City of Lake Wales

Join us for the Annual State of the City Address on Friday, March 28th,11:30am at The Vanguard School. Mayor Jack Hilligoss will present the City’s accomplishments from 2024.?The event is hosted by the Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce and costs $25 from Chamber members and $35 for non-members. Lunch is included. Register in advance: https://lnkd.in/eA9VNNVS Event location: 22000 US Hwy 27, Lake Wales?

Before the establishment of government social welfare programs, the American Red Cross was the primary provider of medical assistance in Lake Wales. Members of the American Red Cross MidFlorida chapter discovered three scrapbooks with newspaper clippings and other historical documents that tell the story of the Lake Wales chapter dating back to the 1930s. Among the documents, it was revealed that in the 1940s, the Lake Wales community launched a fundraising campaign to purchase its first ambulance, used to transport patients to larger cities when the American Red Cross could not provide local resources for care. Executive Director, Tina Sweeten, saw an opportunity to donate these valuable books back to the city. Commissioner Keith Thompson recommended the books be housed at the Lake Wales History Museum, where they will eventually be on display. In honor of the gift, commissioners proclaimed the month of March as "Red Cross Month."

The Squeeze, powered by Citrus Connection, provides free shuttle service for citizens in the historic downtown district on weekdays from 11am to 2pm. Pick-up locations: Refuge of Our Lord Church on Orange Avenue Yeoman’s Feed Seed & Garden Supply on the corner of Orange Avenue and Market Street Kathryn’s Christian Books on the corner of Park Avenue and Market Street The Friedlander Building on the corner of Park Avenue and First Street Cocoa Cake Studio on East Stuart Avenue E.R. Jahns Building on the corner of Stuart Avenue and Market Street Polk State College Alexander Campus on East Central Avenue The Lake Wales Police Department on 2nd Street Armstrong Lab Services on West Central Avenue The Care Center Thrift Store on West Stuart Avenue The Squeeze shuttle has provided lunchtime transportation service to the downtown business district for nearly a year. The service features transportation via an eight-passenger golf cart that cycles through the route approximately every 12 minutes. The Squeeze is funded by the City of Lake Wales, the CRA and Main Street.

City employees installed a new kinetic sculpture on one of the 9 cement pads that were created for artwork in the pollinator garden across from the library. This unique and whimsical piece of art was donated to the City of Lake Wales by Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson. Gibson and his wife Jean found this sculpture on their 50th anniversary trip to Massachusetts. It now has a home on the north end of the garden. “In the coming year, you will see more outdoor artwork added to the garden as part of the city’s public art program,” said Stephanie Lutton, parks and recreation director. This piece was created by kinetic sculpture artist Drew Klotz in the year 2020. Kinetic sculptures are moving sculptures activated by random wind patterns and do not rely on any mechanized systems. The structure is made of aluminum and stainless steel that is mounted on a stand which creates a strong but lightweight design. The movement creates a mesmerizing, calming effect which is the perfect addition to the garden, which already invokes tranquility with its rich, botanical beauty.

Hundreds of citizens and guests gathered in the city’s beautiful Market Plaza Friday evening, March 7th to celebrate the ribbon cutting for the newly revitalized Park Avenue and Market Plaza in the historic core. This botanical rich space has come alive with trees and plants carefully curated to reflect our “City in a Garden” initiative as part of this downtown revitalization. This project is part of the Lake Wales Connected Plan that pays homage to the 1920s visionaries and landscape architects led by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., known for designing the landscape for nearby Bok Tower Gardens and other prominent destinations. This space is intended to be used for city-wide events, festivals and exhibits.

On Friday evening, March 7th, citizens and guests gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting for the newly revitalized Park Avenue and Market Plaza in the historic core. As guests filled the beautiful Plaza, they enjoyed complimentary appetizers, beverages and desserts from downtown establishments. The Taste of Downtown showcased our downtown bakeries and ice cream shops. Mimi’s Bakery provided mini macarons. Cocoa Cakes offered a variety of cookie flavors. Homemade Sea Salt Caramels were served by The Pink Flamingo. Nitro ice cream samples were provided by Maggie Mae’s Ice Cream. Kathryn’s provided the coffee to pair with all of these sweet treats. The evening wrapped up with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the Market Plaza marquee. Stay tuned to our digital media platforms as we continue to share photos of this unforgettable evening.

City leaders hosted Leadership Polk - Class of 2025. The group got to experience the newly revitalized Park Avenue and Market Plaza, part of the City’s award-winning Lake Wales Connected Plan. Rob Quam, Exec. Director of the Lake Wales Care Center led the tour. Mayor Jack Hilligoss and City Manager James Slaton spoke about the City’s accomplishments and upcoming projects. Main Street Executive Director Ronni Wood led the tour through the historic downtown, highlighting the historic preservation efforts underway. The tour ended at the Ranch Taproom and Coffeehouse where members enjoyed food from the various eateries in downtown. Leadership Polk is a program that brings accomplished leaders from across the County together to develop a network of resourceful, informed and proactive visionaries with a high level of civic engagement.

Hundreds of citizens and guests gathered in the city’s beautiful Market Plaza Friday evening, March 7th to celebrate the ribbon cutting for the newly revitalized Park Avenue and Market Plaza in the historic core. As guests gathered before the ceremony, they enjoyed complimentary appetizers, beverages and desserts from downtown establishments. The Taste of Downtown showcased our downtown restaurants and bars. The Ranch provided two brands of Florida beer. A variety of wine was offered courtesy of The Thirsty Dragon. The Lake Wales Latte Lounge served Blackberry Lavender Lemonade. The evening wrapped up with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the Market Plaza marquee. Stay tuned to our digital media platforms as we continue to share photos of this unforgettable evening.

Are you a driven leader with a passion for municipal planning? The City of Lake Wales is seeking its next Growth Management Director to guide the city's strategic development and ensure smart, sustainable growth. ?? Who should apply? Professionals with at least 4 years of experience in municipal planning who thrive in leadership roles and are ready to make an impact. ?? What’s required? A degree in land-use planning, urban planning, landscape architecture, or a closely related field. ?? What’s offered? A competitive salary ranging from $75,921 to $134,160 (DOE/DOQ) and the opportunity to shape the future of Lake Wales. ?? Apply by April 9, 2025! Don’t miss this chance to step into a high-impact role. Apply today: https://zurl.co/RzoXz #CityPlanning #UrbanDevelopment #MunicipalGrowth #PlanningLeadership #LandUse #PublicSectorJobs #CityofLakeWales #NowHiring #GrowthManagement Florida League of Cities ELGL: Engaging Local Government Leaders FLORIDA PLANNING & ZONING ASSOCIATION INC American Planning Association

On Friday evening, March 7th, citizens and guests gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting for the newly revitalized Park Avenue and Market Plaza in the historic core. As guests filled the beautiful Plaza, they enjoyed complimentary appetizers, beverages and desserts from downtown establishments. The Taste of Downtown showcased our downtown restaurants. Melanie’s served shrimp cocktail and Peach & Pepper provided caprese skewers. Smokin’ DJ’s offered chicken sliders and sausage samples. Market Café served pinwheels and Theos Catering provided bruschetta and croquettes. The evening wrapped up with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the Market Plaza marquee. Stay tuned to our digital media platforms as we continue to share photos of this unforgettable evening.