Behind the earliest parks established with donated land in Orange County are successful families and business owners. In 1924, when Orange County’s population was about 20,000 residents, Wilber and Rose Warren donated eight acres, which started a trend. In 1926, a portion of land located between Lake Beauclair and Lake Carlton, near Mount Dora, became Trimble Park — the second park property to be maintained by the Highway Department.

Sadie Conner Trimble was the first postmistress of Lake Jem, and her first husband, Owen W. Conner, was the founder of the Ocklawaha Nurseries, located on 600 acres in the area around Tangerine. After Owen’s death, Sadie married R.J. Trimble, who was then treasurer of the Ocklawaha Nursery, and he took over the business. In 1926, Sadie and R.J. donated 71 acres to Orange County for a park. In the late 1970s James Lock, a New Hampshire resident, purchased 31.5 acres from the Ocklawaha Nurseries and planned to develop it into a subdivision known as Trimble Park Gardens; most of the development was planned for the area where Trimble Park’s campground now sits. In October 1978, through a grant from the State of Florida, the County obtained the 31.5 acres and later acquired another 1.34-acre tract from Lock in October 2000. These are just a few of the stories behind Orange County Parks’ history.

Photo Credit: Orange County Parks & Recreation

Date Posted: July 5, 2024