It is indeed rare when such broad consensus exists in today’s society. Politicians, planners, community activists, business leaders, and other civic-minded individuals all agree – creating a sense of place is integral to the formation of a strong, safe community. The theory, to which I subscribe, is that one needs to feel comfortable in a location, almost like one is at home, before one will invest the time and resources necessary to protect and improve that location. In short, we need to feel that we belong.

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Education is the key to success. No great communities exist without great educational institutions. No great companies build businesses and bring employees to an area without great schools and without a constant supply of educated workers. In today’s competitive marketplace, having a formal education is no longer about getting ahead but more about getting your foot in the door.

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Great ideas come from great places, or at least that is what I mostly believe. Put yourself in the right environment, with the right people and you never know where the mind will wander. It’s not by accident that you feel academically inspired when walking across the campus at UCF. I’ve had the chance to sit in the offices of some pretty remarkable community leaders over the past few years and to participate in some pretty remarkable conversations about how together we can change the direction our community is headed, for the better.

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Waterford Lakes Resident, Andy Kimpel Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane. When you were young, did you go to the park for a walk with Dad, a school outing or maybe just to burn off some excess energy? Have any fond recollections of a church picnic, a pickup softball game or a round of Frisbee with some buddies? It seems that these experiences are destined to remain in the past, since we in East Orlando are suffering from a severe lack of recreational facilities to create new memories with friends and families. Space is always at a premium in fast-growing regions, but many towns are being very innovative in working parks into their plans.

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The Grass is Always Greener – or is it? Jennifer Thompson For the last few months, I have spent quite a bit of time touring the streets of our neighboring Oviedo community as part of a consulting project that I am doing for the Oviedo-Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce. During my daily pilgrimage along Alafaya Trail heading from East Orlando to the Lawton House (that’s the name of the 100-year old historical building that the Chamber occupies), I often comment to myself about the noticeable difference in traffic congestion as I cross from one community into another. On a recent outing through the cities of Oviedo and Winter Springs, I found myself in awe over the abundance of green space and recreational options within these Seminole County bedroom communities.

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