Plus, MCO's plans for a facelift.
 
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Today’s Forecast

84º | 94% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:15 a.m. | Sunset 7:46 p.m.

LAL_High Tower Roofing_Weather Sponsorship_7.1.2023-6.30.2025

 
What’s needed to finish the Dixieland road diet?
Concrete road barriers outside of Dixieland businesses as taken from the perspective of a vehicle passenger.
The concrete barriers installed as part of the road diet are a major contention point for Lakelanders. | Photo by @thelaltoday
City officials met with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on Monday to discuss Lakeland transportation. The hottest topic of the afternoon? The Dixieland road diet.

During the public meeting, city commissioners learned that the project’s completion could hinge on additional funding from the city, despite South Florida Avenue being a state road. FDOT originally budgeted ~$9 million for the project through 2027, but due to inflation, there’s a significant amount of additional capital needed.

While the official amount of required additional capital is worked out between the city and FDOT, a formal engineering and design study needs to be completed. When Commissioner Bill Read expressed concerns over where the city could obtain the capital, FDOT suggested seeking out private donor partners.

LAL-south-florida-avenue-road-diet-design

Illustration by Ayres Associates Inc. of the approved design for South Florida Avenue, a two-lane street divided by median with 12-ft shared bike/pedestrian sidewalks.

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Image by @lakelandgov


In July 2022, city commissioners reviewed 10 design options + public feedback for the mile-long stretch of roadway from Ariana Street to Lime Street. That December, they voted on a three-lane option that was anticipated to take 12-18 months to design.

Now, this phase is expected to take an additional 18-24 months due to aging infrastructure discovered underneath the roadway. With this in mind, Planning and Transportation Manager Chuck Barmby said the earliest start date for construction could be 2027.

Two city and state officials discuss behind a desk.

FDOT District One Secretary L.K. Nandam shares his thoughts on the Dixieland road diet in a meeting with the Lakeland City Commission and Chamber of Commerce.

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Screenshot via City of Lakeland

As for the concrete barriers located on either side of the street, FDOT approved their removal — at the city’s expense. If removed, South Florida Avenue would still be condensed to four lanes across at most, with two travel lanes in each direction.
 
Asked
 
How often do you travel this stretch of South Florida Avenue?
A. Every day
B. A few times per week
C. Rarely
D. Never
 
 
Events
 
Wednesday, April 3
  • Family Game Night | Wednesday, April 3 | 5-8 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Bring your family-friendly games to the Rooftop Bar to play with others.
  • World Ballet Series: “Swan Lake” | Wednesday, April 3 | 7 p.m. | RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St., Lakeland | $45-$89 | “Swan Lake” comes to Swan City with this performance by international ballet dancers.
Thursday, April 4
  • Vocal Jazz Showcase | Thursday, April 4 | 6-8 p.m. | Union Taproom, 245 W. Central Ave., Ste. 102, Winter Haven | Free | Harrison School for the Arts vocal students will perform jazz favorites with guest artists Lisa Kelly Scott and Jeff Phillips.
  • Trivia Thursdays | Thursday, April 4 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | The Back Nine, 124 S. Tennessee Ave., Lakeland | Free entry | Test your knowledge with themed and general trivia.
Friday, April 5
  • First Friday: Foodie Fest | Friday, April 5 | 6-9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | Free entry | This month’s event will feature small bites from local restaurants and food vendors, in addition to the Makers Market.
  • “Dido and Aeneas” | Friday, April 5, Sunday, April 7 | Times vary | Branscomb Auditorium, Florida Southern College, 1100 Johnson Ave., Lakeland | $5-$10 | See FSC’s opera theatre and orchestra students in this opera based on Virgil’s “Aeneid.”
Saturday, April 6
  • 2024 Mr. Herbert Dixon’s Celebrity Golf Tournament | Saturday, April 6 | 8:30 a.m. | Bartow Golf Course, 150 Herbert Dixon Blvd., Bartow | $75-$300 | Sign yourself or your team up for this golf tournament in honor of the pro golfer + Bartow resident.
  • Safe Kids Day | Saturday, April 6 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Lakeland Regional Health Hollis Cancer Center, 3525 Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Join for family fun and learn injury prevention and lifesaving practices.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
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Arts
 
The lesser-known side of the Polk Museum of Art
Two people stand with their backs to the camera looking at a painting.
The Rockwell-Wyeth exhibit features 40 original paintings from the beloved icons. | Photo provided by the Polk Museum of Art
You may know the Polk Museum of Art for its world-class exhibitions and always-free admission — but did you know that the museum also offers unique tours, lectures, workshops, and classes?

