For us? You shouldn’t have. We think living in Swan City is the greatest gift of all, but it’s actually been on the receiving end of quite a few delightful donations. From sculptures to parks, museums, and even birds, check out these six gifts given to the city.
“Mute Swan Protecting Her Cygnets” | This 8-ft-tall bronze statue was donated to the city by siblings Steve Wolfson and Sandra Berg in 2011. The siblings, members of Lakeland’s first Jewish family, commissioned the statue from artist Ian G. Brennan to honor their parents and family legacy.
The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art | In 1966, George Jenkins donated the land for the Polk Museum of Art. Now, 58 years later, Jenkins’ grandson made a monumental donation, resulting in a new name + future programming, via the Nicholas and Ashley Barnett Foundation at GiveWell.
Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women and Children | Barney Barnett’s donation honoring his wife, Carol Jenkins Barnett, supported the construction of the 300,000-sqft facility at Lakeland Regional Health’s main campus.
Royal swans | Arguably Lakeland’s most well-known gift, our resident swans came by way of Queen Elizabeth II in 1957. Her Majesty — also known as the Seigneur of the Swans — donated two of her charges at the behest of two native Lakelanders following the decline of Lakeland’s swan population.
Holloway Park | The Holloway Park Foundation gifted Lakeland its largest land donation to date in 2024. Valued at $12.9 million, all 379+ acres of Holloway Park will be maintained as recreational land and managed by the City of Lakeland.
Bonnet Springs Park features this 500-sqft aerial tree house.
Photo by @wakeupsunshinephotography
Bonnet Springs Park | Talk about a group gift. Lakeland’s 168-acre, $110 million park was funded via multiple private donations, including a founding gift from the Carol Jenkins Foundation, $1.3 million from the Harrell family, $1 million from The Ruthvens, and various gifts from the Hollis, Blanton, and Edwards families, among many others.
Did we leave any gifts unwrapped? Let us know.
