A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on March 7th in downtown historic Lake Wales to celebrate the re-opening of Market Plaza and Park Avenue. The festivities start at 5:30 p.m. with a Taste of Downtown. Guests get to sample complimentary appetizers, wine and beer from local downtown restaurants and bars.
“We want this to be a celebration for everyone,” said Ronni Wood, executive director of Lake Wales Main Street.
The redesign features on-street parking, enlarged sidewalks, enhanced lighting, outdoor seating and dining areas. The landscape architecture comprises street trees, native plants, hanging-flower baskets and rain gardens.
More roads are scheduled to be transformed in downtown.
Orange Avenue and Crystal Avenue will be rehabilitated with funding from a federal grant and intergovernmental agreement with Polk County. Both roads will be resurfaced and include increased sidewalk coverage, street lighting and street landscaping.
First Street, Central Avenue, Lincoln Avenue and A Street will be redeveloped into complete streets with nearly $23 million in grant funding from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program.
City Manager James Slaton said, “The RAISE grant greatly impacts the historic core of Lake Wales, accelerating the revitalization of the historic district and northwest neighborhood.”
The revitalization of the city’s historic core is part of the award-winning “Lake Wales Connected Plan,” a long-range plan, initiated by Lake Wales Main Street and facilitated by City staff.