News

LAKELAND, FL (March 3, 2022) | City Manager Shawn Sherrouse has appointed Kris Hallstrand as Interim Director of Lakeland Linder International Airport, effective March 3, 2022.  Current Director, Gene Conrad has accepted the position of President/CEO of the Aerospace Center for Excellence.

LAKELAND, FL (February 14, 2022) | Gene Conrad, Director of Lakeland Linder International Airport has accepted the position of President/CEO of the Aerospace Center for Excellence effective March 7, 2022.  Conrad stated in a letter to the City Manager that he accepted the position after significant reflection of his 12 years with the City of Lakeland.

LAKELAND, FL (February 7, 2022) | City of Lakeland has been awarded a State Water Quality Assistance Grant in the amount of $280,000 from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for the Lake Bonny Stormwater Outfall Retrofit Project.  The FDEP’s Non-Point Source Management Program administers the initiative to provide local government funding for projects designed to control water pollution from non-point sources.  Non-point source pollution comes from a wide area and causes nutrient, sediment, and fertilizer contamination that enters stormwater runoff and then is carried to surface water bodies.

LAKELAND, FL (February 4, 2022) | The City of Lakeland Division of Solid Waste provides once per week residential service with automated garbage collection, automated recycling collection, and yard waste collection. Residents can also notify Solid Waste for larger bulk item pick-up. Residential customers can get four (4) bulk collections, up to 20 cubic yards each, per calendar year. The calendar year runs from January 1st through December 31st.  City of Lakeland residents that need to schedule a bulk pickup should email customer service at solidwastemanagment@lakelandgov.net with your address and the type of material you have for collection.  Customers can also call 863/834-8773 to schedule a pickup.

LAKELAND, FL (February 4, 2022) | As Queen Elizabeth II gets ready to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee, the City’s swans will be celebrating their Blue Sapphire Jubilee. February 8^th will mark the 65^th Anniversary of Lakeland’s royal swans arriving on Lake Morton.  On this day in 1957, the two swans gifted by Queen Elizabeth II arrived on Lake Morton in downtown Lakeland. Since that time, Lakeland’s swans have become iconic figures in the community. It is almost a rite of passage for families to visit Lake Morton to feed our beloved swans. Swans can be found in freshwater lakes, ponds, and estuaries primarily in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. Their early migration to Florida came from seasonal residents wanting to have swans as pets on or near their winter homes. By 1926, Lakeland had a swan population of 20 and the City established a Swan Department to help oversee their care.

LAKELAND, FL (February 2, 2022) | The public is invited to join the City of Lakeland in celebrating Black History Month at Jackson Park on February 19^th from 10 a.m. - to 2 p.m. for the Annual Black History Festival. The event will be a fun-filled, family-friendly day that will include performances, food vendors, crafts, and historic displays.  There will be members from the City of Lakeland’s Parks & Recreation Department on hand giving away free plants while supplies last.

LAKELAND, FL (January 18, 2022) – The Lakeland Camellia Society will host its annual Camellia Show and Sale on February 5^th from 1 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Camellia blooms will be showcased including well know species, miniatures, and hybrid varieties. The event is FREE and camellia plants will be available for purchase. 

LAKELAND, FL (January 19, 2022) - Construction is wrapping up on Summit Consulting’s new eight story 135,000 square foot building located at 117 N. Massachusetts Avenue on Lake Mirror in downtown Lakeland. Beginning Monday, January 31^st at 7 a.m. paving contractors will resurface Massachusetts Avenue between East Main Street and Cedar Street.  Massachusetts Avenue will be resurfaced, striped, and painted with street markings on all four lanes. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters and City of Lakeland Celebrate the Importance of Mentoring during National Mentoring Month | Learn more about the LIFT Lakeland and School-to-Work mentoring partnership at an open house on Thursday, January 20th

LAKELAND, FL (January 14, 2022) | Hollis Garden will host the Plantopia Garden Festival on February 26^th from 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.  The event is FREE and there will be a number of vendors selling Orchids, Bromeliads, Tillandsias, Aroids, Caudiciforms, Tropical Plants, Bamboo, Grasses, Exotic Fruit Trees, Native Plants, Succulents, Carnivorous Plants, Butterfly Attractants, Spices, Herbs and much more!