Lakeland Sun

11/20/2025

The City of Lakeland Water Utilities will begin the next phase of the Western Trunk Gravity Sewer Line upgrade next week, affecting Highland Street. This critical infrastructure project is part of our commitment to enhance wastewater capacity, bolster public safety, and deliver long-term service reliability.

Construction Area & Traffic Impacts

Beginning Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, Highland Street will be closed to all traffic for approximately three (3) weeks. During this time:

Traffic will be detoured to Josephine Street via Southern Avenue and Pinewood Avenue, with clearly marked digital message boards and traffic signage.

The nearby park will remain open during its regular hours, and all scheduled activities will continue as planned. Park access will remain via West Highland Street only; residents will not be able to access the park from the east side.

Construction activities will include increased equipment presence and daytime noise as crews work in the right-of-way adjacent to the park.

Scope of Work

This phase will include:

Installation of a new 42-inch gravity trunk sewer line

Construction of a modern wastewater pump station

New force mains and collector lines

These upgrades will replace aging infrastructure that dates to the 1980s and will significantly improve system performance and emergency response capabilities.

Why This Work Matters

Increased Capacity: Replaces undersized, deteriorating pipe to meet current and future demands

Improved Public Safety: Mitigates system vulnerabilities and supports efficient emergency response

Enhanced Reliability: Upgrades to modern standards that reduce the risk of service disruption.

Stay Informed

The city is committed to keeping the public informed. Updates will be shared through:

Website: www.LakelandGov.net

Social Media: Follow City of Lakeland, FL - GovernmentCity of Lakeland, FL - Government
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11/17/2025

PUBLIC NOTICE: EMERGENCY SEWER MAIN REPAIR – GEORGE JENKINS BLVD

LAKELAND, FL (November 17, 2025) | The City of Lakeland Wastewater Collection Division will be performing an emergency repair on a broken sewer main located in the 1400 block of George Jenkins Boulevard. The repair work is scheduled to begin Tuesday morning, November 18, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. and is expected to take 1–2 days to complete. During this time, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction along the impacted section of George Jenkins Boulevard to allow crews to safely complete the work.


Who: City of Lakeland Wastewater Collection Division

What: Emergency repair of a broken sewer main

When: Work will begin Tuesday morning, November 18, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. and will take approximately 1–2 days to complete

Where: 1400 block of George Jenkins Boulevard

Why: The repair is necessary due to a break in the existing sewer main
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11/15/2025

Bartow Con at the civic center …

11/15/2025

Jeepin’ for a Cure in Bartow today…Florida 2025 at Thunder Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
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11/14/2025

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11/12/2025

Lakeland hosts Lake Bonnet hosts drainage basin hazard mitigation project public meeting

Will be held on multiple platforms

The City of Lakeland will hold a Public Information Meeting for the Lake Bonnet Drainage Basin Hazard Mitigation Project on Thursday, November 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to present updated information about the project.

The purpose of the project is to restore the wetlands around the project corridor, remove excess sediments that have accumulated in the lake, and improve the conveyance system in the Lake Bonnet Drainage Basin. This will prevent the risk of future flooding in the May Manor Mobile Home Park and surrounding areas.

The project also seeks to enhance the overall well-being of the community and the natural environment of the area.

The City of Lakeland was awarded a $42.9 million grant from the Florida Department of Commerce (DOC). The grant is facilitated through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) initiative, as part of the Rebuild Florida Mitigation General Infrastructure Program.

Grants were awarded to complete large-scale infrastructure projects to mitigate and harden against natural disaster risks, including severe flooding and hurricanes, targeting HUD and state-designated impacted and distressed areas.

To allow for maximum participation, the public information meeting will be held in two formats, including both an in-person location and a live online session.

Participate in person

Attend the Public Information Meeting at The Well, located at 114 East Parker Street, Lakeland. The meeting will be held in an informal open house format.

People attending the meeting may review project displays; watch a project

presentation that will start at 6:15 p.m. and will run on a 30-minute loop; and speak one-on-one with project team members.

Participate live online via Go To Webinar

Register at https://bit.ly/Lake-Bonnet-VPM to attend the public information meeting virtually; view the project presentation; make comments; and ask questions to the project team live. There will be multiple opportunities to view the project presentation and interact one-on-one with the live project team for anyone who may have joined at a later time.

Following the Public Information Meeting, comments may be submitted by mail to Project Manager Laurie Smith, CPM, CFM, Lakes and Stormwater Manager, City of Lakeland, Public Works, 407 Fairway Avenue, Lakeland, Florida 33801; by email to [email protected]; and by telephone to (863) 834-6276; or to Public Information Officer Amparo Vargas, by telephone to (863) 410-0727; and by email to [email protected].

For more information, please visit the project website at LakelandGov.net/LkBonnetDrainageProject. Comments received or postmarked no later than Monday, December 15, 2025, will be included in the official meeting record.
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11/10/2025

District’s Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve Hampton Tract Closed for Hog Hunts Nov. 18-20

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Hampton Tract, including closed area tracts at Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve in Polk County, will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Nov. 18-20.

Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 30 permits for these hunts have been sold.

The Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve Hampton Tract is located at 14301 Rock Ridge Road in Lakeland.

This activity is one of a series of feral hog hunts being held on District lands to control the damage being caused to the natural habitats.

The District only allows hogs to be controlled through hunts when the damage they cause exceeds unacceptable levels, and damage is occurring more frequently and with increasing severity.

Feral hogs live throughout Florida in various habitats, but prefer moist forests and swamps, as well as pine flatwoods. They are omnivorous and feed by rooting with their broad snouts, which can cause extensive damage to the natural habitats. In fact, they can leave an area looking like a plowed field.

Feral hogs are not native to Florida and are believed to have been introduced by explorer Hernando DeSoto as early as 1539. They can weigh more than 150 pounds, measure over 5 feet in length and travel in herds with their offspring.

For more information, please call the District’s Land Management section at (813) 375-0665 or visit WaterMatters.org/HogHunts.

11/07/2025

Registration is NOW OPEN for the 2025 Central Florida Heroes 5K, presented by Orlando Health and hosted by the City of Davenport and the Four Corners Sun ! Register today at runsignup.com/Race/FL/Davenport/CentralFloridaHeroes5k

Presenting Sponsor: Orlando Health
Package Pickup Sponsor: Jarrett Gordon Ford - Davenport
Bib Sponsor: Central Florida Health Care, Inc.
Mile Marker Sponsor: Leighton's Honey
Water Sponsor: Posner Park Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT
Bronze Star Sponsor: Egg City "A 50's Diner"
Bag Sponsor: Mara Geraghty State Farm