Lakeland’s long-discussed pavilion at Town Square is inching closer to reality as city officials and developers renew efforts to bring the project to fruition. Commissioner Wesley Wright reintroduced the proposal during recent city meetings, sparking fresh discussions about the pavilion’s future and how it would be funded. Though the idea has been on the table for some time, Mr. Wright felt previous debates were stalled over questions of financing. However, Commissioner Jim Atkinson said things had not stalled at all. “More than two years ago when the city decided to do this, we negotiated with the developer to secure a lot, then amended the development plan to create the lot, which would be dedicated with phase 2. A lot of work went into this. Nothing had stalled,” he told Lakeland Currents. The city was not comfortable with funding the project but Lakeland Town Square developer has agreed to pay for the project.
At the most recent meeting Municipal Planning Commission/Design Review Commission (MPC/DRC), developer Vince Smith presented new renderings of the proposed pavilion. As envisioned, the pavilion will serve as a central gathering space for the Lakeland community, offering a venue for public events such as farmers markets and craft fairs. Parking for the pavilion will rely on existing spaces available in Phase 2 of the Lakeland Town Square development.
According to city staff, the Site Plan for the pavilion aligns with the approved Outline Plan for Lakeland Town Square (originally called Lakeland Commons), particularly for Area B, Lot 9. This compliance helped the proposal move forward. There is strong support for this addition, with local officials expressing optimism. “We are glad to see traction on getting that completed,” Commissioner Wright said, reflecting on the widespread backing for the project.
The pavilion will be located diagonally across from the gas station sitting at the corner of Seed Tick Road and Highway 70. The updated designs presented to the MPC/DRC were well-received, providing reassurance to the commission members that the project is progressing in the right direction.
With momentum growing, the pavilion is poised to become a key feature of Lakeland Town Square, offering both residents and visitors a vibrant community space for events and gatherings.
