by James Coulter
More than 1.25 miles of sidewalk will be paved along eight city streets now that a construction contract has been approved.
At their regular meeting on Tues. Jan. 13, the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board voted unanimously to approve a construction contract of $461,732.54.
The contract will be for a project to construct approximately 1.25 miles of sidewalk for eight city streets. The scope of the project will include:
• Orange Avenue from 1st Street west to Wetmore Street
• Wetmore Street from the intersection of Orange Avenue north to Sessoms Avenue
• Sessoms Avenue from 1st Street east to Scenic Highway
• Seminole Avenue from 1st Street east to the RR tracks
• Seaboard Avenue from 1st Street west to MLK Boulevard
• Dorsett Avenue from 1st Street west to MLK Boulevard
• B Street from Dorsett Avenue north to Dr. JA Wiltshire Avenue
• C Street from Dorsett Avenue north to Dr. JA Wiltshire Avenue
Of the 14 bids submitted to the City for the project, and following a review by city staff and Colliers Project Leaders, Garcia Civil Contractors was selected as the lowest responsive bid.
This project is part of the city’s overall efforts to expand and improve sidewalks, especially in the Northwest Neighborhood and Downtown areas, with these projects funded through state, federal, and CRA grants.
Phase I of the Northwest Sidewalk Improvement Project began in April 2024 and has since been completed with 3.2 miles of new sidewalks across 13 streets, 875 feet of crosswalks, and 45 ADA-compliant ramps, according to the city’s website.
Additional sidewalk and pedestrian upgrades are planned as part of the city’s broader Lake Wales Connected initiative, which, according to the city’s website, is “a long-range plan to revitalize the City’s historic core.”
Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson asked about budget funding for the project, and Assistant City Manager Deena Drumgo confirmed it was available, “Thanks to you all.” Drumgo also noted the project was finished in two years instead of the planned five.
City Manager James Slatton mentioned how the initial project was budgeted for $2.5 million and how the City has since been spending only one-fifth of that original estimate.
