Community and Economic Development

LAKELAND, FL (September 19, 2022) | The City of Lakeland Parks Division will be on Lake Morton at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 18^th for the 42^nd Annual Swan Roundup. Parks & Recreation employees will be carefully gathering the swans to get them ready for their annual veterinary check-up. The swans will be confined in large holding pens on the south side of the lake for their annual wellness examinations with My Pet’s Animal Hospital that will start the morning of October 19^th at 8:00 a.m. The Annual Swan Round-Up allows the City’s Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Department to closely monitor the health and vitality of Lakeland’s swan population. 

LAKELAND, FL (September 19, 2022) | City Manager Shawn Sherrouse has named Kris Hallstrand Director of Lakeland Linder International Airport, effective Sunday, September 18^th. Hallstrand has been serving as Interim Director since March 3, 2022, when past Director Gene Conrad accepted the position of President/CEO of the Aerospace Center for Excellence.

LAKELAND, FL (August 30, 2022) | The City of Lakeland is pleased to announce Valerie Ferrell as CRA Manager, effective Monday, September 12th. As CRA Manager, Ferrell will oversee the operations and manage the Dixieland, Downtown and Midtown community redevelopment areas.  Lakeland’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is a Division of the Community and Economic Development D ...

LAKELAND, FL (August 25, 2022) | The Lakeland Public Library Main Branch will open Tuesday, September 6^th after months of construction for Phase One of the project that includes new HVAC system, ceilings, lighting, flooring, paint, furniture, new collection layout and the addition of the Exhibit Room for the History and Culture Center. 

LAKELAND, FL (August 23, 2022) | The public is invited to the first Hollis Garden Community Plant Swap on Saturday, September 17^th at 9 a.m. Kevin Polk, Horticulturist who oversees Hollis Garden said, “Please join us for our first Community Plant Swap with support from the Lakeland Plant Swappers Facebook Group. Gates at Hollis Gardens will open at 8:30 a.m. and the first round of swapping will begin promptly at 9 a.m.”

LAKELAND, FL (August 17, 2022) | The City of Lakeland has been gradually pursuing electrification of fleet vehicles, specifying hybrid or fully electrified vehicles where they fit the mission with a reasonable return on the investment.  Over the years, the City has purchased fully electric administrative vehicles, industrial equipment, and hybrid-electric police patrol vehicles. With the arrival of the first of the City’s Ford F-150 Lightnings, the fully electrified work truck era begins.

LAKELAND, FL (July 28, 2022) | The City of Lakeland Public Works Department and Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department have begun work on a stabilization project on the south side of Lake Morton adjacent to the swan pens. The Construction and Maintenance and Lakes and Stormwater Divisions of Public Works and the Parks Division have teamed up on this project to address ...

LAKELAND, FL (July 19, 2022) - Construction on Summit Consulting’s new nine-story, 135,000 square foot office building and 450 space parking garage located at 117 N. Massachusetts Avenue, has been completed and employees are now occupying the space. As part of the Sale and Purchase Agreement, the City of Lakeland pre-paid $2.5 million toward a 30-year parking lease that allows the public to use a portion of the parking garage on nights and weekends.

LAKELAND, FL (July 18, 2022) - The Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department recently partnered with the Historic Lake Morton Neighborhood Association to raise money to install decorative lights on one of the grand oaks located on the lawn of the Lakeland Public Library (100 Lake Morton Drive).

LAKELAND, FL (June 13, 2022) | The City of Lakeland is pleased to announce the promotion of Jason Willey to Assistant Director of Economic Development.  The position will report directly to Brian Rewis, Director of Community & Economic Development and Willey will continue to work with the City Manager on special projects as assigned.