Orange County

Winter Park closes Park Avenue to allow additional seating for Mother’s Day weekend dining

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Central Florida is preparing for its first weekend in nearly two months where restaurants and retail stores are open.

Even with limited capacity, many business owners are hoping this will get them back on track to keeping their businesses open.

Park Avenue in Winter Park will be shutting down and prohibiting vehicles in order to expand socially distant outdoor dinning for Mother’s Day weekend.

Read: Orange County reopening task force seeks public feedback on reopening plans

The closures began Friday from 2 p.m. to midnight.

The city of Winter Park said it is providing the road closures as a way for businesses to better serve the community.

City officials hope to get more people out supporting the local businesses.

“We think it’s a good idea as long as people respect the recommendations from state like social distancing and not to be gathering,” said Julien Emmanuel, owner of Kilwins Winter Park. “But I think it’s a good idea. People want to come out and it’s Mother’s Day, a very important day for a lot of mothers out there.”

INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida

Dexter’s in Lake Mary and the Hammered Lamb in Orlando will also be reopening this weekend, but only at a 25 percent capacity to adhere with safety guidelines.


Q Mccray

Q McCray, WFTV.com

Q McCray is an award-winning general assignment reporter.

Jeff Deal

Jeff Deal, WFTV.com

I joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in 2006.