SHOPPING
Avon Park has two central shopping districts and numerous retail centers, as well as the "Mile Long Mall" which includes unique shops and restaurants. Close by on US Highway 27 are two enclosed malls; Lakeshore Mall to the south and Eagle Ridge Mall to the north.
RECREATION
The Avon Park area offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities. From fishing in our 30+ lakes...to golfing on one of the 11 area golf courses...to hiking and biking trails...to shuffleboard or tennis...or, if you prefer, just relax and enjoy the magnificent sunsets. The Avon Park Air Force Range has approximately 82,000 acres open for public access on a regular basis for hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, and other related activities. We welcome you to come and enjoy.
EDUCATION & CULTURE
Education
Avon Park offers fully accredited schools, K through Community
College, and in addition various private schools.
Culture
Culture abounds in Avon Park. A typical
series of professional programs at the 1500-seat Auditorium of South Florida Community
College will include Broadway musicals, ballet, and outstanding concerts by well known
artists. SFCC also offers a Senior Enrichment Series during the winter months
designed to educate and stimulate the minds of our 55+ residents and visitors. The
Music Department of SFCC offers many performances throughout the year featuring highly
acclaimed artists; as well as performances by local musical groups.
The Avon Park Library, a part of a county-wide system, offers more than 30,000 volumes, including audio and video tapes, large print books and a genealogy reference collection. The Learning Resource Center, a part of SFCC, has more than 41,000 books, 100 journals and 14 national computer data bases. Residents are allowed access to the Center for $5.00 per year.
The annual "Springtime on the Mall" Arts & Crafts Festival, held in late March for over 20 years, brings vendors from around the country and draws over 15,000 in attendance for the two-day event.
SERVICES
HEALTH CARE
Two major hospitals serve the residents of Avon
Park. Florida Hospital Heartland Division opened a new state-of-the-art facility
in the fall of 1997 at the corner of US Hwy 27 and Sun 'n Lake Blvd., just south
of Avon Park. All of the 101 beds in the facility are in private rooms. Florida
Hospital Heartland also houses the area's largest hospital based laboratory and
radiology services plus comprehensive diagnostic and treatment facilities.
Highlands Regional Medical Center is located at the heart of Highlands County in
Sebring at the intersection of US Hwy 27 and Highlands Avenue. The 126-bed
general, acute care community hospital has recently undergone many positive
changes. State-of-the-art equipment has been installed, services have been
expanded, a sparkling new Out-Patient Surgery Center has been added, and the
Emergency Room has been entirely renovated.