$117 Million Capital Improvements Plan Eyed by Lake Wales Commission

Major improvements to a wide variety of city facilities are included in the new Five Year Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) being considered for adoption by the Lake Wales City Commission.

The plan includes total expenditures of $117,518,667, of which about $17 million is anticipated to come from state and federal grants. A large portion of the remainder will be provided by Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funds, some of which are being used to obtain about $18 million in bond funds for the Lake Wales Connected plans.

The complete list of capital improvements includes 156 items ranging from mowers to sewer-line inspection cameras and water line relocations. Once approved, the CIP serves as a guiding document for city staff in planning expenditures and projects.

More than $75 million of the CIP works will be undertaken in the first two years of the plan, between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2024. That includes the bulk of the Connected Plan projects, including the Park Avenue and Marketplace reconstruction, priced at $12 million.

Close behind that will follow the reconstruction of First Street ($7 million) and improvements to Central, Orange, and Crystal Avenues. The latter two are being funded through an $800,000 federal grant. while Central Avenue will be funded by $500,000 of the CRA bonds.

Numerous maintenance projects are included in the CIP, including $2.1 million for street and alley resurfacing,

Parks and recreation score big points in the plan, with the soccer complex receiving nearly $3 million in improvements, while Crystal Lake Park gets $1.6 million for new facilities. Kiwanis Park will also receive further improvements to the tune of $1.45 million.

More than $530,00 is being budgeted for upgrades to the Northwest Complex athletic fields and facilities, while Lake Wailes Park will see a similar amount along with a new, $50,000 gazebo, tentatively planned to a site near the boat ramp.