Plus, your mall memories.
 
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Today’s Forecast

92º | 30% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:50 a.m. | Sunset 8:17 p.m.

LAL_High Tower Roofing_Weather Sponsorship_7.1.2023-6.30.2025

 
💭 Think 25 years in the future
The exterior of the historic Old Polk County Courthouse entrance with a dome and high columns.
You can help direct the county’s future for the next 25 years. | Photo by LALtoday
We can’t predict the future, but through careful community planning, Polk County aims to create it instead. Polk is now seeking resident input on its Comprehensive Plan, a document of goals + policies that will direct government officials’ decisions on development, infrastructure, recreation, and more.

Why is this plan so important? Polk County grew 10% from 2020 to 2023, putting a strain on infrastructure + resources. That’s why updates are needed for the state-required Comprehensive Plan, which will cover Polk’s future through 2050 + help maintain quality of life on a long-term basis.

The 22-month project to create the Plan began in March 2024 and is set to be adopted in December 2025. That may seem a long way off, but you can be a part of the planning process starting now.

An interactive map of Polk County showing points of interest with suggestions added by residents.

You can also share your thoughts by upvoting + downvoting other suggestions.

|

Screenshot via Polk County

There are currently three ways to submit your ideas for the Polk County Comprehensive Plan: a 15-question survey, a virtual idea wall, and an interactive map. The idea wall + map points are visible to other users.

If you go the map route, you can add a point to a specific address, choose a category (like Land Use, Recreation, or Infrastructure), and submit your idea for how that area can be improved by 2050. Here are a few of the suggestions submitted so far for spots around Lakeland:
  • Near West Pipkin Road — “Need to look at lowering the speed limit on Pipkin Rd ... as well as Harden Blvd.”
  • Near Boy Scout Ranch Road — “Purchase land and develop into park or wildlife area.”
  • Near South Florida Avenue — “I would suggest planting shade trees along South Florida Avenue from Lake Miriam Drive to Ewell/County Road 540-A.”
If you prefer to give your feedback in person, keep an eye out for upcoming Visioning Community Workshops to be announced soon for August-October.
 
 
Events
 
Wednesday, July 31
  • Chair Yoga for Beginners | Wednesday, July 31 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Simpson Park Community Center, 1725 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | $5 | Take a seat for this flow designed to improve flexibility, balance, and range of motion.
  • Salsa y Bachata Class Plus Dancing at the Park | Wednesday, July 31 | 6:30 p.m. | Lakeland Coleman-Bush Building, 1104 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | $10 | Wear your dancing shoes for a dance class followed by a social in Munn Park.
Thursday, Aug. 1
  • Back to School Health and Safety Event | Thursday, Aug. 1 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | United Way Children’s Resource Center, 650 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Get physicals, development screenings, and educational resources for your family before the school year begins.
  • Lakeland Arts Association Monthly Meeting | Thursday, Aug. 1 | 6:30-8 p.m. | First Presbyterian Church, 175 Lake Hollingworth Dr., Lakeland | Free | Folk artist Heidi Wineland will kick off the Artpreneur speaker series.
Friday, Aug. 2
  • Swan City Improv Comedy Show! | Friday, Aug. 2 | Times vary | Rec Room, 202 N. Massachusetts Ave., Lakeland | $10-$15 | This improvised comedy team is celebrating its 1,000th ticket order at both its family friendly and 21+ shows.
Saturday, Aug. 3
  • Monarch Monitoring Blitz | Saturday, Aug. 3 | 8-10 a.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Volunteer alongside community scientists to better understand the habits of monarch butterflies.
  • Backyard Market | Saturday, Aug. 3-Saturday, Aug. 31 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | The Green House Garden Store, 110 Easton Dr., Lakeland | Free entry | Shop plants, enjoy music, and browse new vendors’ goods each Saturday of August.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
News Notes
 
Biz
  • Market on Kentucky is officially searching for vendors for its forthcoming spot in downtown Lakeland. Interested food entrepreneurs can email the owners to learn more about renting vendor space. It’s slated to open late this summer.
Ranked
  • No. 12. That’s what Davenport ranked on StorageCafe’s list of the country’s fastest-growing housing markets after increasing its housing inventory by 203% in the last decade. For comparison, Lakeland’s inventory has grown by 12% during the same period.
Lakelander
  • Jerry Haag, One More Child’s CEO + president, has been appointed to the 11-member Florida Faith-Based and Community-Based Advisory Council. As a councilmember, Haag will advise the state government on improving social services. (The Ledger)
Cause
  • Nonprofit kidsPACK is reporting more families in need of its services this summer after Florida opted out of a federal food security program. You can help kidsPACK feed kids in need by making a donation online. (Bay News 9)
Kids
  • Party like a pig. August marks 20 years of the children’s show character Peppa Pig, and to celebrate, Winter Haven’s Peppa Pig Theme Park is hosting special dance party events. Visit on Aug. 17-18 or Aug. 24-25 to dance, sing, and play.
Eat
  • Curry Mango is extending its all-you-can-eat buffet to every day of the week, starting tomorrow, Aug. 1. The buffet is $15 on weekends, and it’ll be $12 on weekdays. Pro tip: Don’t skip the sweet gulab jamun for dessert.
Plan Ahead
  • Fall farm tours are right around the corner at Cow Creek Farm in Plant City. Mark your calendar for this Sunday, Aug. 4 at 9 a.m. when tickets go on sale — these are always quick to sell out, so you’ll want to moo-ve fast.
Family
Featured Apartment
Finance
  • Did you know you could finance your fixer-upper with home equity? You could get up to $50K with a HELOC — calculate your payment.*
 
 
Answered
 
Do you have memories of a local mall?
A black and white image of the inside of a mall featuring a store with the words "Jean Nicole" in cursive above the store's entrance. Four people walk in different directions on the right side of the hallway. A set of plants is in the center of the hallway outside of the store.
Women’s clothing store Jean Nicole was a tenant of the Lakeland Mall back in 1972. | Photo by Karl E. Holland via Florida Memory
We asked for your favorite memories from local shopping centers from back in the day. Here’s what a few readers remember.

“On Saturdays, my dad and I would go to Winter Haven Mall and play pinball and other games in the arcade called Barrel of Fun. The entrance was a cut out barrel. It was just the two of us making memories and trying to out play the other.” — Reader JL

“I remember ordering my class ring (class of 1977) from Zales jewelers. My dad shopped with me as a teenager at Montgomery Ward. I wanted two different sweaters. He bought both of them for me. I still have the white cardigan in my closet! My first job out of high school was at Montgomery Ward. The Army recruiter was located outside the entrance to Ward. I joined the Army, went to Germany and met my soldier husband there. All this happened because of the mall being there!” — Reader Jean B.
 
The Buy
 
A hands-free neck fan, which makes a great gift for yourself or others to enjoy a 360 breeze keeping you cool outdoors.
 
 
The Wrap
 
Connor Jacobson Today’s edition by:
Connor
From the editor
I’ve been watching Olympics coverage every chance I get in between writing news notes or reading your mall stories. If you’re a cord cutter like me without cable, I can’t recommend a digital TV antenna enough — it’s the best, most affordable option for watching live sports.
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