LakelandCED

You're invited to participate in the Lakeland Community Needs Survey surveymars.com/q/l1MirKOYF to assist the City of Lakeland in developing the 2026–2030 Consolidated Plan. Your feedback helps shape how federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds will be invested over the next five years. Your community input is essential in identifying Lakeland’s most important housing, neighborhood, and community development needs. Be sure to share the survey with Lakeland friends, family, and neighbors. Take the survey here: surveymars.com/q/l1MirKOYF Thank you for sharing your voice.

In honor of National Bike Month, here is a video about the Fort Fraser Trail Extension that opened recently! Watch the video to find out how the trail aligns with our Comprehensive Plan goals. You can go to our Lakeland Bike and Pedestrian Pathways Map to learn more about our multi-modal transportation options: bit.ly/3QU8uMo Safe travels!

That's a wrap on the 2026 Historic Preservation Awards! Thank you to our partners Historic Lakeland, Inc., the Polk Theatre, and the City of Lakeland's Historic Preservation Board for your help making this event a success. We are honored to celebrate those who love and protect our historic places!

The Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is excited to share the Draft Downtown Redevelopment Plan! This draft plan is the next step in the Restore the Core initiative, and another opportunity for community members to see if we got it right before the plan is finalized. You can find the draft here: lakelandcra.net/restore-the-core-downtown The plan will be presented to the CRA Advisory Board on June 4th!

Happy Historic Preservation Month! Just a reminder that we have our Historic Preservation Awards tonight!: 🗓️May 11, 2025 🍿Light refreshments start at 5:30 PM ⌚️Ceremony starts at 6 PM 📍The Historic Polk Theatre (121 Florida Ave S, Lakeland, FL 33801) Guess the architectural style of this early 1940's home in the Dixieland Historic District. Comment below your guess, and come back tomorrow for the answer in the comments!

Happy Historic Preservation Month! We are celebrating with a proclamation and an interview with John White from Historic Lakeland, Inc! We are partnering with Historic Lakeland, Inc. for the Historic Preservation Awards coming up next week: 🗓️May 11, 2025 🍿Light refreshments start at 5:30 PM ⌚️Ceremony starts at 6 PM 📍The Historic Polk Theatre (121 Florida Ave S, Lakeland, FL 33801) We hope to see you there! #thepowerofplace

May is Affordable Housing Month! The City of Lakeland will hold a public meeting to seek input from residents regarding housing and community development needs and priorities for the program year October 1, 2026- September 30, 2027. -May 18th, 2026 -6PM -Coleman-Bush Building (1104 Martin L King Jr Ave, Lakeland, FL 33805) For more information, please contact Adena Kniss at the Housing Division Office (863) 834-3366 Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act provisions, those who require special accommodations to attend this meeting are asked to contact Kristin Meador (863) 834-8444. If hearing impaired, the City's local TDD number is (863)834-8333 or Toll Free at (800) 955-8771. The Florida Relay Service number is (800) 955-8770.

May is Historic Preservation Month! To celebrate, here's a House Style Quiz! Guess the architectural style of this 1920's home in the Beacon Hill-Alta Vista Historic District.🏠 Comment below your guess, and come back tomorrow for the answer in the comments!

Proclamations during the May 1, 2026, City of Lakeland Community Recongition Meeting. Historic Preservation Month | Here to accept the proclamation are Jean Bunch, Historic Lakeland, Inc. (HLI) Board Member; Michael Porter, Tracey Downey, Cesar Perez, Historic Preservation Board Members; Lindsay Persohn, John White, Historic Lakeland Incorporated Members; and Emily Foster, Senior Planner, Historic Preservation Community and Economic Development of the City of Lakeland. Lupus Awareness Month | Here to accept the proclamation are Sharon Hendon, James Farrell, and Jiwa Farrell of the Lupus Research Alliance. Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month | Here to accept the proclamation are Tim McDermott, President; Bill Hardy, Vice President; Lo Alexander, Secretary; Ron Jurgenson, Treasurer; Judy Jurgenson, Member; Jim Gustafson, Sergeant at Arms; and Liz Henshaw, Member of the American Bikers Aimed Towards Education (ABATE) organization. National Day of Prayer | Here to accept the proclamation are Dr. Maria Negron, Dennis Desmidt, Janney Straton, and Pastor Jonathan Friedt of Believers Fellowship in Lakeland. National Home Visiting Week | Here to accept the proclamation are Tonya Akwetey, MPH, Associate Director; Tanesha Thomas, Healthy Start Program Manager; Corey Clark, Fatherhood Program Manager; and Elease Davis, Doula Project Coordinator of Healthy Start Coalition of Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties, Inc. National Water Safety Month | Here to accept the proclamation are Olivia Roark, Recreation Specialist II; Aaron Hart, Senior Lifeguard/Lifeguard III; Sarah Swartz, Owner of Swim Dynamics Lakeland; and Taylor Freeman, Public Health Planner. Older Americans Month | Here to accept the proclamation are Laura Rodriguez, Lakeland Vision; Kari Gomez, Home Instead; Steve Bissionette, VISTE; Don Selvage, Lakeland Senior Hub; Ann Marie Russell, Lakeland Senior Hub; Jody Mathewson, Alzheimer’s Association; and Allison Bates, Coordinator of Age Friendly Lakeland. Free Comic Book Day 2026 | No picture.

Let's talk about the Comprehensive Plan! This is the start of a video series explaining how everyday decisions made by the City of Lakeland align with the Comp Plan- a plan made with public input! Learn more about the Comp Plan here: lakelandgov.net/comprehensiveplan

The best way to celebrate Fair Housing Month is to empower people with knowledge!🏠 Thank you to the Florida Commission on Human Relations & Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence (HOPE), Inc. for the event, and for Winter Haven for hosting. Learn more about what the City of Lakeland Housing Division offers here: lakelandgov.net/housing

The Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is excited to share the Draft Dixieland Redevelopment Plan! This draft plan is the next step in the Restore the Core initiative, and another opportunity for community members to see if we got it right before the plan is finalized. You can find the draft here: lakelandcra.net/restore-the-core-dixieland The plan will be presented to the CRA Advisory Board on May 7th, and we'll continue collecting feedback through July 6th.