By Peter Covino
Entertainment Editor

There’s a big party in downtown Kissimmee Tuesday night, but chances are you are not invited.

But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department, along with the downtown Signature by the Lake restaurant, will host a meeting of the International Special Events Society (ISES).

The three-year construction project at the 50-acre park is still ongoing, but this will be the first opportunity to show off what has been accomplished so far, and what the park and Kissimmee have to offer for people who plan special events.

The society probably will have between 60 and 70 members at the meeting/block party Tuesday night, J.C. York, director-at-large and education chairman for the group, said.

The society, with members from throughout Central Florida and beyond, includes hospitality industry representatives, entertainers, caterers, lighting experts, deejays and more.

“Pretty much all the different support people,” who work with special events are part of the society, York said.

This is the group’s first visit to downtown Kissimmee, but they did have a meeting at the Gaylord Palms Resort a few years ago, according to York, and the group is looking forward to seeing what the city has to offer.

“We have already heard a lot,” said York, who is president of The Wise Guys, an entertainment group based out of Tampa/Plant City. “It is going to be a beautiful area.”

The major downtown park redevelopment project, which has a price tag of about $25 million, includes roadways, lighted pathways, a tree-lined fountain plaza leading down to the wharf, concession buildings and a rebuilt seawall.

The first phase on display Tuesday will be Johnson Street, which runs parallel to Broadway in downtown Kissimmee. The street is still closed to traffic,  but it has been widened and improved and will be the new thoroughfare for traffic along the park. Lakeshore Boulevard will become a pedestrian walkway.

The Tuesday party will have a techno-theme. Vendors from the group will set up booths along Johnson Street, York said.

“It will be a good time,” he said.

City officials, including Loúbier, also will be on hand to make some presentations to the group. Loúbier will talk about the Lakefront Park project, what has been done so far and how it will look when it is completed.

“I think we will have a great venue,” when the park is completed, Loúbier said, adding that with the Kissimmee Civic Center and downtown Kissimmee itself, the city has a lot to offer.

Signature by the Lake owner Roy Oddo said he has been anxiously awaiting the completion of the park project, particularly since access to his restaurant has been severely limited by construction for the last six months.

“It is starting to look beautiful already,” Oddo said of the brick-paved road adjacent to the restaurant.

“The city’s park redevelopment project is the stimulus for many of us in Kissimmee,” Oddo said.  “We are fortunate to have a downtown that includes a pristine lake that is listed as an ecological marvel and attracts eco-tourism. When this project is complete, I believe it will make a big change for the good to all businesses here in the downtown as well as the surrounding area.”