Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.’s vision for Lake Wales – from trees to connected trails and the all-encompassing “City in a Garden” concept – serve as the underpinnings to the award-winning “Lake Wales Connected” plan facilitated by Lake Wales Main Street and crafted by Dover Kohl and Partners. The plan was adopted by the City in 2019.

“The core neighborhoods of Lake Wales are meant to be inspiring beautiful places. Olmsted had a bold, green vision that Lake Wales should be a living, growing work of art, a City in a Garden,” said Victor Dover, Founding Principal of Dover Kohl and Partners. “The plan for downtown and the Northwest Neighborhood is to revive that vision,” he added.

The firm’s comprehensive plan addresses far more than trails and trees, however. 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.

Tree plantings and new landscaping have already begun. It will continue at an accelerated rate in the coming months under the watchful eye of the City’s full-time horticulturist, Lester Gulledge.

Written by Brian Ackley