Chain of Lakes Complex … Make No Little Plans

Posted: May 15, 2008: 8:27 am

Satellite view of proposed master planning DRI

City Commissioners, staff, Chamber and Main Street representatives heard a preliminary overview of how redevelopment of the current Chain of Lakes Stadium/Southwest Complex property is likely to proceed. The City actually plans to trigger a “Development of Regional Impact” study (DRI) on a major portion (approximately 200 acres) of the community’s southwest quadrant bounded on the north by Avenue O, south by the Lake Lulu/Shipp canal, east by Park Lake/First Street South and west by Lake Shipp. Local developer Tony Binge presented the conceptual scenerio involving commercial, residential and enhanced public access to the Chain of Lakes.  City staff underscored that the plan will provide for all amenities currently found on the Chain of Lakes property including a new facility for Theatre Winter Haven, a new aquatic center and other recreational amenities. Public access to Lake Lulu and the east shore of Lake Shipp would be greatly enhanced.

The master plan being contemplated will produce land use guidelines including more inter-city in fill development of a very high quality as well as an increased emphasis on Chain of Lakes access and appreciation, connectivity to walking trails and downtown.

The information was shared during the City’s annual planning retreat where those present outlined a vision for the city both five and ten years in the future. The areas of emphasis included Economic Development, Community Neighborhoods, Lakes, Leisure, Growth and Development and City Services. The City continues to use the results of the “Our Future By Design” visioning document as a significant benchmark for planning purposes. The document was developed in 1999-2000 by a broad cross section of Winter Haven residents (approximately 200 participated throughout the process).

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Haven Artist Takes Best of Show AND People’s Choice

Posted: April 11, 2008: 10:21 am

The Third Annual Central Park Stroll was held April 10 amid picture perfect weather, beautifully manicured parks and ten new outdoor sculptures. This year’s Stroll was unique in that for the first time, one of the ten sculptures was created by a Winter Haven artist. Perhaps most exciting is the fact that Albert Kriston’s “Reach” sculpture (pictured at left) was selected as “Best of Show” by the judges and “Peoples Choice” winner from Thursday evening’s guests.

Reach was inspired by the astronauts who lost their lives on the shuttle Challenger.

The Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition is organized by the Polk Museum of Art in conjunction with the City of Winter Haven. This is the eighth year for the competition and the third time it has been in Winter Haven’s downtown parks. The City of Winter Haven provides both financial backing for the exhibition and the logistical support to install and maintain the sculptures. The sculptures are selected by a committee of area residents. This year’s judges included Carol Mickett, Ph.D., and Robert Stackhouse, Ph.D Artists. 

The Central Park Stroll was sponsored by Cartlon Music Center, CSX Transportation, Food Partners, Haskell Corp., Peterson Myers, P.A., Publix Supermarkets, Inc., Raley Downtown Properties, Richards Fine Coffees, Tampa Electric Company and the Winter Haven Chamber Foundation.

The Chamber joins with Main Street Winter Haven and the City to present the Central Park Stroll. Those who voted for the sculptures last evening received a coupon book good for discounts at downtown restaurants and retailers.

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City Welcomes Third Outdoor Sculpture Presentation

Posted: February 14, 2008: 10:23 am

Downtown’s Central Park area will be home to the Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition for 2008. For the past two years both Winter Haven and Lakeland have hosted ten sculptures but the 2008 competition will be held in Winter Haven alone as Lakeland has chosed to exhibit works by a single artist. The ten sculptures range from small and delicate to massive and imposing and include a bronze work, “Reach” by Winter Haven artist Albert Kriston (pictured below). The Outdoor Sculpture Competition is a project of the Polk Museum of Art in cooperation with the City of Winter Haven. Winners were selected by a committee of Winter Haven residents.

The individual works will be installed in the three sections of downtown’s Central Park by early March in time for inclusion in the Central Park Art Festival March 15 and 16. The City will join with Main Street Winter Haven and the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce to announce the winners of the competition and “People’s Choice” at the Central Park Stroll on April 10.

You can view all of this year’s selections here.

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