Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Ambitious plans to beautify and recognize the unique features of the Druid Hills neighborhood on the east side of Lake Wales were advanced during a four-hour conference held Saturday at Bok Tower Gardens. Among the ideas discussed at the conference was special recognition of the area as the "Historic Olmsted Druid Hills District," including the installation of boundary and historical markers explaining the importance of the area, which would form a portion of an "Olmsted...
While two independently owned and operated new restaurants are planned for opening on Highway 60, including Locorrito and Brake Burger Garage, and two more are planned to open on First Street downtown and on Lincoln Avenue, three more are aiming for construction on US 27 near the Eagle Ridge Mall. All three new restaurants will be located on the east side of US 27, and will occupy among the last of the rapidly-filling mall outparcels. A Starbucks coffee outlet is planned for...
A $500,000 grant to Bok Tower Gardens for "Saving the Olmstedian Landscape Gardens at Mountain Lake Sanctuary – Lake Wales" has been announced by the National Park Service (NPS). The grant is awarded "in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services," according to an accompanying press release. "This project will complete the rehabilitation and reinvigoration of the original l...
Traffic around the Lake Wales area will be snarled again this weekend as US 27 will be closed at the SR 60 overpass construction site all weekend. The closure of the busy federal highway will allow construction crews to set the massive steel beams which will support the new bridge. Closure of the highway is planned to begin at 11:00 pm Friday and last until 5:00 am on Monday. Elaborate detours will be in place for the multiple potential traffic movements that motorists will...
An unexpected sharp rise in cost has shrunk the planned kayak and paddleboard rental project planned for Lake Wailes Park, in a shift approved by the city commission. The rental program will be created in partnership with a company called Rent.Fun. The rental program was proposed in May by Recreation Manager Stephanie Edwards as an inexpensive way to offer more opportunities for citizens to get on the water and enjoy the outdoors. At that time the commission approved a...
The August 23 "Primary" election will be the "final" election for candidates in four heated Polk School Board races, as well as those seeking judicial slots. Voters are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the issues and cast their ballots early, by mail, or on election day. Those wishing to vote early in southeast Polk may visit the Lake Wales Tourist Club at 205 North 5th Street. That location is between the playground at Crystal Lake Park and the City Tennis Courts on...
Faced with a expected wave of new development after approving more than a dozen new housing projects in less than a year, the Lake Wales City Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a new "Mobility" impact fee that will add $2,055.33 to the cost of new home in the city. Funds raised by the fee may be used for a wide variety of improvements, including sidewalks, trails, lighting, and street trees in addition to the standard road funding. Prepared by consultants NUE Urban...
Saturday, August 13 marked the 18th anniversary of the most destructive hurricane to strike Lake Wales in recent memory, and thankfully the tropics remain quiet so far. Only a weak disturbance drifting westward near Texas is being remarked upon by the National Hurricane Center. The Friday the 13th storm of 2004 was the first of three direct strikes here in only six weeks, an event unprecedented in recorded history. Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne came evenly spaced, three weeks...
As the City of Lake Wales and Polk County prepare to finalize their annual budgets and set tax rates for the new fiscal year, both are benefitting from a substantial rise in property values. The changes could lead to further reductions in millage rates for property owners. In Polk overall, values have risen to $51,391,150,529, an increase of 17.75 percent, nearly doubling last year's sharp increase of 9.03 percent. That represents a current-year increase of more than $2.2...
Construction is progressing rapidly on the Park Avenue Connector Trail, a 3000-foot multiuse trail being constructed by the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency. The project is a key element of the Lake Wales Connected plans which are expected to transform and revitalize the city's center in coming years. Construction of the new trail is utilizing about one-half of the right-of-way of Park Avenue, which was 24 feet wide despite being a one-way street. The new design featu...
On a split vote, Lake Wales City Commissioners Tuesday evening voted themselves an annual raise of $2,400 intended to pay for the cost of local travel and expenses. City Manager James Slaton had proposed the increase at a commission work session last week, saying those expenses were often incurred by commissioners in the course of their duties. Newly-elected Commissioner Danny Krueger argued in favor of the raise, complaining that his 547 miles of travel around the city since...
A 312-acre parcel expected to host the Mayfair development nearly two decades ago is now the proposed site of a 1,020-unit project dubbed Ridgecrest. The Lake Wales City commission on Tuesday will consider the application for a preliminary subdivision plat and a special exception use permit for a residential Planned Development Project (PDP). Ridgecrest is planned to be constructed in three phases and will fill in a large blank in the city's residential areas stretching from R...
A divided boulevard featuring median plantings, turn lanes, sidewalks, bikeways, and efficient traffic roundabouts may be in the future of Buck Moore Road, depending upon the cooperation of Polk County in improving the county-maintained road. The corridor has been a concern for area residents as traffic has grown in recent years, and another 684 single-family homes are planned for construction along the one and a half mile connector link between SR 60 and Burns Avenue. The roa...
