This city center incorporates large-scale apartment buildings and planned high rise condominiums. The construction also includes mixed use shops and retailers. The park area includes a square for weddings, festivals, and city holidays. The spot has become popular with Altamonte Springs residents, and attracts residents from nearby Longwood, Casselberry, and Maitland. Future plans include two high rise residential structures (in excess of 10 stories) and a series of parking structures to facilitate visitors. The area includes the Altamonte Mall, a 4-anchor indoor shopping mall, which includes an 18-screen AMC Theatre. Many restaurants are located near the mall such as several Darden Restaurants, Denny's, Five Guys, Little Greek Fresh Grill and Jason's Deli. Special events Since 1995 Altamonte Springs has been host city to the Red, Hot, & Boom annual firework festival each July 3 in celebration of Independence Day. The event, which includes musical performances by nationally and internationally known entertainers and a custom fireworks show with over 15,000 shells, has drawn 200,000 people in recent years, and is Central Florida's largest Independence Day Celebration. Parks and recreation Parks and events A Petrified Forest (Halloween Event) Bird Watchers Wanted Cranes Roost Earth Day Event Hermits Trail & Turnbull Ave Jr. Rangers Program Lake Lotus Nature Park Lake Orienta Public Boat Ramp Red, Hot, and Boom (Fourth of July Event) Sunshine Park Recreation areas Eastmonte Lake Brantley Sports Complex Merrill Park Westmonte Winwood Park Transportation Airports Altamonte Springs is served primarily by Orlando International Airport, which is located 30 minutes south. Orlando Sanford International Airport, located 25 minutes north, also serves the area. Orlando Executive Airport, located 20 minutes south, is used for charter flights and general aviation. Bus service Altamonte Springs is served by Lynx, offering local transit service which covers the three-county area (Osceola-Orange-Seminole). Rail Altamonte Springs is served by SunRail, the Central Florida Commuter Rail system. The station opened on May 1, 2014. Notable people Blake Bortles, NFL quarterback for the New Orleans Saints Lauren Boebert, U.S. Representative for Nathaniel Jeremiah Bradlee, architect (vacationed in Altamonte Springs) Selwyn Carrol, member of the Alaska House of Representatives Alexa Demara, actress, model and writer Chris DiMarco, professional golfer Patrick DiMarco, NFL free agent fullback Danielle Fotopoulos, soccer coach and former player Nick Franklin, MLB free agent John Gast, former MLB pitcher Ashleigh Gnat, gymnast and member of the LSU Tigers women's gymnastics team Benjamin F. Haines, attorney and member of