What Sparked Proposed Protest Ban at Library & Events Center? Mostly photo shoots
Records show photo shoots account for most of the reported disruptions at the Library and Events Center, a popular TikTok backdrop with its sharp angles and vaulted rooflines
July 8, 2025
By Beth Kassab
Winter Park ordered up a spectacle with a more than $41 million Library & Events Center by British architect David Adjaye featuring rose-tinted concrete of sweeping angles and a complex of vaulted pavilions.
And that’s exactly what it got based on the reasoning for a proposed new ordinance to limit protests and other gatherings at the public space that opened in late 2021 at Martin Luther King Jr. Park.
“Because of current unrest that is being experienced around the country as well as recent event-related interruptions that have been reported at the Library and Events Center, the city felt this ordinance was necessary,” City spokeswoman Clarissa Howard said in an email. “The Library and Events Center has become a very popular rental venue for weddings, reunions, and other special events. It also architecturally lends itself to serve as a beautiful backdrop for professional and amateur photographers and all types of video productions/recordings. This ordinance would clearly outline the areas in which these types of activities can co-exist balancing public safety and free speech. It is a proactive measure to prevent potential hazards to pedestrian and vehicular traffic.”
A list provided by Howard includes 15 “disturbances” since the beginning of this year. Of those, 10 are described as “photo shoot with props” or “prom photos.” One noted a “changing booth” and “lights.”
The other disturbances were listed as “cars blocking traffic” or “skateboarding/rollerblading/scooter.” Only one was listed as “group with signs” or anything resembling a demonstration or a protest.
The city provided law enforcement call logs for some of the incidents. No one was cited or arrested and the logs appear to indicate the person who called in the complaint dropped the matter or the people or vehicles who were the subject of the complaints moved or left the area when asked.
A search of TikTok and Instagram posts tagged with the library or events center address yielded a handful of users posting photo shoots, wedding videos and other content.
After the first proposal was heavily criticized by two commissioners as potentially unconstitutional last month, the City Commission on Wednesday will consider a revised ordinance that includes a more narrow boundary around the buildings than first presented.
The revised version also includes a lower fine — from a maximum of $500 per day to $200 for the first infraction — for violations referred to Code Enforcement. The new wording also explicitly exempts political activities during elections, which is governed by state law — particularly because the library is a popular early voting site.
A list provided by the city of Winter Park shows disturbances logged at the Library and Events Center in 2025.
Commissioners Warren Lindsey and Marty Sullivan objected to the new rules last month, citing free speech and other concerns.
The blue line represents the new proposed boundary around the Library and Events Center to be considered this week.
“It’s not just just speech,” Lindsey said. “It’s also the right to assembly.”
He said the ordinance is a “solution looking for a problem” and that there are other rules on the books in Winter Park such as a noise ordinance and statutes against disorderly conduct that could apply to the concerns in question.
This image shows the original boundary drawn around the no-protest zone at the Library and Events Center considered on June 25.
All of the incidents on the list took place on a day or time while the Event Center, the city’s highest money-maker when it comes to venue rentals, was rented for a wedding, fundraiser or other private event.
The venue brings in $650,000 to $700,000 each year, according to the city budget. There have been 165 events through May at the venue, mostly for weddings and non-profit or corporate events. Repeat clients include Orlando Health, AdventHealth, the League of Women Voters and City Year Orlando, the budget stated.
WinterParkVoiceEditor@gmail.com
The real problem is event center participants using the library parking lot for hours and leaving nothing for those that want to get a book or go to a small event inside the library. The other day I saw about 7 vans from a company parked in the library spots including the 1-hour ones for an event center event. In my opinion, that would be the number 1 priority to address.
This all seems like a sledge hammer approach to a minor problem. Rights of free speech and assembly should be preserved in public spaces.
Enforce the parking rules and sound ordinances and leave peaceful gatherings alone.
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This proposed ordinance is an overreach and does little to solve the actual problem at hand—-if there really is one. Marginal use of government authority. Hard pass. -CJ Williams
Clearly a solution looking for a problem. Let’s focus on issues that need to be solved please Commissioners.
The public’s right to Freedom of Speech far outweighs the rights of those hosting private parties and social events. Those choosing to host events must assume the risk ( however unlikely) of a protest occurring in close proximity to their event. There should be a written disclosure in the catering contract so that hosts are made aware of this possibility.
Seems to me I recall we already have a ban for protesting on the sidewalks in front of Commissioners’ homes, don’t we? If we add the library, what else can we add? Central Park?
This is one of those “Winter Park problems.” Meaning, it’s pretty insignificant in the broader scheme of things. Other towns could only wish they had time to waste on such a piddling matter. Agree with commissioner Lindsey. No problem, no ordinance necessary … but yes to more monitoring of the parking lot issue.
Yes!
If photo shoots around the exterior are the main issue, they need to do what the Maitland Art Center does and require a timed/scheduled photo permit, and fee, for anyone taking professional photos which are for sale/paid service, such as wedding/prom pictures.
The scheduling would eliminate the photos colliding with events inside the Event Center and will also bring in additional money for the venue, without resulting in a ridiculous overreach.
The problem with this is twofold. 1) The police will not enforce this and most the time won’t even come to the property. 2) What hasn’t been reported is how rude and in some cases intimidating some of these folks can be to staff when asked to move along or quiet down when events are taking place.
Some of you guys are making light of the fact that many of these events are costly, important to families etc and the disruption and distractions are unwelcome and can ruin things such as weddings or presentations.
And as far as parking goes, the City nor the police have a desire to enforce or monitor the issue and honestly they don’t have the money or staff to do it.