College Park: A Guide to the Edgewater Drive Neighborhood

The Story of College Park

College Park began as citrus groves. The first known resident was grower John Ericsson, who built a farmhouse at 19 W. Princeton St. in the late 1800s, with settlement accelerating after the South Florida Railroad arrived in 1880, according to the College Park Neighborhood Association's published history. The name College Park first appeared on a February 1925 subdivision plat filed by the Cooper-Atha-Barr Company, a 201-lot development on a 40-acre parcel along Lake Ivanhoe with streets named Princeton, Harvard, Dartmouth, and Yale.

Earlier subdivisions set the pattern: Walter Rose's Rosemere in 1921, which began the college-street naming tradition; H. Carl Dann's Dubsdread in 1923; J.P. Holbrook's Edgewater Heights in 1924; and Frank L. Anderson's Anderson Park in 1924. After the Depression-era bust, Welborn C. Phillips bought up vacant lots west of Edgewater Drive and rode the post-war building boom. The neighborhood name later grew to encompass communities like Adair Park, Ivanhoe Heights, Concord Park, and Palm Terrace, per the History Center's "A College Park Century" and the neighborhood association.

Today the neighborhood is defined by tree-lined streets, some brick-paved, 1920s bungalows and craftsman homes, and a strong small-town community identity that is rare so close to a downtown core.

Edgewater Drive: The Neighborhood Main Street

Edgewater Drive, known locally as The Drive, is College Park's mile-long main street of locally owned shops, restaurants, cafes, and public art. It is organized as a Florida Main Street district, and it is the kind of commercial corridor where many residents can walk to dinner, coffee, and errands from their front doors.

Restaurants and cafes verified as operating as of October 2026 include Shakers American Cafe at 1308 Edgewater Dr., Infusion Tea at 1600 Edgewater Dr., Turci Pasta at 2120 Edgewater Dr., The Castle Irish Pub and Restaurant at 2625 Edgewater Dr., Gabriel's Submarine Sandwich at 3006 Edgewater Dr., Ollie's Public House at 3400 Edgewater Dr., and Tornatore's Restaurant at 3818 Edgewater Dr., among others. Menus, hours, and ownership change, so check each business directly.

The College Park neighborhood center, community events, and the local business association keep The Drive active year-round, and the district's public art and holiday decorations give it a distinct identity separate from the chain-heavy corridors elsewhere in the region.

The Lakes

College Park wraps around more than 280 acres of lakes, including Lake Adair, Lake Ivanhoe, Lake Concord, and Lake Silver, according to the neighborhood's published materials. Lakefront parks and small boat ramps put the water within reach of many homes, and a Lake Ivanhoe Historic District marker on the lake's south shore notes the area's history.

Lake Ivanhoe, at about 124 acres, is the largest of the neighborhood's lakes and connects visually to downtown Orlando's skyline. Kayaking and paddleboarding are common on the calmer days, and the lakeside parks are popular for walking and picnicking. Waterfront property carries its own considerations, including seawalls, docks, and flood and insurance questions, which the Lake Living guide covers in more depth.

Dubsdread Golf Course

Dubsdread Golf Course is an 18-hole, par-70 public course of about 6,123 to 6,165 yards, and it is the oldest public golf layout in Central Florida, per the Florida Historic Golf Trail. Developer Carl Dann Sr. founded it in 1923, recruiting 100 founding members, and the course opened in 1924. The original design is credited to Chicago golf architect Tom Bendelow, and the course was renovated and redesigned by Mike Dasher in 2008.

Dubsdread hosted the Orlando Golf Open, with legends like Sam Snead and Ben Hogan in the field, and it sits on the Florida Historic Golf Trail. The Tap Room at Dubsdread operates out of the historic 1920s clubhouse, serving as a neighborhood restaurant and bar that shares the course's 1924 legacy. Membership, tee times, and clubhouse access are separate from homeownership in the surrounding residential streets, so buyers interested in golf should confirm the current access arrangements directly with the course.

Housing Character

Housing in College Park is predominantly older single-family homes from the 1920s through the 1950s, with bungalows and craftsman styles dominating. Many homes have been renovated, and some lots have infill and duplex development. Lakefront properties on Lake Adair and the smaller lakes carry significant premiums, and street appeal varies block by block.

There is no HOA in most of College Park, which is part of its appeal, but it also means buyers should do their own due diligence on each property. Most homes are on smaller lots with limited off-street parking, and older systems may need updating. The neighborhood is highly sought after, and well-priced homes sell quickly. The Neighborhood Shortlist Workbook is a practical tool for comparing College Park against other in-town neighborhoods before touring.

Getting Around

Edgewater Drive connects College Park to downtown Orlando and to SR 50, while Princeton Street and Parramore link to the SR 408 expressway and I-4. The neighborhood is walkable and bikeable, with downtown a short ride on local streets. Traffic on Edgewater and at the downtown approaches builds at commute hours, though the side streets are generally quiet.

Drive times depend on traffic, route, and exact address. Depending on conditions, trips to downtown Orlando typically take about 10 to 15 minutes, the Walt Disney World area is roughly 25 to 35 minutes away, and Orlando International Airport (MCO) usually runs about 20 to 30 minutes.

Things to Consider Before Moving to College Park

Nearby Communities and Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions About College Park

Is College Park a city?

No. College Park is a historic in-town neighborhood within the City of Orlando in Orange County, a few minutes northwest of downtown between I-4 and a chain of lakes.

Is College Park walkable?

Yes. Edgewater Drive, the neighborhood's mile-long main street, puts restaurants, cafes, shops, and public art within walking distance of many homes, and downtown Orlando is a short ride on local streets.

What is Edgewater Drive like?

Edgewater Drive, known locally as The Drive, is a mile-long Florida Main Street district of locally owned shops, restaurants, cafes, and public art. It is the social heart of the neighborhood.

What lakes border College Park?

College Park wraps around more than 280 acres of lakes, including Lake Adair, Lake Ivanhoe, Lake Concord, and Lake Silver. Lake Ivanhoe, at about 124 acres, is the largest.

What is Dubsdread Golf Course?

Dubsdread is an 18-hole, par-70 public course that opened in 1924, the oldest public golf layout in Central Florida. It sits on the Florida Historic Golf Trail, and The Tap Room at Dubsdread operates out of the historic clubhouse.

How far is College Park from downtown Orlando?

College Park sits northwest of downtown Orlando. Depending on traffic, trips typically take about 10 to 15 minutes by car, and Edgewater Drive connects directly to the downtown core.

Sources and Reporting

Facts on this page were checked against public sources in October 2026: the College Park Neighborhood Association's published history; the History Center's "A College Park Century"; the Florida Historic Golf Trail's Dubsdread profile and The Tap Room at Dubsdread's published history; The Drive College Park's neighborhood history; Visit Orlando's College Park profile; and current local business listings for Edgewater Drive. Golf access, menus, business hours, and event schedules change, so verify with the official source before planning around them.

Last updated: October 13, 2026 at 19:39 UTC. Published by Moving to Orlando Guide with Tyler Gibson.