Pine Hills

Located west of Orlando, Florida in Orange County, United States, Pine Hills is a census-designated place (CDP) and unincorporated subdivision with a population of 2,050. Pine Hills has a population of 60,076 people according to the 2010 United States Census. It is a component of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area in the state of Florida (home to 2,134,311 people in 2010).

A number of parks, five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school can be found in Pine Hills as well as various other amenities. The Pine Hills Trail, which will run from Barnett Park through the heart of the community to Clarcona-Ocoee Road, is also being created as part of the Florida Coast to Coast Bicycle Trail. Multiple revitalization projects are currently underway in the city as a result of years of neglect and blight. These efforts are showing promising outcomes.

Pine Hills’ most recent revitalization attempt began with the formation of the Pine Hills Safe Neighborhood Partnership, which was established in 2015. A organization of neighborhood members that work together with the Orange County Government and local law enforcement authorities to keep the region safe is known as Neighborhood Watch. In addition to grant support from private and public sources, the group is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with tax exempt status.

Crime prevention and resident safety projects are funded through the grants, which support a wide range of initiatives. Some of the initiatives include hiring off-duty law enforcement officers to conduct extra patrols, offering summer youth programs to keep youth engaged, and assisting neighborhoods in making infrastructure improvements such as traffic patterns, community lighting, and other improvements, among others. Regular community meetings are held in the Pine Hills Community Center on a regular basis.

The Pine Hills Land Analysis and Strategic Plan, which was commissioned by the Pine Hills Community Council, Inc. in 2004, established a vision for regeneration and economic growth that was supported by the community’s people. This area has continued to focus on revitalization initiatives since the publication of the study, organizing community meetings and forming partnerships with private developers and public authorities.

It also encourages property owners and tenants to participate in the preservation of the neighborhood’s quality of life. In this area, the sheriff’s office has reported a decrease in crime trends as a result of the community collaborations and a strong emphasis on crime prevention efforts. Mayor Richard Crotty also founded the Pine Hills Business Redevelopment Task Force in October 2009, which continues to this day. The formation of this 13-member advisory council was intended to aid in the economic regeneration of the surrounding area.