by James Coulter
Visitors to Lake Wales may soon be able to carry a glass of wine or beer as they peruse the downtown area, now that city commissioners have given preliminary approval of a special district permitting outdoor drinking.
At their regular meeting on Tues. July 15, 2025, Lake Wales city commissioners voted to approve the first reading of an ordinance that would create an Arts, Culture, and Entertainment (ACE) District and allow the consumption of alcohol in the downtown area.
The ordinance passed with a 3-5 vote. Commissioners Carol Gillespie and Daniel Williams made the only “nay” votes.
The ordinance would create the ACE District through amendments to the city code. These proposed changes would:
⦁ Establish the district’s purpose and boundaries and create the policies for outside consumption in the district, registered establishments, and violations.
⦁ Propose containers approved by the City and signage clearly delineating the boundaries.
⦁ Require registered establishments to provide signage and guidance for customers regarding the district guidelines.
⦁ Follow the same provisions as the Downtown Historic District regarding alcoholic sales and services and outdoor seating areas, and
⦁ Treat all applications for bars in the same manner by requiring approval through a special exception process in the Downtown Historic District and the ACE District.
Dolores Vogel, Vice President of Lake Wales Main Street, commended the city commission for considering the creation of the special district. She felt the proposal would help grow the popularity of the downtown area and draw more residents and visitors to the area.
“These are real exciting times for our downtown,” Vogel said. “People are now seeking authentic places in downtown, and it cannot be duplicated. The quality of place is a huge factor in how successful a community can be. People want to work, live, and socialize downtown.”
Commissioner Gillespie, who voted “no,” expressed her concerns about the proposed district. She feared permitting outdoor drinking in the downtown area would likewise permit drunken and unruly behavior.
“I personally am not in favor of encouraging public use of alcohol,” she said. “Although I recognize the idea that we want our downtown to be vibrant and lively and a place where people want to socialize, that doesn’t mean I want to take the next leap and accept alcohol.”
Commissioner Williams, who also voted “no,” likewise expressed concerns, specifically about drunk driving. While he never experienced any intoxication from residents at local events, he claimed the district would draw people from outside the city. He feared these individuals may not be as respectful to the rules as the city’s “mature great citizens.”
“It only takes one incident of that one person drinking leaving there not in good discipline or sound mind because of the alcohol,” he explained. “I believe giving permission [to drink] will increase the possibility of something bad happening to a citizen of Lake Wales, and for that possibility, I will vote no.”
Deputy Robin Gibson mentioned how, ever since he started working for the city in 1973, he has never seen an instance of drunken behavior from residents at events downtown.
“I think it is unfair to the people of Lake Wales to take a leap from having an event with alcohol as part of it and then leap to public drunkenness and harm to children,” he said. “I think that is really an unfair comment about who we are. We are not that kind of people. And an entertainment district is meant to benefit the heart and soul of the community and [give them] the freedom of choice to enjoy themselves.”
Commissioner Keith Thompson voted in favor of the district because he trusted residents enough to make responsible decisions about their own choices. As such, they did not need the city government dictating those choices for them.
“I trust the citizens and people of Lake Wales to make good choices for themselves and to be responsible for the choices that they make,” he said. “It is about protecting individual rights and freedoms, allowing individuals to choose and live with the choices they have made. I think the people of Lake Wales will make good choices.”
The second reading of the ordinance will be held at a future city commission meeting. If the ordinance is approved, the ACE District will be adopted.
