This October, thousands of central Florida residents gathered on the lawn of Winter Park City Hall to welcome the fall season with a pumpkin patch, and with every pumpkin they purchased, they helped develop the Park Avenue District.
The first-ever Pumpkin Patch on Park took place from October 10-25 in the Park Avenue District, the historic, commercial, and cultural heart of Winter Park.
The pumpkin patch is enclosed around a wooden gate on the lawn for an intimate, cozy feel. The patch also featured pumpkins of various shapes and sizes. Photographers are also available for visitors to get their pictures taken with the pumpkins at no extra cost.
Allison Chandler, Executive Director of The Park Avenue District, said the decision to start a pumpkin patch came after the city told the District it would not be doing a “Trunk or Treat” this year.
“We wanted to bring something special to the Avenue this fall,” Chandler said. “We decided a pumpkin patch would be the perfect fit.”
The city of Winter Park collaborated on the pumpkin patch with AdventHealth and the Roohparver family sponsored.
As of October 20, the pumpkin patch has notched over 4,000 visitors and has raised over $10,000. All revenue earned from the pumpkin patch goes back into the community to support local merchants, local event funds, and upkeep of the district.
“The response from the community has been amazing,” Chandler said.
Chandler added that residents and local businesses operate the pumpkin patch entirely through volunteer work. Community members have worked over 150 shifts on the patch.For Chandler, the pumpkin patch acts as a way of assembling the community and bringing traffic to businesses in the Avenue.
“This is ultimately our goal as a Main-Street program,” Chandler said. “We want to bring residents and visitors to the Avenue in support of the small businesses, as well as creating magical family experiences.”
Chandler hopes the patch’s first-year success will establish a new fall tradition that supports local businesses in the Avenue and encourages continued community involvement.
