Lakeland’s City Commission chose a design concept for the revitalization of Munn Park on Tuesday.
What they picked: The commissioners chose a design featuring a shade pavilion at the northern end of the park, near the CSX tracks. The pavilion — with an angled roof and metallic undercoating — would be a refuge from the sun during the day, a stage during special events and a dramatic lighted landmark at night. Significantly, the design also features a restroom building that has been long-sought by many in the community.
Around the perimeter of the park, the design includes:
- A swan-themed splash pad at the northeast corner.
- A fenced dog play area with artificial turf at the northwest corner.
- A wide open lawn at the center.
- A seating area with benches and swings on the east side along Kentucky Avenue.
- A children’s area with sculptural play equipment on the west side along Tennessee Avenue.
- Gardens at the southeast and southwest corners including sculptures and historic markers.
- An open patio with a crushed aggregate surface to the south as a “programmable space” that could host events or rotating exhibits.
Key elements of the winning design
Ted Kempton, a senior landscape architect with Tampa-based Pennoni Inc., presented the design concept, emphasizing that while it illustrates the overall layout and general aesthetic, “nothing that we’re showing you today has been designed in detail.”
Blending contemporary and historic: The design blends sleek contemporary sculptural shapes with traditional low brick walls and brick-banded sidewalks.
“What we’re trying to do is not clutter this with gimmicky items,” Kempton said. “Everything that gets introduced to this would be either a traditional element or a contemporary element that had a sculptural feel to it. So it wouldn’t be off-the-shelf playground equipment or dog equipment.”
The dog park: Kempton said the small dog park was put on the northwest corner for two reasons: to keep it removed from restaurants and because that part of Munn Park doesn’t have an edge and currently feels a little empty. “We don’t want empty. We want to activate it,” he said.
The play area: “There’s a lot of play equipment that doesn’t look like play equipment,” Kempton said, emphasizing that the area would have sculptural shapes, climbing nets and shade. “I want it to be a family play area. If it’s done well, you can get the adult who wants to go over there.”
The splash pad: The splash pad would have an abstract swan sculpture in the center and water nozzles flush with the pavement around it that could be turned on or off. It would be surrounded by palm trees and lit at night.
What stays and what goes: The mature trees around the perimeter of the park would remain, as would the brick columns and black metal arches at the southern corners that say “MUNN PARK” in gold lettering. However, the paved center circle and X-shaped paths through the middle of the park would be eliminated. Personalized bricks paid for by Lakeland residents would be preserved and relocated. The design also eliminates half of the 26 parking spaces by the railroad tracks to make more room for the pavilion and restrooms. The remaining spaces would be handicapped-accessible.
Next steps: Sherrouse said the next step will be a full design and cost estimate. Then the City Commission will have to decide how to fund it.
Pavilion or building?
By a vote of 5-1, commissioners selected the design with the pavilion over one featuring a multi-story building with interior restrooms and restaurant. That option would have been more expensive and would have eliminated some of the green space. City Attorney Palmer Davis also noted that there are deed restrictions associated with Munn Park that might have sharply limited the building’s uses.
“We have a lot of buildings downtown. But we don’t have room for people to go out and throw a Frisbee and play,” said Pam Page, deputy director of Parks and Recreation. “Our densities are going to increase downtown. Our green space is not.”
Commissioner Mike Musick cast the lone vote for the design concept featuring the building. Commissioner Bill Read did not express a preference.
Concerns
Read was not enthusiastic about the dog park. “I think maybe there’s enough dog parks,” he said. “And the last thing you want is for somebody to get bit.”
He was also concerned about people potentially sleeping in the public bathrooms. Many people who are experiencing homelessness gather at the park daily. Churches and nonprofit groups often distribute meals, clothes and hygiene supplies there, despite discouragement from the city.
Musick advocated for the building, in part because he felt it would be easier to monitor. Regarding the pavilion, he said: “I’ll be honest with you, when I’ve traveled to places that do have these — especially when it’s hot — we’re going to have to deal with a population using that in ways we don’t want.”
The second time was the charm
The options presented Tuesday were a significant departure from early concepts released in January 2023.
City Manager Shawn Sherrouse said city residents were very clear that they wanted the park to be beautified, but remain “somewhat passive.”
What the survey said: Sherrouse acknowledged that in a survey of about 1,700 city residents last year, there was a “fairly resounding ‘no’” to ideas like a parkour course, cornhole, giant chess or checkers board and billiards. The top requests of about 60% of those polled were benches around the perimeter of the lawn and a shade structure. Public art was a priority for 48%.
Mayor Bill Mutz praised Kempton and Pennoni Inc. saying, “I think there’s an elegance and a simplicity to what you’ve designed, so it looks really, really nice. Thank you.”
Commissioner Guy LaLonde said he liked the most of the elements, but the boxy design of the pavilion wasn’t his taste. “If I’m humbly honest, the Concept One drawing is just not sexy at all. It just looks like squares,” he said, adding that he thought it should have some curves.
View the full presentation
There was a bit of confusion at the meeting when — after the pavilion had been labeled Concept Two throughout the presentation — it was labeled Concept One on the final slide. However, the commissioners took the mistake in stride and clarified when voting that they were opting for the concept with the pavilion.
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