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Highland Park Manor residents ask Polk County for drainage repairs, stop sign and speed bumps
Summary
Residents of Highland Park Manor told commissioners the neighborhood suffers chronic drainage problems, speeding and heavy truck traffic; they asked for a three-way stop at Tangelo and Freelander roads and speed bumps; county representatives said the issue is under review but not a simple fix.
Residents of the Highland Park Manor subdivision in the Lake Wales area told Polk County commissioners during the public-comment period that chronic road drainage problems, heavy truck traffic and speeding endanger seniors and children who must cross Tangelo Road to reach playgrounds and bus stops.
Diane Borders, 2224 Evey Street, Lake Wales, said county staff attended a neighborhood meeting last year but the problems persist. "We've had this problem for a while," Borders said. "My question now is just when are we gonna get some help?" She asked the board to install speed bumps and a three-way stop sign at Tangelo and Freelander roads, noting that dump trucks use Tangelo as a through route to Babson Park and Frostproof and that several school bus stops require children to cross the roadway.
Cassandra Richards of 2357 Freeland Road echoed Borders, saying the problem affects the entire community and raising concern for small children getting off school buses and parents waiting at pickup points.
A county representative said commissioners had visited a neighborhood meeting and staff had reviewed the location but that drainage fixes are not simple: moving water from one place can create problems elsewhere. The representative said Polk County recently changed designations on some roads to qualify for speed bumps and that Freelander Road had been included in that program; staff said they are "moving along" on the matter though the process would take time.
No formal board vote or ordinance was taken at the time; staff characterized the item as an ongoing operational issue to be evaluated by public-works staff and the speed-bump designation process.
