The attached Acquisition and Donation Agreement for Retention Property is a proposed contract between the City of Orlando and West Colonial Inn, Inc., the owner of a small retention pond located between W. Colonial Drive and W. Arlington Ave., just west of John Young Parkway. The City and Orange County have easements to drain stormwater from nearby lands into the retention pond, which is commonly known as "Lake Notasulga" (reportedly named after the Alabama birthplace of local author Zora Neale Hurston). 

While operating as a City and County stormwater facility, Lake Notasulga is privately owned and is densely overgrown with exotic and invasive plants. The grounds are also commonly strewn with trash, debris, abandoned property, and suffers from frequent trespassing. The adjacent neighborhood frequently complains about the unkempt condition of the property. The current owner of Lake Notasulga has agreed to donate the property to the City of Orlando. Public Works intends to undertake an initial cleanup of the land and contemporaneously with this donation, City staff proposes to enter into a long term grounds maintenance agreement with the neighboring Orlando Union Rescue Mission.