We’re proud to announce that Dix.Hite + Partners’ work on the revitalization of Winter Park Village has been recognized with a 2026 Honor Award from the Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).
The award recognizes the transformation of this longtime Winter Park destination into a more walkable, welcoming, and resilient public realm, demonstrating the power of landscape architecture to breathe new life into existing spaces and strengthen community connections.
Winter Park Village: Revitalized for Community Life
Winter Park Village is a 35-acre open-air mixed-use district in Winter Park, FL that attracts approximately 4.5 million visitors annually and serves as a key hub for the local community. First opened as Winter Park Mall in 1964 and redeveloped into an outdoor center in 1999, the property was comprehensively revitalized in 2024 to support a more walkable, welcoming, and resilient public realm.
The landscape architecture team partnered in a multidisciplinary effort with branding experts, architects, civil engineers, real estate consultants, artists, marketing, and operations leadership. What began as a cosmetic refresh evolved through an intensive charrette process into a full rebranding, redesign, and re-engineering of the public realm. The result is a cohesive, experience-driven destination designed to support long-term success for tenants and the community.
Substantial renovations to more than 3.3 acres of public realm strengthened pedestrian connections and expanded comfortable outdoor areas designed to support longer visits throughout the day. These improvements were intentionally paired with leasing and operational goals, using a more walkable, inclusive environment to increase foot traffic, extend time on-site, and support both new tenant attraction and existing tenant performance. Since completion, the central park has experienced a resurgence in activity, drawing large crowds on weekends, and leasing results have exceeded expectations.
A primary challenge was correcting existing sidewalks with cross slopes exceeding current ADA standards and resolving ongoing conflicts between storefront access and vehicular circulation. The team elevated streets approximately 8–10 inches to better align with finished floor elevations, enabling safer, more seamless pedestrian movement and eliminating abrupt curb transitions. Roughly 75% of the site now features curbless streets and flush curb conditions, strengthening universal access and improving visibility at key crossings. Streets were narrowed from 24 feet to 20 feet and reconfigured with gentle curves and a traffic-calming chicane in front of the theater. Trees, bollards, and site furnishings introduce “visual friction” that naturally slows vehicles and reinforces pedestrian priority.
Material and planting strategies were selected for durability and climate resilience in Florida’s hot, humid summers and dry spring conditions. A predominantly native and adapted plant palette (approximately 75%) reduces irrigation demand and limits reliance on fertilizers and pesticides, supporting healthier downstream waterways. Existing Live Oaks were preserved where feasible, while compromised trees were replaced with new canopy supported by enlarged planters designed to increase soil volume and long-term plant health. Hardscape materials including concrete pavers, tile, textured stone, and durable site furnishings deliver a resilient and contemporary identity.
The revitalized Village now offers expanded pedestrian connections, wider sidewalks, an enhanced park with a flexible open lawn, interactive features, and integrated public art. Recessed bollards allow selective street closures for events, supporting year-round programming and strengthening the Village as an inclusive community hub.
Winter Park Village demonstrates how thoughtful urban retrofit can transform a retail center into a safer, more equitable, and memorable public realm where people gather, linger, and return again and again.
This recognition celebrates the collaborative vision behind Winter Park Village and reinforces the importance of creating places that serve both people and communities. We’re honored to see this project recognized by ASLA Florida and proud to have contributed to the next chapter of this beloved Winter Park destination.
Learn more about the project here: https://www.dixhite.com/projects/winter-park-village
