By Guy LaLonde Jr., City Commissioner
Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the dedication and ribbon cutting of the Morehead Community Plaza. This event was far more than a ceremony — it was a moment of remembrance, honor, and unity for a neighborhood whose history and legacy still shape Lakeland today.
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to every guest speaker who shared their reflections and helped bring the rich history of Morehead to life:
Jamin Smith, Mayor Bill Mutz, Audrey Figgs, Lynne Simpkins, LaFrancine Burton, my fellow commissioners, and all who spoke from the heart.
Your words were powerful, personal, and truly moving.
A very special thank you to Cindy Collins and the RP Funding Center for your dedication and support, and to Rob Hernandez, Shawn Sherrouse, and all of our outstanding city departments who worked together to bring this project from vision to reality. This plaza is a testament to teamwork, community pride, and honoring the past the right way.
Earlier this year, during the RP Funding Center’s 50th anniversary discussions, it became clear to me that we needed to do something meaningful to honor the Morehead community — its families, its contributions, its strength, and its place in Lakeland’s story. Today, seeing this vision come to life, it exceeded anything I could have imagined.
What moved me most was how many people stayed long after the program ended — watching the lights come on, walking the plaza, and soaking in the beauty and significance of this memorial. That moment said everything.
The Morehead community is remembered. It is honored. It is celebrated.
To everyone who helped spearhead this effort, thank you.
To the community members who shared their stories, thank you.
And to all who joined us today, thank you for helping make this dedication a powerful reflection of who we are as a city.
Lakeland is stronger when we honor our history — and today, we did exactly that