COVID-19

LAKELAND, FL (April 8, 2020) | Doctor Joy Jackson, the Director for the Florida Department of Health in Polk and Hardee Counties will be addressing the Lakeland City Commission on Thursday, April 9^th in a workshop dedicated to COVID-19 at 3 p.m. Dr. Jackson will provide an update and current state of impact for COVID-19 as positive cases are on the rise in Florida and Polk County. The workshop will be done virtually using the latest in remote meeting technology. The dedicated COVID-19 workshop will be streamed live on LakelandGov.net/TV and broadcast on Spectrum 643 and FiOS 43. The workshop will also be available on YouTube.com/LakelandGov for those with digital media players like Roku, Firestick and Apple TV.

LAKELAND, FL (April 2, 2020) | The City of Lakeland Solid Waste Division will make changes to yard waste services, effective April 6^th due to the coronavirus outbreak.  The division uses a great deal of temporary staff in the rear loader trucks as part of their collection services for alley routes, junk routes and yard waste routes.  Yard waste routes will be reduced from once per week to every other week. The change in collection is necessary as an effort to reduce in-cab contact from three people down to two. 

LAKELAND, FL (April 1, 2020) | During a Special-Called City Commission Meeting that took place today, the Lakeland City Commission voted 6-1 to close all parks following the release of the Governor’s Executive Order.   Governor DeSantis issued a statewide safer-at-home order this afternoon as federal and local pressure mounted for him to abandon the county-by-county approach he had been implementing. 

LAKELAND, FL (April 1, 2020) | Due to the latest data on confirmed cases from the Florida Department of Health (DOH) along with the input received from the citizens of Lakeland, the City Commission is meeting today at 3 p.m. to revisit their decision to open additional park amenities.

LAKELAND, FL (March 31, 2020) | The Lakeland City Commission voted to reopen trails, tennis courts, boat ramps, and dog parks during a March 30^th Specially-Called City Commission Meeting.  These and other park amenities were originally closed on March 24^th as a way to enforce social distancing to help curb the spread of COVID-19.  The City Commission after much discussion passed the motion to reopen some park spaces to potentially alleviate overcrowding in other public locations. The Parks & Recreation Department met to evaluate venues and determine which park spaces could be opened based on Commission recommendations. Even with the opening of additional amenities, it is important to note the decision will be monitored going forward and visitors must practice social distancing, proper hygiene and disinfect any contact surfaces. The following City of Lakeland Parks & Recreation spaces will reopen the morning of Thursday, April 2^nd. Ongoing decisions regarding public restrictions will be evaluated weekly based on the impacts of COVID-19.

LAKELAND, FL (March 30, 2020) | At the March 30^th Specially-Called Lakeland City Commission meeting to discuss coronavirus impacts, the Lakeland City Commission voted 6-1 to revisit earlier decisions and open walking trails, tennis courts, pickleball courts, the Cleveland Heights Golf Course, dog parks and boat ramps based on a review by the Parks & Recreation Department.   The park amenities were originally closed as a way to enforce social distancing to help curb the spread of COVID-19. 

LAKELAND, FL (March 24, 2020) - During a specially-called City Commission meeting on Monday, March 23^rd, the City Commission agreed to limit public access to City buildings during the coronavirus pandemic.  In an effort to implement social distancing and minimize human contact during this crisis, City facilities are closed to the public for 30-days or until further notice effective March 24^th.  Many City Departments have established online services and in-person appointments are available in advance for some business functions.

LAKELAND, FL (March 23, 2020) | City of Lakeland utility services are suspending late fee charges beginning March 25^th in an effort to assist those customers that may be directly impacted by the coronavirus. Lakeland Electric, Lakeland Water & Wastewater, and Solid Waste utilities are committed to helping those customers served who may be directly or indirectly affected by COVID-19. 

LAKELAND, FL (March 23, 2020) | During a specially called City Commission meeting to discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 virus, a decision was made to close additional park facilities in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The following park spaces will close at dusk Monday, March 23^rd until March 30^th or until further notice:

Until further notice, the Lakeland Police Department's Records Request office, located inside the station lobby, will be closed to walk-in customers. Citizens can still request a copy of a police report or other records by calling 863.834.6936 or emailing lpdrecords@Lakelandgov.net. In most cases, reports can be faxed or emailed at no charge. Requests will be fulfilled during t ...