06.18.2024

Today’s Forecast

92º | 15% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:31 a.m. | Sunset 8:26 p.m.

🚘 Word on the street

Changes coming to downtown parking in Lakeland

LAL-downtown-kentucky-ave-lakeland-walfaro30-SEPT2022.jpeg

Don’t fret — free downtown parking isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. | Photo by @walfaro30

Changes are coming to the downtown Lakeland parking scene — but not in the way you may think.

In yesterday’s Lakeland City Commission meeting, commissioners unanimously voted to implement new parking rates. However, these new rates are solely for off-street metered spaces (think: lots and parking garages) and for monthly parking permits downtown.

Effective Oct. 1, off-street metered spaces will be charged at $1/hour with a $6 daily rate. On-street metered spaces, like those in front of your favorite shops + dining spots, will continue to have two hours of free parking before charging the $1/hour metered rate.

If you have a monthly permit for parking downtown, those will increase to $90 per month for the 2025 fiscal year and then to $100 in the 2026 fiscal year. If your parking permit has a fixed rate as part of your lease, those will remain the same until the lease expires or is terminated.

A parking lot in downtown Lakeland, FL. — The city parking lot off South Tennessee Avenue will allow four hours of free public parking + reduced permit rates. Pro tip: The Squeeze shuttle service also picks up from here.
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Photo by LALtoday

To help ease the transition to the increased rates, city traffic leaders have also implemented a reduced rate permit for the South Tennessee Avenue lot that will be $50/month. This lot will also offer four hours of free public parking to help downtown employees mitigate their parking costs.

Additionally, officials are implementing a “warning system” that will take an education-first approach with parking violations — first-time violators could have the chance to appeal their tickets before having to pay the $25 fee.

Interested in hearing the full parking rate discussion? Skip to 51:00 in the meeting’s recording.

Plan your downtown parking strategy

Events

Tuesday, June 18

Silver Star Game Day | Tuesday, June 18 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Coleman-Bush Building, 1104 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | Free | Older adults can enjoy a morning of fun, fellowship + classic games.
The Lakeland Stamp Club | Tuesday, June 18 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Peggy Brown Building, 215 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland | Free | Share your interest in stamp collecting at this casual gathering.

Wednesday, June 19

Tapas + Paint Night | Wednesday, June 19 | 6-8 p.m. | AR Workshop, 5535 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Ste. 210, Winter Haven | $65 | Gather at this Juneteenth paint party featuring tapas by Our Noire Kitchen.

Thursday, June 20

Made @ the Library | Thursday, June 20 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Larry R. Jackson Branch Library, 1700 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Free | Join the waiting list to learn how to paint a picture using the reverse painting technique on acrylic.

Friday, June 21

Emily Henry Trivia Night | Friday, June 21 | 6-8 p.m. | Pressed, 213 E. Bay St., Lakeland | $5 | Showcase your rom-com novel knowledge in a trivia night covering all things by author Emily Henry.
“Mean Girls Jr.” | Friday, June 21-Sunday, June 23 | Times vary | Lakeland Community Theatre, 121 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland | $12-$15 | Young actors will perform this grool musical that was recently made into a feature film.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Outdoors

Circle B’s Marsh Rabbit Run Trail and a segment of Alligator Alley are closed due to alligator mating season. Pro tip: If you’re planning a visit to the reserve, you can still access the Lake Hancock Dock via the Shady Oak trail. (The Ledger)

Open

Maritime, the first restaurant in Winter Haven’s new Bowen Yard food hall, is now open. The new spot for seafood fare had its soft opening last week and is now transitioning into regular operations. Follow the restaurant’s Instagram page for updated hours.

Civic

More than a dozen local officials will be chosen in this November’s election. Key races include two county commissioner seats, the Supervisor of Elections, and the Property Appraiser — learn more about what they do. (LkldNow)

Real Estate

Temperatures may be heating up, but Lakeland’s real estate demand is cooling down. In a new report by Redfin, Lakeland ranked No. 9 on the list of fastest cooling markets, due to factors like new construction, natural disasters, and rising insurance costs.

Biz

Vintage + antique spot Curated Collective is opening up space for three new vendors at the end of the summer. Interested applicants should direct message the shop on Instagram by Friday, July 5.

Stat

30%. That’s how much of an increase the Veteran’s Administration has seen in new health care enrollees in the past year. With Florida seeing one of the highest increases in the nation, new clinics are popping up across the state — including Lakeland’s this July. (Bay News 9)

Feel Good

Lily Light, a Winter Haven resident, and her family are headed to Australia later this summer thanks to The Visual Bucket List Foundation. Established in 2016, the nonprofit has a mission to provide memorable experiences to children with visual impairment diagnoses. (Bay News 9)

Drink Up

Raise a glass, drop a deal. We’ll be toasting to Drink Up Week — a celebration of Lakeland’s vibrant beverage scene — from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26. If you own a local business that serves beverages, join us by offering a fun drink deal to our readers — we may include it in a newsletter.

Read

📚 We summer (read) in Lakeland

Summer reads with ties to Lakeland

A selection of books are shown on tables and bookshelves in a local bookstore.

Stop by Pressed for Lakeland literature with a side of lattes. | Photo by @pressedlkld

Summer starts this Thursday, June 20, which means it’s time to break out the bug spray, grill, and sunscreen. It’s also time to figure out what your next pool or beach read is. Get started with these recently released books by authors with ties to Lakeland.

“Even When It Wasn’t You” by Kayla Tirrell | This local author’s newest romance follows one young woman’s journey of finding love while facing her past.
“Thank You for Applying” by Kristen Grafton | Lakelander Kristen Grafton’s debut novel is a self-proclaimed “love letter to high school” as main character Jorie navigates the ups and downs of her senior year.
“Color Lakeland” by Bump Galletta | Mix up your summer reading by breaking out the colored pencils to fill in this Swan City-themed coloring book.

Need more recommendations?

38 more local Lakeland reads

The Buy

The Buy 6.18.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

The perfect wedding guest outfit for your next summer or fall affair. Don’t forget the sparkly, satin-y shoes.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Amelia

From the editor

If you’re anything like me, then no summer evening is complete without a sweet treat. For me, this usually means ice cream (or frozen custard if I’m feeling fancy). Looking for where you can satisfy your own craving? Check out one of these local spots.

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