Renovations of the abandoned citrus shop and packing shed at Marjorie A. Hoy Memorial Park at Orange Lake Overlook (OLO) are expected to begin by early 2026 to reflect the land’s rich history.
The proposed cost of the project is in the millions, but one must learn the park’s history to fully understand how the two buildings are going to recognize the people of McIntosh.
The Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) purchased 71 acres of land in 2018, and several expansions later, the park boasts three miles of trails across 157 acres overlooking Orange Lake. At the top of the hill sits two abandoned buildings that reflect the park’s history in the citrus industry, but the land’s use goes back centuries further, to the Timucua people…