The Downtown Portal
We're seeking community feedback on downtown portal designs
The Downtown Portal will serve as the ATS (aerial transit system) landing area, connecting downtown Winter Park to the resort and additional recreational opportunities.
A long-envisioned and transformative project, the Downtown Portal will serve as an entry into Downtown, leading visitors and community members alike from the planned ATS into the heart of Winter Park.
Community Engagement
Thank you to all those who attended events and took the online survey on the Downtown Portal! The survey closed with 246 submissions. Respondents included 44% second-home or property owners, 52% residents, including full-time and part-time Winter Park residents and other Grand County residents, and a small number of business owners and visitors.
Support for a pedestrian plaza was broad, but the clearest concern was traffic and access if Vasquez Road were closed. Comments from residents along Vasquez Road consistently focused on two issues: redundant access for neighborhoods west of the railroad tracks and emergency vehicle and evacuation access.
In response, staff is exploring a third alternative: aligning the ATS (Gondola) above Vasquez Road. This could preserve the roadway while eliminating the pedestrian-vehicle conflict at the portal. If feasible, the alignment could address the principal concern raised through public comment without sacrificing the plaza concept.
We have engaged Kimley-Horn to conduct a feasibility study of this alternative. Its scope includes structural and clearance requirements over the roadway, right-of-way implications, and constructability. We expect results in October and will present them to Council at the October 6th Workshop.
Once again, thank you to all those who provided feedback! We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
About the Project
Looking for more information about the Downtown Portal and the larger ATS project? Check out some of our frequently asked questions.
The Downtown Portal will serve as the landing area for the Aerial Transit System (ATS), previously known as "the gondola." The goal of the Downtown Portal is two-fold:
- Develop a space that resonates with Winter Park community members and residents, serving as a new gathering place and offering additional commercial opportunities and amenities for those who call Winter Park home.
- Create a welcoming space that invites visitors from the resort into downtown Winter Park, supporting our local businesses, creating an easier route to events that reduces traffic congestion, and connecting guests to additional recreational opportunities.
The Downtown Portal is connected to the Imagine Winter Park Unlocked plan, which the Winter Park Resort is still developing. While much of the Imagine Winter Park Unlocked plan will be developed and implemented by the resort in partnership with the Town, the Downtown Portal provides a space where the Town can exert greater influence with input from Winter Park Community Members.