A $1.2 million contribution from the City of Lake Wales will empower a new business incubator designed to increase the number of new businesses and entrepreneurs in Lake Wales. Funds for the project will come from the American Rescue Act which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden last year. The city received some $7 million which must be directed to economic development projects. The funds will be directed to the operations of "Bizlink," which will...
Lake Wales residents are generally quite happy with the services and conditions provided to residents by municipal government, according to a city-wide survey conducted by ETC Institute. Three commissioners heard a report on the findings through a telephone presentation by a company representative at their workshop. At the time the survey was launched, City Manager James Slaton called it "an important planning tool as Lake Wales moves forward." The survey was completed by 402...
Another reduction in property taxes may be in the cards if Lake Wales city commissioners agree to a proposal from city staff to adopt the "roll-back rate" for the upcoming fiscal year as the city's values surpass a billion dollars for the first time. In a document prepared for consideration at Tuesday's commission meeting, Finance Director Dorothy Abbott is recommending that the city accept the certified property values and adopt an interim millage rate of 6.3626. Once set,...
Efforts to re-imagine the urban core of Lake Wales as an attractive and shady pedestrian oasis filled with new businesses and restaurants continues to draw the support of both the public and private sectors. Congressman Darren Soto has announced that he is requesting a $1 million Federal grant to support street restoration in downtown Lake Wales. This project, one element of a multi-faceted effort, would revitalize 1st Street, which is a critical connector, unifying the...
A struggling Lake Wales man who received a shock $6,025.79 water bill in April is breathing easier now, thanks to the intervention of City Utilities Director Sarah Kirkland. Wildabon Avenue resident Anthony Caraway, 50, is unemployed due to disabling cancer. He had been billed the astronomical figure, many times his normal monthly usage, which was often as little as a thousand gallons a month, giving him the city's lowest rate. Money is a serious issue for Caraway, as he is...
After a brief discussion Tuesday, Lake Wales City Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the recommendations of the Planning and Zoning Board and city staff to designate a recently-annexed parcel on Evergreen Road as low density residential (LDR) and an R-2 zoning, restricting it to single-family homes and duplexes. The parcel of approximately eight acres will be allowed to host up to 40 units. Pastor Michael Blare of property owner Trinity Baptist Church had originally...
A "Neighborhood Activity Center" along South 11th Street at Hunt Brothers Road moved a major step toward reality this week as the Lake Wales City Commission unanimously approved changing land use on the 13.66 acre parcel at the northwest corner of the intersection. The property now has a zoning designation of C-4. . The property, owned by the McKenna family, has long been in citrus, as has more than a thousand acres of surrounding lands now slated for future housing...
Scenic Highway's passage through downtown Lake Wales will quite a bit more scenic upon completion of new efforts planned by city staff. Plans to add multiple new shade trees, shrubs, flowering plants and fencing are moving forward under the terms of a new lease between the City of Lake Wales and Florida Midland Railroad. The railroad owns a highly-visible corridor through the center of town which already hosts a number of buildings associated with the Lake Wales History...
A shooting in a parking lot has left one victim with wounds and a suspect on the run. Lake Wales police officers responded to the mid-evening call from the Lake Wales Garden Apartments. Officers found one victim with gunshot wounds and witnesses who identified the suspected shooter as Aaron Devon Garrison of Bartow. Officers learned Garrison, 27, shot the victim in the parking lot after arguing arguing with a person upstairs. After that altercation Garrison walked downstairs...
An Independence Day celebration in the best Lake Wales tradition is on tap this week as the City of Lake Wales rolls out a big effort to "bring out the community," according to City Recreation Coordinator Shay Irvis. Food, music, family fun and fireworks are all part of the celebration. The activities will begin in earnest at 3:00 with a host of "kid-friendly" games, according to Irvis. The celebration will conclude with a huge display of fireworks beginning at 9:00. "We'll...
An Independence Day celebration in the best Lake Wales tradition is on tap this week as the City of Lake Wales rolls out a big effort to "bring out the community," according to City Recreation Coordinator Shay Irvis. Food, music, family fun and fireworks are all part of the celebration. The activities will begin in earnest at 3:00 with a host of "kid-friendly" games, according to Irvis. The celebration will conclude with a huge display of fireworks beginning at 9:00. "We'll...
A new traffic pattern for Janie Howard Wilson Elementary is hoped to relieve problematic congestion along North Scenic Highway during the coming school year. A plan developed by Lake Wales Police Department in coordination with school officials will see the temporary closing of Florida Avenue at Scenic Highway during the hours of school pick-up and drop-off. Drivers will be directed instead to approach the school from the south, using Lincoln Avenue and C Street. According to...
