Lakeland city officials are launching a 120-day structural study to preserve the historic Lake Mirror Promenade after discovering cracking, wall movement and severe water degradation.

Background

The 100-year-old Lake Mirror Promenade in downtown Lakeland is actively cracking and deteriorating. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department first spotted structural issues a couple of years ago, including wall movement, rebar degradation and water intrusion.

Conditions worsened after Hurricane Milton left the historic promenade entirely underwater. To address the damage, the city secured an $80,000 federal grant from the National Park Service to fund a 120-day geotechnical study.

Study Details

The project features three distinct phases, starting with a thorough visual inspection. According to city grant writer Melissa Stoller, the second phase will involve ground-penetrating radar, and the third phase will involve some drilling and soil samples.

The federal government will fully reimburse the city for the $80,000 cost once the study concludes. Officials have not yet confirmed the exact scope of repair work needed to fully restore and preserve the historic site.

Community Reaction

Local residents regularly visit the scenic waterfront for daily exercise and community gatherings. Lakeland resident Tyrisha Taiwo said, ‘Overall, it’s very beautiful. They can just touch up some things to upgrade it a little bit.’

Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.