ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – WKMG Hits The Road. It’s all part of a new initiative where WKMG highlights different communities within Central Florida.
The initiative kicked off in the 32825 ZIP code. News 6 anchor and Insider Guide Crystal Moyer wasn’t too familiar with east Orange County as she drove around and spoke with residents about what makes the area special.
State Road 417 and State Road 408 cut through the 32825 zip code. Right off the highway stables with horses can be seen, so Crystal pulled up to AAA Equestrian, built and run by head horse trainer Adalyn Garcia and her family. AAA named after mom, Anna and her two daughters, Adalyn and Adrianna.
“All of our staff are women and I love that it shows strength,” Adalyn said.
AAA Equestrian offers lessons, pony parties, boarding, trail rides and more.
“This area, it’s extremely different from the beach or the amusement parks, which we’re known for, so it is really calming to be able to help my clients relax and escape for an hour or two,” Adalyn said.
Adalyn’s family is Cuban and she said the diversity makes the 32825 area special.
“We became so diverse that now this neighborhood has become a melting pot which is awesome,” Adalyn said.
“The 32825 isn’t all rural, this is just a rural part of the zip code. It’s very residential. A lot of people come here and say ‘I never knew this was back here, it’s so beautiful.’ It’s a slice of heaven away from the rest of the city,” Adalyn said.
Crystal then drove to one of the plazas in east Orange County to speak with residents about what they like about the area.
Crystal met Marzean Hatcher, a 50-year resident of the area. She says it’s grown a lot.
“It used to be 32817 zip code, but they changed it as it grew,” Marzean said. “This [plaza] didn’t used to be here when I moved here. We didn’t have a grocery store nearby. We had to go down State Road 436 to get to a grocery store.”
Marzean said the area is quiet and that’s why she likes to live there.
Keep in mind, the 32825 area is in close proximity to the Orlando International Airport so it’s common to see — and hear — planes flying overhead.
Another neighbor, Sabrina described the area as “neighborly.”
Josue Gimbernard grew up in the area and described it as “beautiful, accessible and fun.”
So where do neighbors hang out in the 32825? Many recommended Don Julio.
It’s a Mexican restaurant in a plaza off Chickasaw Trail. That’s where Crystal met Alberto Echeverri, who brought his family and friends for lunch.
“The music, the ambiance. You can see everyone get up and start dancing,” Alberto said.
Alberto also said it’s the diversity that makes the 32825 so special.
“It’s one of the few areas that’s predominately Hispanic. It’s very welcoming. The neighbors are friendly and you’ll spot people outside walking and hanging out and they’ll talk to you. It’s not like other neighborhoods where people don’t know each other and no one hangs out outside,” Alberto said.
East Orange County is also home to Valencia College East Campus serving 21,000 students each year.
47-acre Downey Park off Flowers Avenue offers a variety of recreational activities and a popular dog park.
And we can’t forget the historic Rio Pinar Golf Course & Country Club that has hosted champions and is now aimed at attracting families across the community in east Orange County.
As part of WKMG Hits The Road, News 6 will be broadcasting live from Rio Pinar on Wednesday, March 6, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The public is welcome to visit and meet News 6 anchors and investigative reporters during the event.
You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below: