City of Winter Haven Capital Projects Update

9/1/2020

During our Chamber's August Winter Haven Development Industry Roundtable Assistant City Manager T. Michael Stavres gave an update on the ongoing and upcoming capital improvement projects happening through the City government. Suffice it to say, the City is continuing to move forward and making investments in the infrastructure and quality of life of our residents. You can watch a video of Asst. City Manager Stavres presentation below or read the reader's digest version below.

There is nothing we love more than when local business and Chamber members are awarded bids to do local projects. Many of these projects are going to bid soon, so if you are interested in being a potential vendor register here and watch this website for updates. If you are unsure how to do business with the City, we did a webinar with the City on using their procurement system which can be accessed on our YouTube page here.

Complete Street Projects

A complete street project allows for active sidewalks, dedicated bike lanes, active roadway, safe crosswalks, planting strips and green spaces. In other words the feel safer and they ARE safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

The City of Winter Haven has 4 current complete streets projects:

South Lake Silver Drive from 5th St NW (about to Wendy's on US 17) to 1st St N (Winter Haven Hospital)
- construction to start in 60-90 days
Ave C SW from 5th St SW to 1St St S
- After the this is done they are exploring converting the signalized light at Grove Roots and N+1 Coffee to a stop sign to improve safety of pedestrians crossing
2nd St SW from Ave C SW TO Ave G SW
- Hope to have these above two projects underway at the same time
Ave K NE from 1 St N to 7th St NW (Road leading to Polk State College from 1st Street)
- Currently in 30% design phase

Lake Conine Wetland Restoration

This project is currently underway and will wrap up this spring. It is a massive stormwater project being completely collaboratively with Polk County. The goal is to treat a large watershed and eventually have some recreation components as well.

T Hanger Expansion at the Winter Haven Regional Airport

There are quite a few projects happening at the Winter Haven Regional Airport.

This project is a new T-Hanger that is being built. There is typically a waitlist for T-Hangers at the airport so this will expand capacity and raise revenues for an unused parcel of land.
Taxiway improvements
New paved access road (entrance near Jack Brown's Seaplane Base entrance)
Putting in utility infrastructure to make more attractive to new business development

Fire Station No. 3

The new fire station is at the corner of Thompson Nursery Rd and Lake Ruby Drive. This will open up in April 2021. This will include space for not just fire personnel, but also for police officers, code enforcement officers and building inspectors to work out of when they are working in Southeast Winter Haven. This will replace an antiquated mobile home station.

The City will be submitting a grant request in an effort to construct a 4th fire station for the community in the Havendale Blvd area around Lake Hartridge Nature Park. There are two stations that operate out of Fire Station #1 so this would allow one of those to relocate.

This project was designed by Chamber member The Lunz Group and is being constructed by Chamber member Whitehead Construction.

Winter Haven Garden Center

The City is in the process of acquiring the Winter Haven Garden Center from the Council of Garden Clubs. In 1965 the City dedicated the land that the center sits on and Gene Leedy designed and constructed it for the council who has requested the City take over ownership and manage the rentals through the leisure services department. This will be available via the City as of October 1. There will be about $200,000 worth of renovation on the Garden Center.

Lake Elbert Trail

This project has been on the City's "to-do list' for about 40 years.

This project is getting bumped up due to the completion of the DOT portion of the project (along Dundee Rd). They are reprogramming money to get this underway in terms of construction design and right of way challenges they may need to overcome. The City portion would go from Central Ave north to Polk State College and then back around to the DOT portion.

Project is estimated to be about $1.6M. It will be a 2 to 2.5 year project.

Winter Haven Recreational & Cultural Center

Looking to complete a similar treatment to the WHRCC that they did to the fieldhouse. The above images are renderings that were done through a feasibility study with Straughn Trout Architects. This project will be going out for a design bid (around October 1) and then a construction bid about 30 days or so later.

The facility was built in the mid-1970's and is in need of much renovation. They are hoping to increase square-footage from the front and include a branch library and technology room that will provide expanded service to the Florence Villa and Northeast Winter Haven community.This will also include a new splash pad and other improvements to the outdoor footprint.

