Civil Municipal View Feb2023

44 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 2 h A Auburndale, Florida is a gem that is situated just a short hour’s drive from some of Florida’s most beautiful beaches.With a stunning backdrop and retail to appeal to the most discerning, If you love the outdoors and dynamic amenities, you should enjoy living in Auburndale, Florida. The city has focused its time and effort on upgrading its walkability with plenty of trails and related new features. It is also known as a sporting destination with the Lake Myrtle Sports Park, and many newer indoor and outdoor sporting facilities located around the city. The largest current development in the city is known as the Lakes District, which is the subject of a significant master plan. The Lakes District Master Plan planning process engaged property owners, residents, and city leadership to create a Land Use Plan for the area of Auburndale that is surrounded by lakes and contains many citrus groves. The Lakes District was designed with a walk/play model featuring outdoor warmth but including bike paths, district-specific trails, water views, and more. The city and private developers are looking to add town centers within the district that mirror the design of a traditionally built neighborhood. It was formed in cooperation with three landowners and with significant input from city residents. The district is roughly bounded by six lakes; Juliana and Mattie to the north, Arietta and Van in the center, and Ariana and Mariana to the south.Work on this district really started nearly 15 years ago when Auburndale and Polk County coordinated a joint planning effort. But there’s much more to Auburndale than just the outdoors and new housing. It has a growing downtown community with