{"id":3617,"date":"2019-10-11T19:07:42","date_gmt":"2019-10-11T23:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=3617"},"modified":"2019-10-11T19:07:59","modified_gmt":"2019-10-11T23:07:59","slug":"construction-to-start-on-lake-parker-multi-use-path-portion-will-feature-student-artwork","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2019\/10\/11\/construction-to-start-on-lake-parker-multi-use-path-portion-will-feature-student-artwork\/","title":{"rendered":"CONSTRUCTION TO START ON LAKE PARKER MULTI-USE PATH PORTION WILL FEATURE STUDENT ARTWORK"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A new 10-foot wide multi-use path along the west shore of West Lake Parker Drive will feature a walking history lesson. The City of Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is working in partnership with the Polk County School Board to support student artwork featured in permanent installations around the City. A one mile stretch of multi-use path will feature a themed history of the City of Lakeland arranged in decades as interpreted through the talents of students who attend area Polk County Schools. Construction on the multi-use path is scheduled to start on November 4th<\/sup> and is estimated to be completed April 2020. The northbound lane on Lake Parker Drive will be closed for the duration of the construction project.  During construction, northbound traffic will use the center lane that is currently designated for turning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 10-foot wide multi-use path construction will replace the existing five-foot wide sidewalk.  The new path will stretch from Bella Vista Street to Bon Air Street connecting to an existing multi-use path on the west shore of Lake Parker that ends at Bella Vista Street.  Once this portion is complete, there will be a 10-foot wide multi-use path along the west shore of Lake Parker that stretches from Memorial Boulevard to Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium and Lake Parker Park. The current project budget is set at $820,000 funded through the Lakeland CRA.  The 10-foot wide multi-use path is part of the master plan that was introduced as the West Lake Parker Drive \/ Lakeshore Drive Bicycle Facility and Lakefront Enhancement Report introduced in 2016. The report outlined four alternatives for a bicycle facility, as well as identifying improvement opportunities of other amenities to complement the vision along this segment of the Lake\u2010to\u2010Lake Bicycle and Greenway Pedestrian Connector<\/strong>.  To see the initial 2016 study, please visitwww.lakelandgov.net\/media\/3748\/west-lake-parker-drive-lakeshore-drive-lakefront-enhancement-alternative-analysis-report.pdf<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The history inspired artwork along the multi-use path will have approximately 150 art tiles measuring 12 inches X 12 inches.  Each tile will have its own vibrant artwork and there will be several much larger panels that will showcase student artwork that differentiates the historical significance of each decade. Alis Drumgo, CRA Manager said, \u201cThe goal is to create a vibrant space along the lakefront path that helps tell the history of our community through the eyes of our talented young people.  This is a great collaborative project done in conjunction with the Polk County School Board and I can\u2019t wait to see the completed project.\u201d  He added, \u201cThe multi-use path is part of the City\u2019s larger multi-module plans to increase bicycle and pedestrian facilities. The following Polk County Schools are contributing their talent to the artwork on the multi-use path:<\/p>\n\n\n\n