Shipping containers installed for new inside-the-box entertainment center

Boxi Park Lake Nona set to open in December

LAKE NONA, Fla. – A unique entertainment district is coming to Central Florida, and you could say the developers are thinking inside the box.

Boxi Park Lake Nona is stacking containers that will soon house restaurants and bars, creating a first-of-its-kind park in the area.

Construction crews started placing the 14 large storage containers this week along Lake Nona and Tavistock Lakes boulevards. The containers were still empty Thursday, but developers said they hold a future of possibilities. 

"It's really going to be an incubator for concepts," said Jessi Blakley, with Tavistock Development.

Blakley said the concept for Boxi Park Lake Nona began earlier this year. 

[PREVIOUS: Here's why a new Lake Nona park will serve food out of shipping containers]

The unique concept park is similar to others in large cities across the country. It features storage containers, which will hold restaurants and bars, dining areas, live entertainment space, a dog park, a kids playing area and beach volleyball courts.

Blakley said the idea behind the space is to foster creativity and build dreams. 

"We're looking for restaurateurs. We're looking for brewmasters. We're looking for folks who really want a test bed -- a place where they can test their concepts, see if something works," she said.  

Blakley said businesses will rotate in and out of the space, which will create more dining and entertainment options for Central Florida.

She said the park itself could change. Developers can move the shipping containers around as plans expand.

Some people who live in the area told News 6 they want more green space. Others said they can't wait for Boxi Park to open in December. 

"Typically, if I want to go out and get dinner, then there's only a select number of options in the area," resident Amanda McCann said. "To have something super close and with a lot of different entertainment and food options, I'm super excited."

Developers said they don't have an estimate on the economic impact the park will have on the area, but they estimate it will create 100 jobs.

Click here to learn more information about Boxi Park Lake Nona.


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