This project is estimated to be about $5M-$5.5M project.There is estimated to be about a year of design and another year of construction.

Lake Silver Skate Park

This project will be opened up by mid-September (pictures above are about a month old). This project is designed by Tim Payne, a world-renowned skate park designer. He is working in partnership with Chamber members Pennoni and Whitehead Construction.

Martin Luther King Jr. Park on Lake Silver Renovations

They old concrete amphitheater shell was torn down and this more flexible space will allow for a pass-through view of the lake. The concrete seating was removed and will be replaced with grass berm seating. This should also be completed by mid-September.

After the skate park and amphitheater projects are complete the City will be putting out a design-build request for qualifications around October 1for phase 2 of MLK Jr. Park. Phase 2 includes a new restroom facility, ADA sidewalk improvements, and allow for accommodation of larger events, including the 2022 World Water Ski Show Championship (the Olympics of show skiing). The City received $400,000 in state grants to help get this project done.

This project will tie together all of the work being completed in this area including the Lake Silver Complete Street project, skate park, amphitheater, renovations to the senior center, the new tennis courts, trailhead park renovations, etc.

4th Street Streetscape & Market Piazza

This project includes streetscaping with pavers and decorative lighting to match the rest of downtown on the block that includes Carlton's Music in addition to the renovation of the city-owned 4th St public parking lot the is located between the Chamber of Commerce and the Winter Haven Ambulatory Surgery Center. The completed parking lot will have features that allow it to convert into an event and market piazza.

This was designed by Chamber member Pennoni. The construction is currently out to bid right now.

The dog park is not currently in the construction bid.

Downtown Street Cafe Expansion

The city was quick to pivot to use "parklets" to help expand restaurant capacity during the COVID 19 crisis. Even prior to this pandemic, the City was exploring the possibility of expanding the sidewalks to allow for more alfresco dining. This project's design is in the proposed CRA budget to look at Central Avenue from 2nd St to 4th St. It is estimated that up-to 12 parking spaces would be used to complete the project. They have also proposed monies in the budget for construction of the project once final design is determined. If this project is successful they would look to expand this to other streets in the downtown.

Sertoma Park Athletic Field Renovation

These fields have been around since the sixties with incremental improvements, but it is now time for a larger overhaul. This improvements include LED lighting, expanding fence lines, improving general conditions of fields and areas used by the athletes. . This past year there was a complete renovation of the concession area. Future phases will look at the shoreline of Lake Shipp for additional recreational opportunities.

Rowdy Gaines Olympic Pool Improvements

This is one of the last athletic areas of the improved southwest complex building to be done (now the AdventHealth Fieldhouse and Conference Center). The improvements include:

new entry points
elevator access to second floor classrooms
renovated lockers, offices and lifeguard area
addition of air conditioning
bus drop off

One additional update:

State Road 542 (Dundee Road to US 27) Phase 1 should be substantially completed in the next month. On September 8 the next phase will begin from Buckeye Loop Road to US Hwy 27. This phase is expected to last one-year

6 Comments

Brenda J. Quinn

12/16/2020 05:20:10 am

What is going to be built on Recker Highway where all the clearing is being done near Village Realty?

Linda Babli link

9/13/2021 03:48:24 pm

Some of a curious at to what's happening with Lake Silver...just being nosey. Looks like some of the projects on this page haven't been updated since last September. Many thanks for listening!

Katie Worthington

9/14/2021 06:09:37 am

Linda, here is a post from August 20 of this year with more updated info. Lake Silver is coming along swiftly! https://www.winterhavenchamber.com/blog/city-of-winter-haven-capital-improvement-projects-update

Linda Babli

9/14/2021 09:20:59 am

Thank you for the quick reply!

Joshua Randall

3/31/2023 09:13:11 am

What is currently under construction on Havendale Blvd near Clausen’s Furniture Store?

5/27/2023 08:34:27 am

This blog appears to have not been updated since September 2000. I'm having a difficult time finding out what is happening on SR544 near the proposed Lake Conine Wetland Restoration. Perhaps you have some information? I've checked the City's website but cannot find anything.

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