It is more than routine maintenance in Orange County. The Pine Hills infrastructure public works plan is aiming to create a safer neighborhood.

  • Orange County to spend $7 million over next several years
  • Infrastructure projects to benefit Pine Hills area
  • Includes safety upgrades, beautification

"Crime prevention through environmental design," said Lavon Williams, a manager who works on community-related intiatives with Orange County government.

"Basically the concept is that you make physical improvements to an area, to make the area less vulnerable to criminal activity," Williams continued.

Orange County leaders are investing at least $7 million over the next several years on infrastructure projects, in order to create a brighter Pine Hills.

"Getting street lights upgraded to brighter lights, getting new poles in dark areas, that is going to make a tremendous difference in Pine Hills in terms of safety and in terms of beautification," Williams explained.

The area is also on the road to completing a pedestrian and bike safety study.  

That, coupled with recreation initiatives like the Pine Hills Trail and Barnett Park, are likely to be key enhancements for an unassuming neighborhood of more than 60,000 residents.

"We know that trail is going to be a place to garner a lot of community spirit for Pine Hills," Williams shared.

"It's also hopefully going to be an economic driver, because we're going to hope that people will want to traverse the trail and will stop and use Pine Hills businesses along the way," Williams said.

The public works plan is all part of a targeted long-term effort to redevelop and revitalize the greater Pine Hills area.

"Because as Pine Hills gets better and better and better, of course Orange County gets better and better and better," Williams said.

Orange County leaders said they will continue partnering with the Orange County Sheriff's Office to identify opportunities for safety improvements.