Raise your voice 📢

Lakeland City Hall sign in grass and flowers in front of building

Stop by City Hall to attend a public meeting. | Photo by LALtoday

Ch-ch-changes. City officials are planning several updates and additions for Lakeland in 2023, from infrastructure to recreation.

What’s changing?

One of the top priorities for the city is improving infrastructure to support our booming population. With nearly $18 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding, the city plans on replacing 2.7 miles of sewer lines to handle wastewater from new developments. Another $42.9 million in grant funding will be used to restore Lake Bonnet and prevent flooding.

Along with infrastructure upgrades, population growth also calls for more emergency services. The city’s 2023 budget includes funding for an eighth fire station in north Lakeland, although construction may not begin this year.

Officials have also planned to revitalize the downtown area, offering more for residents to enjoy in Munn Park and increase available parking. The City Commission has discussed adding a parking app and changing select traffic intersections with stoplights into four-way stops instead.

LALtoday: City hall interior — Sign up to share your thoughts at the next Commission meeting.

How can I get involved?

If you want to make your voice heard on these changes, there are several ways to join the conversation:

Lakeland City Commission meetings occur every other Monday at 9 a.m. at City Hall (228 S. Massachusetts Ave.) and are open to the public. Pro tip: View the agendas online.
The Lakeland Downtown Development Authority’s public meetings happen on the third Thursday of the month at 8 a.m. at City Hall.
Public forums to share input on additions to Munn Park will take place at the Magnolia Building (702 E. Orange St.) on Tuesday, Jan. 10 from 5-7 p.m. and Thursday, Jan. 12 from 3-7 p.m.

Want to share your thoughts another way? You can email the City Commission to give feedback or ask questions. If you have an idea to improve city services, submit it online.

For more information on the developments mentioned above and more coming to Swan City, check out The Ledger’s breakdown here.

EVENTS

Click here to have your event featured.

Wednesday, Jan. 4

Line Dancing & Karaoke | Wednesday, Jan. 4 | 5 p.m. | Union Hall, 1023 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Free | Learn new moves, enjoy drink specials from 5-8 p.m., and sing your heart out at karaoke starting at 8:30 p.m.
General Knowledge Trivia w/ Angel’s Empanadas Food Truck | Wednesday, Jan. 4 | 6:30 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free | Test your trivia skills and enjoy fresh empanadas — all ages welcome.

Thursday, Jan. 5

Free Yoga for Wellness — Weekly Classes | Thursday, Jan. 5 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | The Cloven Hoof Farm, North Lakeland | Free | This donation-based yoga class focuses on the holistic well-being of the mind, body, and spirit.

Friday, Jan. 6

COhatch Lakeland Grand Opening | Friday, Jan. 6 | 5:30-9 p.m. | COhatch Lakeland , 211 E. Main St., Lakeland | Free | Check out this new coworking space with a tour, food, drinks, face painting, and a community mural.
First Friday: Three Kings Celebration | Friday, Jan. 6 | 6-9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland, 117 N. Kentucky Ave., Lakeland | Free | Celebrate Three Kings Day with family activities, food trucks, and live music by Tito Puente, Jr. and his Latin Jazz Ensemble.
Hernando Audubon Birding Trip | Friday, Jan. 6 | 8-11:45 a.m. | Circle B Bar Reserve, 4399 Winter Lake Rd., Lakeland | Free | View wading birds and waterfowl through the reserve’s marsh system — the tour will meet in the parking lot at the end of the Reserve road.

Saturday, Jan. 7

New Year Workout with Camp Gladiator | Saturday, Jan. 7 | 7-10 a.m. | Lakeland Ice Arena, 3395 W. Memorial Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Meet trainers, complete a workout, and set New Year’s goals together.
Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market | Saturday, Jan. 7 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | Free | Find fresh produce, plants, and locally handcrafted items at this outdoor farmers market.

Sunday, Jan. 8

“Legally Blonde The Musical” | Sunday, Jan. 8 | 7:30-10 p.m. | RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St., Lakeland | $66-$86 | Bend and snap your way to this Broadway musical rendition of the beloved rom-com.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

ACTIVE

Start 2023 on the right foot with this 8-week fitness challenge 💪

A close-up of a man running on a treadmill surrounded by other people using fitness equipment

Orangetheory Lakeland provides everything to help make changes to one’s muscle mass and body fat percentage. | Photo provided by Orangetheory Fitness Lakeland

Everyone’s fitness journey is different, and Orangetheory Fitness Lakeland wants to help Lakelanders achieve their fitness goals no matter what they are.

The Orangetheory Fitness Transformation Challenge is an eight-week program designed to kick-start a new routine while showing results. Here’s how it works:

The challenge starts on Monday, Jan. 16.
Participants will get a before and after body scan to measure changes in body fat + muscle mass.
Participants are challenged to attend 3 classes per week.
Orangetheory’s OTbeat technology tracks performance in real time, so you know whether your workout is working or if you need to step up your game.
Use the challenge as building blocks for a healthy and sustainable workout routine that you can continue throughout 2023.

