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The City Breaks Ground on the Lakefront Renovations
By Carla Banks
The ground has been broken for what is estimated to be a $25 million renovation to Lakefront Park. The City Commission was joined by nearly 300 people for the Ground Breaking Ceremony on Friday, February 20, which took place along the lakefront.
The improvement plans call for enhancing the green space leading up to Lake Tohopekaliga. Additionally, the 25-acre park will preserve the tree canopy and boast more than a mile of paved trails for skating, biking and walking; the ability to launch boats or kayaks; a concession stand or restaurant; three playgrounds, and space to hold community events.
“There are times that public officials make decisions to enhance the quality of life of its citizens– this is one of them,” said Mayor Jim Swan. “It’s been a long time coming. This is the crown jewel of our community that is being polished. It is the park for the people.”
More than 300 citizens invested their time to attend a series of three community meetings hosted by the Parks and Recreation and Development Services Departments in 2006. They shared ideas, suggestions and comments about what they wanted to see in the park improvements.
“No City project in my memory has had as much public input – and that’s as it should be,” added Mayor Swan.
The construction will happen in stages—beginning with the removal of old trees and buildings. Actual construction will begin after the final permits are secured, which is projected by late summer of this year. Phase I will involve transforming Lakeshore Boulevard into a pedestrian walkway, while Johnson Street will be realigned to accommodate vehicular traffic.
The event also entailed a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Ruby Avenue, which is the second of three avenues to be paved with brick from Main Street to the new Lakefront Park. This is part of the CRA’s Streetscape program. Construction is already underway on Sproule Avenue, which is the last of the roads to be repaved.
The City is committed to moving forward with the multi-million dollar renovations to the Lakefront despite the downturn in the economy. Mayor Swan said this is an opportunity to invest in the City’s future. “We believe this project will improve and enhance our City for those who live here today and for future generations.”
Dan Loubier, director of the Parks Department, commented that this world-class project puts Kissimmee in an elite status of communities that have the opportunity and support to move forward with such a project. Only a handful of communities have a waterfront to develop and of those waterfront communities, only a small percentage has made strides to create such a wonderful park for their citizens. Kissimmee residents should be proud to see such a development in their backyard; a park that citizens and visitors will be able to enjoy for a lifetime.
