City of Lakeland hopes to bring the Memorial Boulevard corridor back to life

The city of Lakeland wants the community's input for the vision of a well-known corridor's future.

Map view of the six-mile corridor between I-4 and East Lake Parker Drive in the northern part of Lakeland.

Map view of the six-mile corridor between I-4 and East Lake Parker Drive in the northern part of Lakeland. 

The city was awarded a $75,000 grant last summer by the state to create an economic plan for the corridor, which stretches six miles between I-4 and East Lake Parker Drive in the northern part of the city. 

The corridor’s history

The backstory:

The city's community and economic development director says the corridor has endured decades of disinvestment.

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Part of the I-4 corridor that is being redeveloped.

Part of the I-4 corridor that is being redeveloped.

"From the 60s through the 80s, Memorial Boulevard was a thriving, successful part of our city, and we want to do all we can to see it return to that," said Brian Rewis.

Plans for the corridor’s future

What we know:

Ayres, a planning, design, and engineering firm hired by the city, will be conducting a study with the goal of revitalizing the boulevard. 

Rewis says the project will help attract new jobs and investments to the city, and improve pedestrian safety.

Part of the I-4 corridor that is being redeveloped.

Part of the I-4 corridor that is being redeveloped.

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"It has to do with three words, and that's quality of life," said Rewis. "That's the business we're in, and so we're not growing outward anymore."

Rewis finished, "We're going to grow and redevelop and thrive inward."

What's next:

The key findings of the study and recommendations will be released sometime this summer.

How can residents give their input?

What you can do:

The city wants to hear the community's feedback via a survey that is available here

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The city will also hold two public informational meetings -- the first of those being on Thursday, Feb. 20, at the Coleman Bush Building (1104 Martin L. King Jr. Avenue) from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 

Implementing the grant

What we don't know:

The city of Lakeland has not officially announced a timetable for finalizing the corridor’s redevelopment project.

The Source: FOX 13's Carla Bayron gathered the information in this story courtesy of Brian Rewis and the city of Lakeland.

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