The museum’s events calendar includes after-hours tours, behind-the-exhibit talks, and even a Gallery Concert inspired by the museum’s current blockbuster exhibition, “Rockwell/Wyeth: Icons of Americana.”

Feeling inspired? Unleash your creativity with art classes + workshops for all skill levels in disciplines ranging from figure drawing to Photoshop.
 
News Notes
 
Environment
  • An advisory committee approved the potential acquisition of three east Polk County properties totaling 2,300+ acres for land conservation. Next, Polk’s Division of Parks and Natural Resources will seek approval from the County Commission to proceed with appraisals. (The Ledger)
Edu
  • Incoming PCPS kindergarteners can attend Camp Early Bird this summer before the 2024-25 school year. The free program provides fun learning activities to set Polk’s youngest students up for success. Get additional details and register before the first session on June 17.
Lakelander
  • Artist Gillian Fazio is known for her murals around Swan City, but now she’s taking them to the Most Magical Place on Earth. Fazio recently completed a mural in Disney Springs in celebration of Women’s History Month. Visitors can find her art on the shopping complex’s Art Walk. (WFTS)
Sports
  • Take us out to the ballgame. The Lakeland Flying Tigers have their home opening game next week on Tuesday, April 9 versus the Bradenton Marauders at 6:30 p.m. Tickets range from $9 to $50.
Plan Ahead
Quoted
  • “A special kid as I’ve ever met.” That’s how Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper described 7-year-old Lakelander Tripp Nugent. Nugent died this week after battling cancer and was a staple at team events — he even signed a one-day contract with them in December 2022. (Tampa Bay Times)
Seasonal
  • If you still have strawberries on the brain, you can gobble up fresh strawberry shortcake from Parkesdale Market through Sunday, April 7. The market has also transitioned to its summer hours — visitors can pop in Wednesdays to Sundays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Travel
  • Gates 1-59 + Levels 1-2 of Terminals A and B at MCO will be renovated soon. Procurement requests were recently approved for new flooring (RIP iconic carpets), wall finishes, ceilings, and lighting. A timeline for the refurbishments is TBA. (Airport Industry News + Orlando Weekly)
Home
  • Tired of rising electricity bills? See how Freedom Solar can set you free from high energy costs by helping you make the power move to solar — plus, get details on grid-ditching incentives, like start-to-finish installation, rebates, and a 25-year warranty (yes, you read that right).*
Shop
  • Ditch the men’s dress pants — the Dealmaker Pant is the ultimate pant for work or play, with an impeccable fit and feel. Save 15% with code COMFORT15.*
 
 
Try This
 
Are you a poet (and totally know it)?
LAL_orangeblossompoems_APR2024
Which poem will be crowned the master of prose? | Photo by @werlostboys courtesy of @orangeblossompoems
Calling all readers: In honor of National Poetry Month, you’re officially invited to enter LALtoday’s poetry contest.

This contest is open to all, and the rules couldn’t be more simple: Turn our Wednesday, April 3 newsletter into a poem.

We’ll clarify. Using only the words that appear in this newsletter, craft an original poem of up to 75 words. Unlike an erasure poem, the words do not have to appear in the order they’re found — mix and match how you please.

Any English word appearing anywhere in today’s newsletter is fair game, including the ones you’re reading right now (we’ll throw some fun ones at you: Red. Ambivalent. Fungi.). If a word appears once, you can only use it once.

Get more info on the rules + how to submit your poem through the link below.
 
The Buy
 
A variety of snacks for runners and bikers. The Fuel Goods Collection offers boxes filled with food that will fuel your lifestyle.
 
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The Wrap
 
Amelia Herring.jpg Today’s edition by:
Amelia
From the editor
“Roses are red, violets are blue, LALtoday has the best readers, we know that it’s true.” I hope today’s newsletter got your creative juices flowing for our poetry contest. We can’t wait to see what you all come up with.
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