2-minute read and 12.4-minute video

Lakeland is going to have a starring role for the next few months on WEDU, the Tampa-based PBS station.

The “Greater Lakeland” series, which starts tonight, consists of six short documentaries exploring Lakeland’s history. The first one, which is already available online, airs tonight at 8:30 and looks at Florida Southern College’s Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. (Keep scrolling to watch it here.)

“I personally feel like it’s some of my best work ever,” said Sarasota filmmaker Shaun Greenspan. His Triforce production company is producing the series. “It’s a cinematic short documentary about the school. It’s not just a regular video. You’ll see we did a lot.”

Filmmaker Shaun Greenspan
Filmmaker Shaun Greenspan produced a six-part series for WEDU called “Greater Lakeland,” which begins airing tonight.

In the coming months, other episodes will spotlight some of Lakelanders’ favorite locales.

Swan City: Lakeland’s iconic swans and their connection to Queen Elizabeth II take center stage in October. The episodes features Lakeland historian LuAnn Mims; the city’s “The Swan Mother,” Samantha Drew, as she cares for them; and swan veterinarian Dr. Price Dickson. This airs Oct. 17 at 8:30 p.m.

Picture show: The Silver Moon Drive-In Theatre — one of the last drive-ins in the state — takes the spotlight in December. Greenspan interviewed a drive-in historian and a Lakeland resident who loves going to the Silver Moon. It airs Nov. 21.

Fly Like a Girl: Local women in aviation are featured in November. Greenspan followed a Central Florida Air Academy student as she took a training flight. Airing Dec. 21.

Central park explores the significance of nature in the city. This one spotlights Bonnet Springs Park and will feature donors and the park’s director, Josh Henderson. It airs Jan.16.

Compilation: A wrap up of all the Greater Lakeland episodes will air Feb. 20.

Lakeland Regional Health is sponsoring the series. Greenspan declined to say how much the organization donated for the series.

Among those interviewed for the series premiere: Jeff Baker, the architect leading restoration of FSC’s Wright buildings, President Emerita Anne Kerr, and Jack Coffey, who manages tours and educational programs at the college.

The Wright buildings were created over a 20-year period, with the earliest structures built largely by students who exchanged labor for tuition.

WEDU’s “Greater” series has previously included documentaries about Sarasota, St. Petersburg and Ybor City.

Check out tonight’s episode, already posted to YouTube:

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Kimberly C. Moore, who grew up in Lakeland, has been a print, broadcast and multimedia journalist for more than 30 years. Before coming to LkldNow in the spring of 2022, she was a reporter for four years with The Ledger, first covering Lakeland City Hall and then Polk County schools. She is the author of “Star Crossed: The Story of Astronaut Lisa Nowak," published by University Press of Florida. Reach her at kimberly@lkldnow.com or 863-272-9250.

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