Planning for the Chain of Lakes Downtown Trailhead is underway. The complex will be located on City-owned property immediately north of Fire Station 1. The primary focus of this facility is to provide access to the recently completed Chain of Lakes Trail, while also expanding the City’s general recreation offerings. The facility’s proximity to the Winter Haven Area Transit Terminal (WHAT) will allow for enhanced connectivity between multiple transportation modes (vehicular, pedestrian, mass transit, etc.). As an indirect benefit, the facility will help meet parking needs associated with other destination facilities in the immediate area (i.e. City Hall, MLK, Jr. Park, Senior Adult Center, Garden Center and Nora Mayo Hall).
Improvements associated with the project include 140 new parking spaces, restroom/concession facilities, a transportation themed interactive playground, a municipal lawn/plaza, maintenance storage building, picnic facilities, shade pavilion, bike lockers, and general site furnishings. The landscape/layout design is consistent with recent redevelopment patterns of downtown and incorporates Mediterranean Revival Theme architecture consistent with the Winter Haven Public Library and WHAT Terminal.
Construction on the project is expected to start in Fall 2009. Prior to construction of the facility, the Farmers Market will temporarily be moved to either Patterson Park or Joyce Davis Park. Additional Downtown Park Renovation Plans call for the redevelopment of South Central Park.
Current cost estimates for the Chain of Lakes Downtown Trailhead are approximately $1.4 million. Over the next two years, the City has approximately $780,000 budgeted for the project, of which $475,000 will be in the form of Florida Department of Transportation Grants. In addition, the City has requested that the project be considered for Federal Economic Stimulus Funding through the Florida Department of Transportation.
The Chain of Lakes Downtown Project Plans are currently at the 60% Phase and are being reviewed by the Florida Department of Transportation, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and City Staff.
Are there any plans for a park on the southeast side of town? We have lived here for 2 years, and there doesn’t seem to be a good, nice park on our side of town. I know a lot of families that live over this way, and many of us feel the same way. Something similar to the Common Grounds playground in Lakeland would be wonderful, or even just a regular updated, nice park. I know we would use it a lot if it were on this side of town.