Reopened Park Avenue, Scenic Highway Mark Progress on Connected Effort

After months of intensive reconstruction, the intersection of Park Avenue and Scenic Highway is expected to open to traffic this week, marking the end of one phase of an expansive Lake Wales Connected project to reconfigure and beautify the urban core of Lake Wales.

Robert Connors

Bicyclists glide through the completed intersection of Park Avenue and Scenic Highway hours before the road was scheduled to be reopened to motor vehicles, The opening marks the final stage of the complete reconstruction of the scenic street.

Merchants, residents, and visitors alike are ready to celebrate the opening of the refurbished Park Avenue, which features wider, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks with room for outdoor café seating, as well as lush landscaping, a brick-surfaced street, and upgraded lighting and street furniture.

The project included the complete reconstruction of the Market Plaza, which now features a lawn, swinging benches, and plenty of shade trees. A city-sponsored dedication ceremony is planned for the Market Plaza on Friday, March 7, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event will feature a "Taste of Lake Wales" food sampling along with music and other attractions.

The project also included the construction of a landmark tower at the intersection of Park and Scenic. The structure, which bears the city name in large letters, echoes the design of the famous Olmsted Clock which stands in the Market Plaza.

The concept of the make-over was proposed by the board of Lake Wales Main Street, a group dedicated to developing a vibrant downtown. The planning was funded in part by that group along with the City of Lake Wales and Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency.

One of the most significant steps in the long process was the hiring of the renowned urban planning firm Dover, Kohl & Partners of Coral Gables, which led a team of engineers and "imagineers" who worked with a broad spectrum of local residents who participated in a series of meetings, workshops and charettes to develop the final plan.

Robert Connors

A new landmark tower greets Scenic Highway motorists at the southeast corner of Park Avenue as stacks of mulch await spreading on recently-planted gardens.

The effort is intended to re-invigorate the city center by attracting new investment. Since the streetscaping effort began, several projects have begun to restore Park Avenue buildings to their historic appearances. New upstairs apartments and downstairs retail spaces are the result.

"We're excited about it, that was one of the reasons for us coming to Lake Wales," said Gene Hofferber, who with his wife Lynette signed a lease to build out their Pink Flamingo ice cream parlor in the Arcade at the initiation of the construction project. The couple have since decided to expand into a 1950's-style diner with food service facing the new street.

"We are pretty happy about it, we tried to stay positive through all the construction, and we're glad to be over the hump," Hofferber said. "We were on board with that from the beginning."

"We're one giant step closer to creating the most beautiful and vibrant downtown in central Florida," said City Manager James Slaton. Lake Wales was founded as a "garden city" intended to serve as a winter resort for northern visitors. The streetscaping effort is intended to recreate that effect. "Our 'City in a Garden' is becoming a reality," Slaton said.

Robert Connors

The reconstruction and historic restoration of the 1916 JT Rhodes retail store coincided with the reconstruction of the street, and will soon host a new bridal and formalwear store. The upper level will host four new apartments. The restoration was completed by CRA Chairman Robin Gibson.

Slaton has been an empowering force for the project, but didn't hesitate to give credit to others, saying "I am beyond proud of the contributions made by our city commissioners and staff, our design professionals, Lake Wales Main Street, and the Lake Wales community."

The investment by the city and CRA is being backed by a variety of federal grants totaling more than $25 million. The entire multi-year project also includes new sidewalks, landscaping, and other improvements in the city's Northwest Neighborhood, as well as a $1 million contribution toward a four-year project that will tear down the aging Grove Manor public housing project and fill the space with new apartments and single-family homes, fulfilling a plan to "densify" the population base supporting downtown merchants by creating more housing within walking distance.

The ongoing Connected project will soon proceed to less-intensive make-overs of adjacent streets, including Orange and Crystal Avenues. That project will add new sidewalks, street trees, rain gardens, and other improvements to about 750 feet of each street east of First Street, including their intersections with Market Street.

Robert Connors

Lush landscaping marks the length of Park Avenue and the reconstructed and enlarged Market Plaza. The area features numerous improvements intended to make it a center of civic activity, and will be the site of the dedication ceremony on March 7.

Also in final planning stages is a single block of First Street north of Park Avenue through the Intersection of Orange Avenue. A later phase of the program will carry those improvements north through to Dr. J.A. Wiltshire Boulevard and will include a bike track that will connect with a growing city-wide network of bike trails.