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Lakeland parks, RP Funding Center and facilities teams report pool openings, 50th-anniversary plans and elevator work
Summary
Parks and Recreation staff said the indoor pool will open March 3 (two months ahead), Simpson Park Pool is complete, RP Funding Center is marking its 50th year with events and social campaigns, and facilities teams reported ongoing HVAC, flooring and elevator rehab projects.
City facility and parks staff briefed the commission on programming and building maintenance, reporting two pools ready for public use, multi-event plans to mark the RP Funding Center’s 50th year and an elevator rehabilitation schedule that has been delayed by supply-chain issues.
Why it matters: facility openings and event planning affect public amenities and calendars; planned facility maintenance reflects capital budgeting and lifecycle replacement practices.
Major items
- Pools: Parks and Recreation staff reported one pool is full of water and will open to the public on March 3—about two months ahead of schedule—and Simpson Park Pool renovation is complete and will open on its usual Memorial Day weekend. Staff attributed early completion to an efficient contractor and said remaining system balancing and sand replacement work is in progress.
- RP Funding Center 50th year: Staff said the city will observe the facility’s 50th year across the season rather than a single weekend due to venue condition last November. Plans include public concerts (U.S. Navy Band March 24; an Army band for Veterans Day), a special throwback concert in Jenkins Arena (announced April 14 by the artist), monthly “Stage Your Story” oral-history features on social media, throwback-Thursday posts, banners in downtown businesses and commemorative coins produced with Visit Central Florida. An open house with tours, entertainment and food tastings is planned for summer (date to be announced).
- Facilities maintenance and projects: Facilities staff discussed a planned 15–20 year HVAC replacement cycle (monitored in asset management) and rotating flooring projects across city departments. Bathroom renovations at an identified city facility are near completion with remaining work planned for February and May, and routine budgeted work continues from the capital improvement plan.
- Elevator rehab at police department: Staff said elevator mobilization will begin Feb. 24, 2025; supply-chain delays have pushed schedule elements and older elevators elsewhere in the system may require full replacement if parts cannot be sourced. Electrical mini-split installations for elevator mechanical rooms are complete and the main elevator will be updated first.
What staff emphasized: these are budgeted and planned capital and operating activities; facility teams monitor maintenance costs against replacement costs to decide timing.
Ending: No votes or formal actions were requested; staff will return with any schedule changes if parts procurement or grant opportunities change.
