Surrounded by lakes, state parks, a vast trail system and nature preserves, Central Florida’s Greenwood Lakes suburb puts outdoor recreation at residents’ fingertips. "This area is all about the outdoor lifestyle," says Dawn Taylor, Realtor with Coldwell Banker with over 18 years of experience in the Orlando area. "There are so many opportunities for water activities, and a lot of life is returning to the area." Greenwood Lakes is located in Lake Mary, a city ranked by Niche as the fourth-best suburb to live in Orlando, and one of the best places to live in the country by CNN Money Magazine. Beyond its outdoor offerings, Greenwood Lakes offers a top-notch school district, sits 4 miles south of the vibrant downtown Lake Mary district and is under 20 miles from the attraction-rich Orlando. This combination provides a unique blend of suburban living with a country feel, all while minutes from big-city amenities.
Nature parks and lakes are prominent features of this community. The 67-acre Greenwood Lake sits at the center of the neighborhood, with paths for walking circling the lake. Greenwood Lakes Park is in the southeast section, between the middle and high schools. The 14-acre park offers three lit tennis courts, two playgrounds and a roller hockey rink. Estella Park is a modest neighborhood green space on a small lake where residents can fish, kayak or take kids to the playground. The community is also home to the Cross Seminole Trail System, a pedestrian, bicycle and equestrian trailway throughout Seminole County. Greenwood Lakes Park is a trailhead to the paved 23-mile Cross Seminole Trail, popular with cyclists and hikers. This trail, which connects with the Seminole Wekiva Trail, has a portion designated as the Florida National Scenic Trail and is a part of the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail. Hikers and mountain bikers can also access the 14-mile Seminole Wekiva Trail at the Markham Trail, 4 miles west. Nature preserves, more trails and vast wilderness await less than 10 miles west of the community. The biggest is Wekiwa State Park, which draws outdoor enthusiasts from all over the state with its emerald springs, tropical canopied forests, diverse wildlife and unique amenities. Residents can canoe, swim in the 72-degree Wekiwa Springs, sunbathe or snorkel. The 7,000-acre park also offers a 9-mile bike trail, 8 miles of equestrian trails, hiking trails up to 13 miles and 60 campsites. Greenwood Lakes is home to Planet Obstacle, the world’s largest indoor obstacle park. At 45,000 square feet, the venue has everything from bumper cars to a ropes course, a zip line and a rock-climbing wall. Nearby, the Wekiva River Buffer Conservation Area provides opportunities to see various bird species and wildlife, along with fishing and hiking trails.
Quiet streets are lined with palm trees and classic suburban Floridian-style homes. Architectural styles span from coastal contemporaries to sandy-colored ranch-style homes, Mediterranean-inspired houses and traditional Craftsman styles. Most single-family homes here were built in the early 1990s and range from approximately $390,000 for a three-bedroom home, around 1,400 square feet, to around $500,000 for a four-bedroom home over 2,000 square feet. There are some newer construction options, built in 2020 and 2021 in the gated Griffin Park community, priced over $780,000 for a custom build over 3,000 square feet. Condos and townhouses range from around $165,000 for a 700-square-foot one-bedroom to around $370,000 for a three-bedroom property over 1,400 square feet. Condos can be found in the Regency Park subdivision, which has $288 monthly homeowners’ association fees but includes access to tennis courts and a pool. Higher-end townhouses are located in the Riviera subdivision. Homeowners’ association fees cost $233 a month, including access to a community pool, cabanas, ponds and a hiking trail. Many homes have spacious two-car garages, well-landscaped lawns and backyards with pools or lanais. Lot sizes are mostly around 7,000 square feet, but many span over a quarter acre. Higher-end homes sit on the banks of Greenwood Lake, which is at the heart of the community, but all residents are within walking distance of it.
Seminole County Public Schools serves the community, which is the top school district in the Orlando area, according to Niche. The school district has also been ranked number one by the STEM Career Prep Index every year that it’s been published, including 2024. The index ranks districts on how they prepare high school students for college STEM majors. "The area has an excellent school system that's highly sought after. Most schools have very high ratings on Niche," Taylor says. Students can attend Lake Mary Elementary in the neighboring Lake community, followed by Greenwood Lakes Middle School and Lake Mary High School within the neighborhood. The elementary school, notable for sorting students into a house system to help boost socialization skills and school spirit, earned an A-minus on Niche, and the middle school scored a B-plus. Earning an A on Niche, Lake Mary High is ranked the fourth-best high school in the county and offers softball and lacrosse teams and a Biology Olympiads club.
Lake Mary Boulevard, along Greenwood Lakes’ northern edge, is the community's central business area, lined with retail stores, restaurants, banks, pharmacies and medical clinics. Residents can pick up clothing or home decor at Lake Mary Village, which has a TJ Maxx and HomeGoods. The area also has big box and grocery stores, like Target, Publix and Winn-Dixie. Chain restaurants are scattered throughout the community, but there are local favorites like Don Julio Mexican Kitchen Lake Mary, known for its ceviche bar and extensive tequila menu. Greek Village is another locally owned option, offering traditional dishes like gyros, moussaka and spanakopita. Mikado Japanese Cuisine serves up all-you-can-eat sushi and hibachi dinners, and Colombia La Bella Lake Mary treats palates to a diverse selection of empanadas, arepas and plantains. The walkable downtown Lake Mary district is 4 miles away for more shopping, dining and attractions. Downtown also has a farmers’ market every Saturday offering stock up on local produce, jewelry and crafts.
Downtown Lake Mary offers a WineART Wednesday Marketplace once a month, where attendees can enjoy food trucks, a wine and beer garden, live music and artists. The annual Lake Mary-Heathrow Festival of the Arts in March has been a tradition for over 35 years and draws hundreds of attendees for its art exhibits, demos and live performances. Santa also visits downtown during December for Holiday in the Park, which features music, a light show and a train ride for children. On Halloween, the city hosts Halloween Spooktacular downtown and regular “Movie in the Park” nights, located in downtown’s Central Park, throughout the year.
The community is well connected, with Interstate 4 running along its western edge. Residents can access downtown Lake Mary in 4 miles and Orlando in 19 miles.
For public transportation, there is an Amtrak SunRail station in Lake Mary and bus stops along Lake Mary Boulevard. Medical necessities can be treated at Orlando Health South Seminole Hospital, 5 miles from the community. For travel outside the Orlando area, residents are less than 10 miles from the Orlando Sanford International Airport.
