We're grateful for every person in our community who continues to show the power of love, compassion and unity.

Our community now has a farm campus designed to inspire residents of all ages to grow, source and prepare food in healthy ways. Today Mayor Dyer and Commissioner Stuart helped John Rivers and his team officially open the 4Roots Farm Campus. At the site in The Packing District, 4Roots will host classes and meetings that will help our community strengthen our local food system and will also work to make fruits and vegetables more accessible for every Orlando resident.

We’re incredibly proud to share that we have received an award from the Florida Redevelopment Association for Creative Project Funding and Redevelopment Partnerships – Large City, for our dedication to creating engaging, inclusive spaces in downtown Orlando. In 2023, we activated small, underutilized properties, turning two key corner sites into vibrant art gallery plazas as part of An Ode to Third Places. At 30 S. Orange Ave., we transformed the site with quick-build modifications and partnered with Visit Orlando on a global mural campaign. At 1 N. Rosalind Ave., a multi-year collaborative effort turned this space into a beautiful gateway to Lake Eola Park, featuring the Achromatic Aria Fresco celebrating Orlando's diversity. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Orlando Economic Partnership, our City Commissioners, and our Mayor. Thank you to everyone who contributed their time and talents to bring this vision to life! #CRA #CommunityRedevelopmentAgency #FloridaRedevelopmentAssociation #Redevelopment #FLRedevel #FRA2024 #RedevelopmentWorks

CSI Sanchez Pabon Inspires Future Crime Scene Investigators Crime Scene Investigator II (CSI), Juan Carlos Sanchez Pabon, is shaping the next generation of forensic professionals. For the past two years, he has been an instructor at Ana G. Méndez University Florida, teaching courses on Forensic Investigations and Criminal Justice. His passion and expertise shine through as he inspires his students to explore the fascinating world of forensic science. Beyond the classroom, CSI Sanchez Pabon is deeply committed to community engagement. He participates in events like career day at Ana G. Méndez University, offering students an in-depth look at crime scene investigation. Recently, he visited Lake Nona High School, where he shared his expertise with juniors and seniors studying death investigations. Through a hands-on mock crime scene activity, he sparked curiosity and encouraged interest in forensic careers. Thank you, CSI Sanchez Pabon, for your invaluable contributions to the Orlando Police Department and your dedicated service to our community.

'Hooked' on learning at Mercy Drive Kidz Zone. Mercy Drive Kidz Zone Recreation Specialist Lester Thomas Jr. has been teaching the students at Mercy Drive Kidz Zone the art of fishing. From assembling fishing poles to casting techniques, Lester has shared his passion and knowledge with our kids, giving them the skills to not only catch fish but also appreciate the great outdoors. Under his guidance, our students have learned how to find the best fishing spots. They even tackled the important tasks of storing, gutting and cleaning their catch. The experience doesn’t stop there—Lester has introduced them to various cooking methods, turning their hard-earned fish into delicious meals!

Orlando is a Tree City once again! For 47 consecutive years, Orlando has met the high standards of the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program, showing our deep commitment to urban forestry. Every day, we're working to make our city greener, and the nation is taking notice! This year, we've planted over 1,625 trees and given away hundreds of Florida-friendly trees to homeowners. A healthy tree canopy creates lasting benefits for our community—helping to cool neighborhoods, improve air quality, reduce stormwater runoff, and even boost property values. Learn more about our green initiatives and how we're working to expand Orlando's urban tree canopy: Orlando.gov/greenworks.

A lot on Bruton Boulevard will soon become a vibrant community for some of Orlando’s older residents. Housing Trust Group, LLC is starting construction on Grand East Village, which will have 92 affordable apartments reserved for seniors. As part of our work to expand the affordable housing inventory here in the community, the City of Orlando offers incentives for developers of affordable housing. Through our Affordable Housing Certification process, our staff worked with Housing Trust Group to secure impact-fee waivers and provided expedited permitting to facilitate the apartment complex. We’re grateful for this partnership that will soon bring safe, affordable housing for those who’ve given so much to our city over the years.