From Planning to People

In recent weeks, as I spend more time walking through Downtown Avalon Park, I am reminded how much a community can change—and how much stays the same.

Nearly three decades ago, I was not strolling past cafés or greeting neighbors. I was driving through Live Oak Village, the first neighborhood in Avalon Park, inspecting infrastructure and occasionally getting stuck in the mud. At that time, there were more cows than people, and the idea of a vibrant town center felt very far away.

Today, around 50,000 residents live within a three-mile radius of Avalon Park Orlando. What once existed only on paper has become a place where people live, work, and connect every day.

When we talk about loving your neighbor, it often begins with kindness. But I have learned that it also begins with planning.

Communities that encourage walking create conversation. Parks and gathering spaces create familiarity. Mixed-use neighborhoods create moments where neighbors meet naturally—without an invitation or an appointment.

These interactions are not accidental. They are intentional.

At Avalon Park Group, our goal has always been to design places that bring people together. When shared spaces are prioritized, relationships form. When people feel connected, compassion follows.

I see this every day—neighbors supporting one another, local businesses giving back, families gathering for events, and residents taking pride in where they live. These moments are what transform a development into a community.

As Avalon Park continues to grow in both Orlando and Wesley Chapel, our commitment remains the same: to plan with purpose, design for connection, and build places where people feel welcomed and valued.

This month’s theme, Love Your Neighbor, also reminds us that community is strengthened through action. One opportunity to do that right now is by supporting Timber Creek High School’s student thrift store, which provide essential clothing items to students in need. As colder weather continues, the stores are especially in need of cold-weather items such as hoodies, jackets, and sweatshirts.

Loving your neighbor does not always require a grand gesture. Sometimes, it simply begins with creating a place where neighbors can meet.