Want to challenge yourself this year? There’s only one thing left to do: Head to the studio (1489 Town Center Dr.) to sign up, and mention LALtoday for a free swag bag.*

JOIN THE CHALLENGE

NEWS NOTES

Weather

83º | Mostly cloudy | 20% chance of rain

Civic

Former city commissioner Phillip Walker has joined the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce as its new Vice President, Partnerships and Research. In this role, Phillip will work to foster business partnerships and deliver local research for the Chamber. You can read our Q+A with him here.

Arts

A new monument by Platform Art, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Polk County Veterans Council could be coming to Veterans Park. The $400,000-$500,000 project, including a sculpture of Mary Katherine Goddard printing the Declaration of Independence, is up for approval by the City Commission this month. (LkldNow)
Get an inside look at the Polk Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “Edward Hopper and Guy Pène du Bois: Painting the Real,” at After Hours at the Museum. The museum will stay open late from 4-8 p.m. tomorrow, Jan. 5, with a Curator Tour at 6 p.m. 🖼

Biz

Bargain hunters, rejoice. Bin Hub, a new discount store, has opened at 1100 Griffin Rd. Visit Friday-Tuesday from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. to shop overstock goods for as little as $1. See a list of store policies here before your shopping trip. (LkldNow)
A second Publix location is planned for Haines City at Powerline Road and Johnson Avenue. The 48,387-sqft store will anchor the Shops at the Grove, an 18-acre shopping center planned near the high-growth Crosswinds District residential area. 🛒 (The Ledger)

Open

The Balance Culture’s second location has opened at 31 5th St. NW in downtown Winter Haven. This women’s fitness studio offers group classes, personal training, and nutrition counseling. View the class schedule and book your session here. (Haven Magazine)
New year, new ‘do. Hair salon 12/six.one recently opened at 229 N. Kentucky Ave., offering cuts, color, and styling. You can book your service online to start the year with a fresh style. ✂️

Learn

Dig into local history with the Lakeland History and Culture Center’s upcoming lecture series. On Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 5:30 p.m., historian Lois Sherrouse-Murphy will speak about “Communities of the Kathleen Area.” in the Lakeland Public Library’s Lakeland History Room (100 Lake Morton Dr.). Registration is not required.
That’s not all you can learn at the Lakeland Public Library. Register now for the next Author Talk with Namina Forna, “New York Times” bestselling author of “The Gilded Ones” series. The virtual discussion takes place on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. 📚

Community

Lakelanders in need will soon be able to receive fresh vegetables from New Bethel AME Church’s community garden. The garden will supplement the church’s food pantry, which currently helps feed about 260 households. Church staff hope to have the garden available by July. 🥕 (LkldNow)

Drink

There are now even more days to enjoy your favorite kombucha drinks. Krazy Kombucha’s taproom is now open Wednesday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at 1030 S. Florida Ave. Pro tip: You can get refills from Cafe Zuppina, Tea Largo, and Quinteassence on days the taproom is closed.

Eat

Don’t just eat better — eat the best. Sunbasket’s meal kit service delivers delicious, healthy meals created by award-winning chefs straight to your front door. Bonus: LALtoday readers can get $100 off their first four deliveries and more when they sign up. 🍽 *

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

EAT

How to eat local this year

Mmmm, nothing beats a fried fish sandwich from Mister Fish. | Photo by LALtoday

Is your new year’s resolution to try new things? Start by trying these 26 Lakeland restaurants for each letter of the alphabet. If you visit a new one every other week, you can cross each one off by the end of 2023.

A: Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant, 3700 Lakeside Village Blvd.
We love this spot with a dog-friendly patio.

D: Divicious Deli & Coffee Shop, 128 E. Main St.
Our readers love this downtown stop for their morning brew.

I: Il Forno Italian Restaurant, 3615 Florida Ave. S., Ste. 1310
You can’t go wrong with this spot’s classic Italian dishes.

K: KC’s Artisan Pizza, 6645 Florida Ave S., Ste. 5
Head here to build your own pizza.

W: WACO Kitchen, 3900 Don Emerson Dr.
Let your taste buds take flight.

Z: Zarza Latin Food & Grill, 4648 Cleveland Heights Blvd.
This grill is known for flavorful Latin dishes and lunch specials.

20 MORE RECOMMENDATIONS

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Connor.

Editor’s pick: I recently found out about The Guy Who Sings Songs About Cities & Towns (yes, that’s his full name), and of course I had to listen to his ode to Swan City, “Lakeland Has a Lot of Lakes.” Listen for shoutouts to Munn Park, Lake Mirror, and our “good, wonderful, all-American people.” You have to hear it to believe it.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Learn 30 ways to achieve your new year’s resolutions locally, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Rilee Delgado, Connor Keith, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Kailey Burke | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY