by James Coulter
Lake Wales city commissioners voted unanimously to approve a revised resolution expressing their opposition to a controversial proposed parkway that would cut through the city.
At a special meeting on Tues. Feb. 11, 2025, city commissioners reviewed a resolution on proposed alignments for the Central Polk Parkway East.
Proposed by The Florida Turnpike Authority (FTA), the parkway is planned to connect to U.S. Highway 17-92 from SR 60 on the west side of Lake Wales with a planned Poinciana Connector segment connecting 17-92 with I-4.
However, since its proposal, the parkway has proven quite controversial among residents, many of whom fear it would disrupt local wildlife and the environment.
At their previous meeting on Tues. Feb. 4, several city residents took to the podium during public comments to speak out against the proposed parkway.
That evening, city commissioners voted unanimously to table the resolution and motion for revisions to have it “convey the sentiments of the Commission to Florida Turnpike Enterprise,” wrote City Clerk Jennifer Nanek in the minutes of the special meeting.
“The proposed alignments for the parkway have the potential to significantly impact the City of Lake Wales, including disruption to existing development, encroachment on environmentally sensitive areas, and potential conflicts with the City’s long-term development plans as outlined in Lake Wales Envision,” she wrote.
Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson claimed the parkway would bring about “urban sprawl on steroids”, arguing against how the proposed extensions would build a new divided highway through the city’s rural areas.
“He emphasized the need for a thorough cost-benefit analysis comparing the proposed alignments with an elevated roadway solution along the existing State Road 27 corridor,” Nanek wrote. “He argued that the potential cost savings associated with avoiding the need for extensive right-of-way acquisition and construction in rural areas could significantly offset the higher initial construction costs of an elevated roadway.”
City Manager James Slaton and Growth Management Director Autumn Cochella plan to meet with FTA representatives and to keep the city commissioners apprised.
