By Jim Carchidi
April 24, 2026
The grand opening of the newly renovated Hankins Park playground was celebrated on April 24 by the kids who made it possible.
More than a place to play
Located at 1340 Lake Park Court, the aging playground received equipment for ages 2–5 and 5–12 with slides, a carousel, climbing frames, ADA-accessible swings, and dual swings, which allow children of varying abilities to play together. The upgrades are meant to create an outdoor alternative to tablets and electronic devices, and offer a safe space for interaction and activities.
City officials join kids from Hankins Park Neighborhood Center at the grand opening of the new playground. District 6 Commissioner Bakari Burns grew up in his district and said he frequently played at Hankins Park as a child. "We need to make sure kids have a safe, beautiful space like this to call their own," he said. Photo by Jim Carchidi
The renovation is part of an ongoing city investment in parks and playgrounds across Orlando over the next two years. The effort kicked off with upgrades at Signal Hill Park and Poppy Park; both opened in March.
Guiding the vision
Community meetings are held during the design phase to collect input from residents and families, but Hankins Park was redesigned with help from the target audience. More than 20 children from the Hankins Park Neighborhood Center selected equipment and colors during a workshop led by Orlando Family Parks and Recreation Project Manager, Marissis Gandert.
Orlando Family Parks and Recreation Project Manager, Marissis Gandert, gets feedback on playground designs from the kids of Hankins Park Neighborhood Center. Image courtesy of City of Orlando
“We had two layout options and they selected colors and gave us a list of equipment,” Gandert told The Orlando Real. “They wanted swings and multiple slides and things to climb on. The merry-go-round was added because they wanted something that spins.”
Gandert said the most requested item – a splash pad – could not be accommodated but everything else was possible.
The new playground features nearly every request submitted by the kids. Photos by Jim Carchidi
Next steps
A total of 11 locations were designated for the upgrades. The remaining parks are scheduled over the next two years:
- John H. Jackson Neighborhood Center
- LeRoy Hoequist Park
- Southport Park
- East Park
- Dover Shores Neighborhood Center
- Willie Mays Park
- Cherry Tree Park
- Ivey Lane Park
City of Orlando Public Information Manager Ashley Papagni told The Orlando Real each playground upgrade is budgeted as its own project. Costs are covered by a mix of Capital Improvements and Parks and Rec. funding and grants. Established project budgets are as follows:
- Signal Hill Park: $305,270.36
- Poppy Park: $188,299.05
- Hankins Park: $344,877.00
- John H. Jackson Neighborhood Center: $963,389.65 (a $150,000 DeVos family foundation grant is included)
- LeRoy Hoequist Park: $185,890.10
Gandert said staff strive to include input from families and children for each project. Meetings have been held for Dover Shores and East Park, and requests for community attendance will be distributed when others are scheduled.
Sponsor: The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group — the #1 real estate team in Orlando and the Official Real Estate Team of the Orlando Magic.
About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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