The City of Orlando, once a small Central Florida town, seemed to change overnight. It started with Walt Disney's first flyover in 1963, when a site near the crossroads of I-4 and Florida Turnpike was selected for his new vision, the Disney World and Epcot theme parks.
   Spurred on by thousands of new jobs over the last 40 years, the town footprint has increased five-fold. Seen in this view, the city has grown around Lake Eola, a 43 acre park located in the heart of the city. The park's beginning dates to 1888 when a small parcel of land was donated to the city, often called Sandy Beach. Subsequent donations added up, creating today's Summerlin Park. The popular park is graced by the Centennial Fountain (renamed 1965 as the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain), a mid 50s replacement for the original 1912 feature. Swans dot the lake, either feathered avian friends or large fiberglass paddle boats. Various swan species include trumpeter swans, black neck swans, whooper swans, royal mute swans and australian black swans. The lake, actually a huge sinkhole, is a downtown Orlando favorite, enjoyed daily by the local residents and many visitors.

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