News

LAKELAND, FL (March 14, 2022) | Full workouts began today for the Detroit Tigers, and it makes the 86^th season for Spring Training at Tiger Town, extending the longest-standing relationship between a Major League team and a current Spring Training host community.  The 2022 Spring Training season will be the club’s 57^th consecutive season of playing at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. 

LAKELAND, FL (March 10, 2022) | Se7en Wetlands recently received the 2022 Community Water Champion Award at the 37^th Annual WateReuse Symposium. This national award recognizes the accomplishments of utilities and local government entities that ensure safe, reliable, locally controlled water supply through the development of water recycling treatment facilities, infrastructure, and other reuse projects. Se7en Wetlands is operated by the City’s Water Department, but it also serves as a recreational amenity.

LAKELAND, FL (March 9, 2022) - On Wednesday, March 9, 2022, shortly after 2:00 a.m., uniform patrol officers responded to the 1000 block of West 11th Street in reference to a shots fired call. On scene, officers located an 18-year-old male victim inside a residence with gunshot wounds. Officers immediately began securing the location and rendering aid until emergency medical re ...

LAKELAND, FL (March 8, 2022) | The City of Lakeland in partnership with the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority (LDDA) are now bringing live music to Munn Park every Friday.  Friday Night Live is a new initiative showcasing live music in Munn Park on Friday evenings starting at 6 p.m. 

LAKELAND, FL (March 3, 2022) | City Manager Shawn Sherrouse has appointed Kris Hallstrand as Interim Director of Lakeland Linder International Airport, effective March 3, 2022.  Current Director, Gene Conrad has accepted the position of President/CEO of the Aerospace Center for Excellence.

LAKELAND, FL (February 14, 2022) | Gene Conrad, Director of Lakeland Linder International Airport has accepted the position of President/CEO of the Aerospace Center for Excellence effective March 7, 2022.  Conrad stated in a letter to the City Manager that he accepted the position after significant reflection of his 12 years with the City of Lakeland.

LAKELAND, FL (February 7, 2022) | City of Lakeland has been awarded a State Water Quality Assistance Grant in the amount of $280,000 from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for the Lake Bonny Stormwater Outfall Retrofit Project.  The FDEP’s Non-Point Source Management Program administers the initiative to provide local government funding for projects designed to control water pollution from non-point sources.  Non-point source pollution comes from a wide area and causes nutrient, sediment, and fertilizer contamination that enters stormwater runoff and then is carried to surface water bodies.

LAKELAND, FL (February 4, 2022) | The City of Lakeland Division of Solid Waste provides once per week residential service with automated garbage collection, automated recycling collection, and yard waste collection. Residents can also notify Solid Waste for larger bulk item pick-up. Residential customers can get four (4) bulk collections, up to 20 cubic yards each, per calendar year. The calendar year runs from January 1st through December 31st.  City of Lakeland residents that need to schedule a bulk pickup should email customer service at solidwastemanagment@lakelandgov.net with your address and the type of material you have for collection.  Customers can also call 863/834-8773 to schedule a pickup.

LAKELAND, FL (February 4, 2022) | As Queen Elizabeth II gets ready to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee, the City’s swans will be celebrating their Blue Sapphire Jubilee. February 8^th will mark the 65^th Anniversary of Lakeland’s royal swans arriving on Lake Morton.  On this day in 1957, the two swans gifted by Queen Elizabeth II arrived on Lake Morton in downtown Lakeland. Since that time, Lakeland’s swans have become iconic figures in the community. It is almost a rite of passage for families to visit Lake Morton to feed our beloved swans. Swans can be found in freshwater lakes, ponds, and estuaries primarily in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. Their early migration to Florida came from seasonal residents wanting to have swans as pets on or near their winter homes. By 1926, Lakeland had a swan population of 20 and the City established a Swan Department to help oversee their care.

LAKELAND, FL (February 2, 2022) | The public is invited to join the City of Lakeland in celebrating Black History Month at Jackson Park on February 19^th from 10 a.m. - to 2 p.m. for the Annual Black History Festival. The event will be a fun-filled, family-friendly day that will include performances, food vendors, crafts, and historic displays.  There will be members from the City of Lakeland’s Parks & Recreation Department on hand giving away free plants while supplies last.