Orlando to begin The Canopy redevelopment under I-4, converting 10 acres into public park space

Construction timeline and project footprint

Orlando is preparing to start construction in summer 2026 on a long-planned redevelopment beneath Interstate 4 intended to convert underused space into a public destination in the city’s urban core. The project, branded “The Canopy,” is planned for the area under I-4 between West Washington Street and West Church Street, bounded by South Garland Avenue and South Hughey Avenue.

City materials describe the project area as nearly 10 acres. Recent city statements indicate construction is expected to last about 18 to 20 months, with completion projected for 2027 or 2028. Earlier planning documents identified the effort for years as the “Under-i” project before the current design and name were adopted.

What The Canopy is designed to include

Project plans presented by the city outline a multi-use space meant to function as a gathering place rather than a corridor people pass through. The current concept includes flexible areas for festivals and programmed events, public art elements and a digital projection component intended for use on structural surfaces under the highway.

Mobility features are also central to the plan. The city has described pedestrian and bicycle paths running through the project site, with the broader aim of improving connections across downtown in an area historically shaped by highway infrastructure.

• Festival and event space intended for public programming
• Public art and digital projection features
• Pedestrian and bicycle pathways intended to improve east–west connections
• More than 300 public parking spaces in the project area

Funding and governance

The city has identified The Canopy as a Community Redevelopment Agency investment totaling $30 million. The project is positioned within the framework of the Downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Area plan known as the DTO Action Plan, a multi-year package of public-space and mobility projects.

How the project fits into broader downtown changes

The Canopy is advancing as other DTO Action Plan work begins. On February 10, 2026, the city broke ground on Phase 1 of a downtown street conversion that will return Magnolia Avenue to two-way traffic between South Street and Livingston Street. That phase is planned to last about six months and includes changes to bus operations, on-street parking, and interim corridor adjustments.

City planning for The Canopy has framed the project as a way to activate underutilized land while improving how people move between downtown districts divided by I-4.

Next milestones

With construction slated to begin in summer 2026, the next public updates are expected to focus on scheduling, traffic and access planning near the project boundaries, and coordination with other downtown street and transit adjustments underway through 2026 and beyond.