Pollen. In Florida, April showers bring pollen, and lots of it. If all the sniffling, coughing and wheezing has you thinking about nature all day, then boy do we have something fun to tell you!

We are giving away FREE trees! Yes! It’s National Arbor Day, so go to arborday.org/cityoforlando and order your new bestie to be delivered right to your door. 

Bring Kindness to the Table
Almost six years after the Pulse tragedy, our community continues to lead with compassion and inclusion in all that we do.  

Last weekend, Mayor Dyer joined District 4 Commissioner Patty Sheehan, One Orlando Alliance and Downtown Arts District Orlando to unveil the new Bring Kindness to the Table art project. The 24 tables, painted by local artists, showcase messages of love, kindness and joy in city parks and facilities with four tables located in each of the six commission districts.

The event also served as the kick-off the 49 Days of Acts of Love and Kindness, with each day leading up to June 12 honoring the life of an individual lost during the Pulse tragedy.

Downtown Travellers and Workers – A New Road Extension is Now Open
Getting in and out of south downtown Orlando just got a little easier. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) recently completed the extension of Boone Avenue south from Anderson Street to Sylvia Lane.  

The extension project improves accessibility to downtown from Hughey Avenue, Gore Street and the greater SODO area by allowing northbound traffic on Sylvia Lane to reach a signaled intersection with Anderson Street near the City Commons Parking Garage.

The reconfigured intersection also provides a dedicated lane for eastbound travelers on Anderson Street to easily turn south onto Boone Avenue, easing pressure on the intersection with Orange Avenue.  

This extension of Boone Avenue was made possible by the larger reconfiguration of I-4 and State Road (S.R.) 408 interchanges as part of the I-4 Ultimate Project. 

Learn more about traveling in downtown Orlando

Grand Avenue Neighborhood Center is Ready for You!
We’re ready to open the doors to this preserved building with a renewed sense of community, connection and pride. Get your families hyped and ready to come and see all the new amenities, programs and more that will be available to our residents.  

Join us Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. come check out the new gym, expanded Orlando Pottery Studio, new home of the Parramore and Holden Heights Kidz Zones and much more.

Learn more about the Grand Opening event

Bark and You Shall Receive
Dog pawrents, this one’s for you. Let us introduce you to BarkNona, Lake Nona’s premiere doggy daycare and hotel owned by husband-and-wife team Michael Green and Joley Monrouzeau.

Michael and Joley moved to Lake Nona from Puerto Rico in 2012 and have only grown more and more in love with their fast-growing community. A few years ago, as development started to pick up and more people were moving to the area, the couple realized there was something missing for the doggy residents of Lake Nona – a place to play when their pawrents were away. As dog lovers themselves, Michael and Joley decided to make it their mission to fulfill this need of the community and got to work planning BarkNona, which today is a full-service daycare and boarding facility that also offers professional grooming and training. 

BarkNona has been open for just more than a year and is well-loved by not only the residents of Lake Nona, but customers from Kissimmee, St. Cloud and beyond. Give them a visit at 12251 Andric Lane, or check out their website at barknonadoghotel.com. 

COVID Information and Resources

Rental Assistance - Apply Now

If you’re behind on your rent due to financial impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic, our Emergency Rental Assistance Program may be able to help you get current up to 18 months of unpaid rent. Visit orlando.gov/assistance for eligibility requirements. 

Order free at-home COVID-19 tests through the federal government at covidtests.gov

Vaccine information can be found at ocfl.net/vaccine 

Updates on city services can be found at orlando.gov/covid19 

Updates on Orange County services can be found at ocfl.net/covid19