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During Monday night's City Commission meeting, City Manager Mike Herr and Assistant City Manager T. Michael Stavres gave an update on many of the city government's capital improvement projects. This update also included drone video footage shot by Chamber member Polk Drones to help enhance the commissioners perspective on the progress being made on these projects. View the drone footage below. Polk Drones is contracted to fly over the Lake Maude and South Central Park project every 2 weeks to help aide in the project management and allow staff to compare plans and actual construction from a different perspective than in the past.
There are over 26 capital and infrastructure improvement projects going on at this time in the City and the update included a selection of the projects. To view a detailed summary of all of the capital projects underway at the City, including those not mentioned in this update, click here.
Winter Haven Tennis Center
Project started: August 2017
Project anticipated completion: May 2018 Construction Cost: $2,712,047 Chamber member Pennoni is the Engineer of Record and member Everett Whitehead & Son Construction is the General Contractor.
The grand opening for the new Tennis Center is scheduled for May 9, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. with the ceremony to begin at 5:30 p.m. Users will notice many changes and improvements, including switching from hard courts to clay. In total the new complex will include one hard court, eight clay courts and four pickleball courts. There has been an addition of a covered viewing area in the center of the complex, shade structures and additional parking, all of which should make the facility more attractive to competitive tournaments. The staff also noted that this facility should be easier to maintain. Renderings of the final product are below and you can view a drone flyover in the video above from April 17.
Lake Maude Recreation Park
Project started: February 2018
Project anticipated completion: September 2018 Construction Cost: $4,410,441 Chamber member Pennoni is the engineer of record on the project.
The Lake Maude Recreation Park includes the development of 26 acres of City-owned land to address deficiencies in youth athletic venues. Phase I of the project includes a stand-alone football multipurpose field with concessions, restrooms, and spectator areas, two dual purpose fields, playground, group picnic shelters, and ancillary support items (parking, ingress/egress, retention, etc.) This project was a community-led effort for almost 20 years. This project was held up for months due to a battle with environmental permits because of a potential sand skink habitat. Our elected officials, including Congressman Darren Soto, advocated to get the required permitting issues after environmental clearance was given. You can view drone footage of the construction to date in the video above. This facility is located off of Ave O and adjacent to the current Diamond Plex softball fields.
Phase 1 Build Out:
Eventual full build-out:
Master Lift Station
Project started: January 2017 Project anticipated completion: June 2018 Construction Cost: $3,091,881 Chamber member Jones Edmunds is the engineer of record for this project. 
Assistant City Manager T. Michael Stavres described this project as a massive utility project and critical piece of infrastructure for the community as over 4 million gallons of raw sewage every day goes through this site. Everything that gets flushed from Chain of Lakes Park north comes here. The improvements to the site will mitigate some of the smell that comes from the treatment facility by adding additional carbon filters, a wall will be put up around the site to lessen visibility to the major gateway on US 17 into Winter Haven and the new field house. Some of the old structures will also be demolished as the new facility becomes operational.
South Central Park Improvement Project
Project started: September 2017
Project anticipated completion: September 2018 Construction Cost: $4,444,444 Chamber member Pennoni is the Engineer of Record and member Cobb Site Development is the General Contractor.
This projects aim is to create a more pedestrian and event friendly downtown area. It will be a great relief to the periodic strain to downtown businesses that can occur during the busy event season that occupies Central Park. Major components include converting existing surface lots to piazzas suitable for conversion from parking to event space, reducing the width of Ave. A SW to bring Andy Thornal's and that side of downtown into the core, expanded on-street parking with a net addition of 35 parking spots, conversion of Magnolia Ave. to a pedestrian/bicycle corridor and various landscape/hardscape improvements to accommodate individual and event use. There is a lot of intricate detail and brick work included in this project. You can view drone footage of the construction as of April 17 in the video above.
This rendering is the view of the intersection of 4th St and Central Avenue as if you were standing on the corner in front of Wauchula State Bank. 
This rendering is as if you were standing in South Central Park looking towards the Central Park Fountain and Central Ave.
This rendering is as if you are standing on the corner of 3rd and Magnolia looking towards Jensen's Corner Bar on your right and Magnolia Ave on your left that now becomes a pedestrian walkway.
7th Street Improvement Project
Project to start: June 2018
Project anticipated completion: June 2019 Construction Cost: $2,635,999
This project is very similar to the 3rd Street project in downtown from Magnolia Avenue to US 17. It runs from 7th Street and Lake Howard Drive (by the pink Woman's Club) all the way to where 7th Street dead ends into Ave G at Marine Supply. This project is designed to improve the roadway by right-sizing it, improving drainage, adding raingardens, adding period lighting for safety and aesthetics and improved pedestrian utilization within the corridor. Elements include the milling and resurfacing of the existing roadway; installation of new underground stormwater conveyance system; construction of a new 5-foot sidewalk on the west side of 7th and a corresponding 8-foot wide asphalt mixed use path on the east side. In addition in-house Utilities Department personnel and contractor will cooperate to install a new 8-inch water main.
Construction has not started on this project yet but drone footage of the current condition is included in the video above. The Chamber has been advocating for this project as a part of the Downtown Lake Howard Oaks revitalization efforts. We have a number of Chamber member businesses that are located in this neighborhood, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Winter Haven. 
Taxiway E & F Expansion - Winter Haven Regional Airport
Project started: June 2017
Project completed: April 2018 Construction Cost: $4,108,281 Chamber member Tucker Paving is the contractor of record on this project.
Design and construction of a new taxiway connecting future Taxiway E to the approach of Runway 11. This taxiway will improve airfield safety and make additional areas of the Airport available for future development. Funding sources for this project will be the FAA (90%), FDOT (5%), and the Airport (5%). 
Watch the Commission update recorded live by Polk Drones owner Andrew Osburn, who filmed the drone footage of the construction sites.
1 Comment
Magali
4/27/2020 10:49:16 am
Just quick question,,,neighborhood can’t ask for make side walk in cement,,is small three road 9 ct ne, 10th st,10th ct,,neighborhood is nice just need side walk in cement is ne, Ave O Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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