Last year, Lake Wales scored two headlines on the same day: One lauded LW for reconnecting to its Olmsted roots (for the #LakeWalesConnected downtown plan). The other screamed that "one of the most imperiled Olmsted legacy landscapes faces new threats" (from ill-conceived sprawl). The followup #LakeWalesEnvisioned initiative is about getting the city’s big picture for future growth (and its form) back on track. Yesterday, I got to introduce #LakeWalesEnvisioned to the national audience of the Olmsted Network as part of their "Conversations with Olmsted" series! My short presentation begins at about 9:00 min in the video. —Victor
Lake Wales Connected wins 2021 “Plan It” award and Jan Johnson Public Participation Award
Downtown Lake Wales
Last Friday at the annual meeting of the Heart of Florida Section of the American Planning Association, the Lake Wales Connected plan was presented the 2021 “Plan It” award and the Jan Johnson Public Participation Award. The awards recognize DK&P’s visionary strategy for revitalization of Lake Wales’ central core, the interactive community engagement process used to create the plan, and the implementation efforts the City has undertaken over the past year.
For more information, check out Lake Wales Connected.
Lake Wales Connected Plan Adopted
On Oct. 1, the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency board unanimously adopted Lake Wales Connected, a strategy for revitalization of the city’s historic Downtown and one of its most important close-in neighborhoods.
The plan builds upon the bold “city as a garden” vision established by the famous Olmsted Brothers firm. Lake Wales Connected describes upgrades to streets and public spaces, including re-planting a consistent canopy of shade trees, which will not only beautify the city but also raise property values and quality of life. The plan also calls for the addition of a new town square, extending trails and bike paths to unify city neighborhoods, completing a network of walkable sidewalks, and encouraging more affordable housing and home ownership through city incentives.
Park Avenue & Market Street