Exploring the World With Pokemon Go: Lake Highland Park
Lake Highland Park is the first of multiple areas along the Orlando Urban Trail. While I really started at the southern end of said trail, I want to make sure to give some focus to the park right beside it.
The Urban Trail:
Before focusing on Lake Highland Park, let’s talk about the Urban Trail. The Orlando Urban Trail begins right near where Magnolia Avenue ends. This major downtown street’s end marks where I also set out on my adventure. The trail is clearly marked as such with sign posts and mile markers. There are also divided lines such as what would be found on a street. Unsurprising since this is a bike trail.
There is one other major featured pictured above and I want to touch on it for a moment. Right alongside the Urban Trail, runs a set of railroad tracks. The Sunrail, the Orlando Area’s early attempt at a proper Metro Train runs on these tracks. I eagerly awaited a train to pass while I explored, but to no avail. Perhaps I will do a Sunrail Adventure at some point.
I should mention a bit more about trains. The railroad has been one of my earliest obsessions. According to my family, even as an infant, I smiled when I heard a train rolling by. Growing up in Chicago, Illinois meant interacting with trains constantly. But Orlando, Florida is a bit different. There are far fewer trains here. Most of the city was built with cars in mind.
Lake Highland:
Given the name, it should be no surprise that Lake Highland Park has a lake. As usual, I took multiple pictures of this lake. This area of my journey is sort of an in between. I am still on the Urban Trail, but am sort of in in Lake Highland Park. But the area designated as the park proper is farther down.
Notably, half the lake property is used by businesses and I believe a school as well. I think that is a playground on the other side of the lake at least. And one that is not open to the public.
I finally got a chance to cross the street and stand on the lake shore at this point. There were few wild animals and so no pictures of them. Still, this park is heavily frequented by people so perhaps that is to blame. Not pictured at all is the massive sport field on the other side of the street. The noise of teens at play probably keeps animals away too. Notably, there were multiple Lacrosse Games happening when I was here.
The Park:
When I finally reached Lake Highland Park properly, I found that it was not too much in space. Open fields before a lake are nothing new at this point. Even large trees have appeared in this blog before. Sometimes the journey really is more valuable than the destination.
This is not to say that the park has no redeeming qualities. I have just been to many parks that are quite similar to it. All in all, while I am more interested in the nearby Urban Trail, don’t let that stop you from coming to check this place out.
Pokemon Go:
Lake Highland Park is not too noteworthy in Pokemon Go. I have found a few very rare Pokemon here such as Combee and Anorith. The second of which is pictured nearby in the above image. However, the trail leading to the park had almost no spawns. Most of the stops were actually located on the nearby streets which feature shopping areas.
From what the map shows above though, there might be plenty more in Pokemon Go when I continue down the Orlando Urban Trail in the future. Look forward to that very soon.