If you haven’t visited Horizon West Regional Park lately, a lot has changed.
What was once largely undeveloped land has officially entered a new chapter as one of Horizon West’s most important community spaces. Phase 1A is complete, the park is open, and construction is already underway on the next round of amenities.
Here’s the latest on what you can enjoy now, what’s currently under construction and what could be ahead for Horizon West Regional Park.
Horizon West Regional Park Is Officially Open
Horizon West Regional Park celebrated the grand opening of Phase 1A in February 2026, giving residents access to the first major developed amenities within the 215-acre Orange County park.
Located between Hamlin Groves Trail, Tiny Road and Bridgewater Middle School, the park was designed to preserve much of the natural Florida landscape while creating new opportunities for recreation, community gatherings and outdoor activities.
Phase 1A brought some of the park’s most anticipated foundational improvements, including:
- A large, shaded playground
- Restroom facilities, including a family restroom
- Water fountains and a bottle filler
- Paved parking areas
- Picnic areas
- A large event pavilion with picnic tables and charcoal grills
- Bicycle parking
- Pedestrian and bicycle access
- Miles of natural, unpaved trails
Residents can now walk, hike, bike, explore the trails, bring the kids to the playground, enjoy a picnic or simply spend time outside right here in Horizon West.
Photos Courtesy of Jerry Blank.
Phase 1B Is Underway
The next chapter of Horizon West Regional Park is already taking shape.
Orange County celebrated the groundbreaking for Phase 1B in June 2026, beginning another major investment in the park.
This phase is expected to bring several highly anticipated additions, including:
- A splash pad
- A boardwalk and floating dock at Lake Hartley for kayak and canoe access
- Expanded parking
- Infrastructure to support farmers markets and community events
- Additional sidewalks and pedestrian connections
- Additional improvements to the park’s event areas
Construction is taking place while the existing Phase 1A amenities remain open to the community.
While timelines can change due to construction conditions, weather and other factors, current projections have Phase 1B potentially reaching completion in 2027.
A First Look at the Future Splash Pad
One of the additions we know Horizon West families are especially excited about is the future splash pad.
Construction is underway, and the site may not look like much just yet, but this area will eventually become another family-friendly amenity within the park.
Photos Courtesy of Jerry Blank.
We’ll continue following its progress as the site begins to take shape.
What About the Rest of the Park?
There is still a much bigger vision for Horizon West Regional Park.
Orange County’s conceptual plans have identified possibilities for future phases that could eventually include amenities such as sports fields, pickleball and tennis courts, basketball courts, a dog park, community center, performing arts space, disc golf, outdoor fitness areas, a botanical garden and additional restoration projects.
It’s important to note that these are part of the park’s long-term conceptual vision. Future amenities, designs, funding and timelines are subject to change.
That means residents should think of Horizon West Regional Park as a park that will continue evolving over many years rather than a project with one final completion date.
The Community Behind the Park
One person who has helped keep Horizon West informed throughout the park’s evolution is longtime community advocate Jerry Blank.
Jerry has spent years exploring and documenting Horizon West Regional Park, mapping trails, cataloging wildlife, photographing construction progress and sharing updates with residents.
His work has also helped support Friends of Horizon West Regional Park, a community-led effort dedicated to the park and its future.
Friends of Horizon West Regional Park maintains HWRP.info, which has become a helpful resource for residents looking for current information about trails, facilities, maps and ongoing development at the park.
And there is even more exciting news ahead.
Friends of Horizon West Regional Park recently received approval for its Adopt-A-Park application, creating another opportunity for community members to play an active role in caring for and supporting this incredible public space.
We’ll be sharing more about what that means for Horizon West, the people behind Friends of Horizon West Regional Park and how residents can get involved in a separate Horizon West Happenings feature.
Plan Your Visit
Horizon West Regional Park is open and ready to explore.
Whether you’re heading out for a morning walk, taking the kids to the playground, exploring the natural trails or watching the next phase of construction take shape, this park is quickly becoming an important gathering place for our growing community.
As new amenities open and future phases move forward, Horizon West Happenings will continue sharing the latest updates.
For detailed trail information and current park resources, visit HWRP.info.
For official Orange County Parks information, visit the Horizon West Regional Park page on Orange County’s website.
There is still plenty more to come, but one thing is already clear: Horizon West Regional Park is becoming the community destination residents have envisioned for years.
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