Honored to be recognized with a Communicator Award of Distinction in 2024 and with a Charlie Award by the Florida Magazine Association in 2023.
On Wednesday, November 13, Horizon West residents came together to celebrate the groundbreaking of the long-anticipated Horizon West Branch of the Orange County Library System (OCLS). Scheduled to open in late 2025, this new branch promises to become a cornerstone for educational growth, cultural enrichment, and community connection.
Situated between Town Center and the village of Bridgewater, with access from Hamlin Groves Trail, the library will be co-located with the future-planned Horizon West Regional Park.
The Horizon West Branch is part of a future 11-acre campus designed to become a hub of activity and learning. The 20,000 square-foot library will feature a state-of-the-art design by Florida-based architecture firm Borrelli + Partners, Inc. Integrating seamlessly with the park’s natural landscape, it will include unique outdoor amenities such as a performance space, a Florida native flower teaching garden, and a nature path with a permanent StoryWalk® installation. H. J. High Construction Company will lead the project’s construction.
“I am honored and privileged to be working on this new branch,” Danielle King, Chief of Neighborhood Services with OCLS, shared with an enthusiastic crowd of residents, community leaders, media and OCLS staff. She underscored the deep connection between the library and the people it serves, saying, “This would not have happened without you, the community. You have supported us. You championed for us, and now it is finally happening.”
Special recognition was given to Horizon West’s Waterleigh Community, which has graciously opened its community center for library events at no cost while awaiting the new branch’s completion. These events will continue until the branch opens, ensuring that library services remain accessible and active within the community.
District 1 County Commissioner Nicole Wilson beautifully illustrated a library’s power: “If you can get to a library, you are not alone. You can travel the world. You can ride on the back of a dragon. You can visit far away planets and go back in time. Or you can just learn to speak Mandarin. If you have a library, you have a place for story time, a place to travel the worldwide web and a place to meet up with your neighbors.”
Crockett Bohannon, President of the Orange County Library System Board of Trustees, emphasized the broader significance of the day. “Libraries are the heart of the community,” he remarked. “We are not just buildings filled with books. We are gateways to knowledge, imagination and opportunity.”
His words highlighted the multifaceted role libraries play in fostering both individual growth and community ties.
He continued, “Today we are not just breaking ground on a new building; we are laying the foundation for countless stories waiting to be discovered … This library is more than bookshelves and computers. It will be a place where children discover the joy of reading, where jobseekers find resources to build their careers, where neighbors gather to share ideas and experiences.”
Crockett also encouraged all residents to participate in this journey, emphasizing, “Visit our libraries. Volunteer. Attend our programs. And share your ideas. That’s what brought us here today.”
This new chapter in Horizon West is a testament to the community’s dedication and vision—an investment in shared learning, creativity and connection that will serve generations to come.
“We are excited to move into the construction phase of this important project,” said OCLS CEO/Library Director Steve Powell. “West Orange County continues to grow, and we are pleased library services can grow alongside this vibrant community.”
The Horizon West Branch is designed to not only meet current community needs, but to adapt for future growth. It will be the first OCLS location to offer outdoor events and performance spaces, along with versatile meeting rooms that can be combined or used individually to accommodate gatherings during and after library hours.
Additionally, sustainability is a key component, with the branch aiming for LEED® Silver certification. LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to evaluate the environmental performance of buildings and measure their sustainability.
Crockett concluded with his hopes for the future of this branch, “Let’s make this Horizon West library, and our entire library system, a shining example of what’s possible when a community comes together.”
In anticipation of the grand opening, residents can take full advantage of OCLS services from home and with pop-up events in Horizon West:
- Get your library card online for instant access
- Borrow books and media with free home delivery
- Return items using the OCLS drop box located in Hamlin
- Watch for library pop-up events in Horizon West
For more details about the OCLS Services, the Horizon West Branch plans and the history of this milestone project, visit our
Horizon West Library Page.
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