RiverWalk bike trail.

Sanford, Seminole County

An enchanting merge of the old and new, Sanford’s community embraces its beautifully preserved buildings and the serene waterfront of Lake Monroe, adjacent to its sleepy main street. Downtown Sanford serves as a perfect example of how a small town (of approximately 63,000 people) can thrive by blending historical preservation with modern liveliness. It creates a dynamic and engaging environment that is both a tribute to its past and a forward-looking beacon of community.

A couple walks through the historic downtown.

A Family-Friendly Experience

Sanford’s waterfront environs mean fun for all ages. Getting out on the water has never been easier: Take a lunch or dinner cruise down the St. Johns River on the Barbara-Lee Sternwheeler, or get behind the wheel yourself at the Downtown Sanford Marina, the first marine facility in Florida to achieve Clean Marina, Clean Boatyard and Clean Retailer designations.

If you’re a landlubber, that’s no problem—how about a tour of the city on the free downtown trolley? Families with young children shouldn’t miss out on the splash pad at Fort Mellon Park, located along the RiverWalk. The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens is just fives miles from downtown, and a little further out (a 35-minute drive), Wekiwa Springs State Park is full of natural wonders.

Returning to his Roots

Sanford Mayor Art Woodruff loves Sanford—a sixth generation resident, Woodruff was born and raised here, and after attending the University of North Carolina, returned to his hometown and started teaching in the Seminole County Public Schools. He has taught high school and computer science for 38 years, including 14 years at Seminole High School, where he was the yearbook advisor.

“Because my family on both sides had been in Sanford so long, growing up it felt like we knew everyone,” recalls Woodruff. “We moved to my great-grandparents’ house when I was six and many of the families in that neighborhood were people my parents knew growing up. What I think is typical of the times, we could leave the house in the morning and not be back until sunset.”

“My father had a garden center on Celery Avenue and I spent a lot of time there helping out,” he continues. “Other than college, I never left. Sanford and Central Florida have been a good place for me to raise my family and both of my children are still in the area after college.”

Woodruff has focused on raising development standards, improving neighborhoods, maintaining and improving the city’s infrastructure and keeping up with the growing public safety needs of the city.

“Many of the best things about Sanford are because of our residents,” says Woodruff. “They decide to start something and that helps make Sanford a great place to live, work and play,” he adds, pointing to Sanford’s Historic Trust and its members, who renovated homes, opened them to the public at Christmas and last year hosted the 36^th Holiday Tour of Homes.

A woman stops to admire wildlife along the Sanford RiverWalk bike trail.

Such efforts, says Woodruff, have made Sanford a city that’s “clearly in demand.”

“Sanford has forever been evolving into the next phase, and I think we are doing that now,” Woodruff says. “We have the cool, trendy downtown with bars, restaurants and events—and the downtown is the heartbeat of the city. But we really have so much more. Our parks, airport, location, schools.”

Woodruff is a lifelong fishing enthusiast, and has spent a lot of time on the water in and around Sanford.

“I’m lucky that my grandfather enjoyed fishing, and I spent a lot of time with him at a lake in Osteen and on the St. Johns River,” he says. “We got a canoe when I was in elementary school (that I still have) and we would take that on the Wekiwa River. In high school we got a small motor boat and my parents bought lakefront property in Sanford (which is now my home). My favorite boat outing is to cruise the St. Johns River. I love going down some of the canals and oxbows off the main channel because you get to see some original Florida.”

“For those without boats,” he adds, “our RiverWalk provides access, or you can take the Barbara-Lee out for a dinner cruise.”

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