Lake Eola today continues to be a place for family picnics, weddings, and more. Downtown workers and residents use its walkways for exercise and dog-walking. Major events like the annual Independence Day Celebration and Fiesta in the Park draw tens of thousands of visitors to Eola's shores many times a year.

In 1914, the Orlando Civic League led the way in planting 100 rose bushes to begin the Rose Garden. By 1918, there were 600 hundred rose bushes. And another time in its history, Eola Park boasted a huge sweet pea wall. From December to February, flowering sweet peas of many varieties were in bloom on a sloped wall nine feet high and over 100 feet long. Lights were set up to allow residents and visitors to stroll along the walk and enjoy the colorful show even at night.

IMAGES OF LAKE EOLA

TOP: Lake Eola - looking direct east showing the Centennial Fountain in the center of the Lake, 2002.

MIDDLE: Lake Eola - looking north-east, 2002.

BOTTOM: Lake Eola - looking north-west showing the new Orange County Courthouse tower on the far right, 2002.

BELOW: Lake Eola - looking north-east, and four of its resident swans - most likely descendants of swans brought over from England and originally placed at Lake Lucerne. Both images 2002.