Thomas B Mack Park in Lakeland, Florida
Whether you live in Lakeland, Florida or just visit, you’ll definitely want to check out Thomas B Mack Park. The park is an exemplary public space located in the center of the city and includes a wide variety of recreational opportunities for all ages. You can find a range of amenities including a children’s playground, picnic areas, a golf course and even a skate park. More about Florida here!
Historic Polk Theatre
Located in downtown Lakeland, the Polk Theatre is a historic movie theater. Its historical architecture is a significant part of the city’s history. The theater shows classic movies and hosts live performances. It is a great place to start a Lakeland pub crawl.
The theatre is located at 121 South Florida Avenue, Lakeland, Florida. Its history began when the Polk Theater was built as a vaudeville theatre in 1928. In its later years, the theater was turned into a movie palace. The theater is now a historical landmark, and is open to the public for live performances and movies. The theater hosts a calendar of events for visitors.
Ornamental horticulture major
Located in downtown Lakeland, Florida, Thomas B Mack Park is a nod to the city’s most famous son, the late great architect and horticulturist. The ten acre site is a pleasant respite from the city’s more urban environs. One of the park’s defining characteristics is a small piece of Lake Hollingsworth. The park’s two swans are an entertaining diversion. The park is also home to the world’s first public koi pond. The park is maintained by the City of Lakeland. During spring and summertime, the pond is an outdoor horticultural spectacle, with the occasional high-roller spilling into the pond for a well deserved pat on the back.
Citrus growing in Lakeland FLorida
During the 2006-07 crop year, Florida produced 129 million boxes of oranges. This was the lowest production level since the 1989-90 crop year. Orange production has since dropped to 59.6 million boxes in 2007-08. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture still estimates this year’s grapefruit crop at 25 million boxes.
In a nod to its citrus heritage, Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida, has started to build an archival collection of the orange scented crop. This is a worthy endeavor, since Florida Southern College was once the only private school in the country to offer a citrus curriculum. The college also has a well-regarded citrus crate label collection. A fantastic read!
Phosphate mining in Lakeland FLorida
Throughout the United States, 90% of the phosphate mined is produced in Florida. Phosphate from ancient sea sediments is chemically processed into phosphoric acid, used in fertilizer. Phosphorus is also used in animal feed supplements and food preservatives.
In Florida, the phosphate industry produces a lot of waste. For example, the Mulberry Phosphate plant has a 78-acre pond of polluted water. Workers noticed the water level dropping Saturday morning. They thought it was wind blowing water.
However, the phosphate industry has caused numerous environmental disasters. For instance, a rip in the lining of the stack poured 170 million gallons of toxic waste into Tampa Bay. This is a big problem for the Florida panther and oval pigtoe mussel, two species that are endangered. These animals depend on clean water to survive.
Lake to Lake Trail
Whether you’re interested in jogging or biking, the Lake to Lake Trail in Thomas B Mack Park has you covered. This jogging path connects Lake Hollingsworth Dr to a 350-acre lake.
The trail is also a great place to stretch your legs, and is an ideal way to explore the surrounding neighborhoods. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can rent kayaks to explore the lake. You can pay at the ranger station, and you can also unlock your kayak and take a trip around the lake yourself.
If you’re looking for a more laid back experience, you should check out Cob & Pen, a bistro serving up New American fare. You can also try a colorful cocktail. The restaurant is located in a historic Tudor-style house. Check this out!
Driving direction from Cleaner Outlook Florida to Thomas B. Mack Park
Driving direction from Thomas B. Mack Park to Lake Bonny Park