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Tom Wodrich Erin Tilghman Jennifer Stults The opening of the newest major theme park in Florida, LEGOLAND Florida, has provided unique challenges for community planners, business owners, and residents in the existing communities. In anticipation of the tremendous opportunities yet potential threats to the way of life here, planners from multiple jurisdictions gathered community leaders together to discuss the key issues such as infrastructure, traffic, signage/wayfinding, and improved pedestrian/transit accommodation in order to create a vision for the future of a community influenced by an anticipated 1.5-2 million visitors per year.
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ENVISIONING A SHARED FUTURE BRICK BY BRICK
Location, Location, Location…
History
1936 – Cypress Gardens opens Florida’s 1st commercial tourist theme park Became water ski capital of the world US 27 was major North/South artery through the state
1959 - I-4 construction begins (completed in the late 1960s)
1971 - Disney World opens (shifting tourist focus away from US 27)
2003 – Cypress Gardens closes after prolonged tourism decline Within 3 ½ months, a grass-roots effort from all 50 states and 27 countries raised USD 13,500,000 and saved the park
2009 – Cypress Gardens closes for good 2010 – LEGOLAND announces
Winter Haven location (park opens October 15)
How is LEGOLAND different? Park open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Tuesday &Wednesday Primary Target:
Families with kids ages 2-12 only Single day park usage 2 hour drive (overnight?)
Incentives $5,000,000 over 10 years Expedited permits/review
The LEGOLAND Location Challenge 22 miles from I-4 57 miles from the Florida Turnpike Mainline Visitors travel through multiple jurisdictions along
US 27 Studies show unattractive road corridors
(visual/signage clutter, lack of pedestrian amenities, strip development, etc.) impede new investment.
What impressions will our visitors return home to share?
Corridor Planning for
LEGOLAND
• Previous Planning Efforts
• Selected Area Plans1. US 272. Ronald Reagan3. North Ridge4. Gateway
• Community Redevelopment Areas
• Ongoing Corridor Planning & Collaboration
• Working with cities along US 27 to develop a gateway plan
1 2
3
4
CRA
East Polk County Planning Studies
Cypress Gardens Boulevard Corridor Plan
North Ridge CRA US 27 Corridor Study
US 27 & SR 60 Corridor Studies
North Ridge CRA
US 27 Corridor Study
Potential Applicability
CypressGardensBlvd CorridorStudy
Common Issues and Concerns
"Legoland is the magic word in Winter Haven," said Bob Gernert, executive director of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce.
Polk County's tourism industry received a major jolt in January with the announcement that Legoland Florida would replace Cypress Gardens.
Legoland to Begin Hiring 1,000 Workers Soon
Businesses Urged to Prepare for Legoland Visitors
Cynthia Cross, 62 and a retired teacher, said Legoland will be good for Winter Haven, especially for motels, gas stations and restaurants. "But I just don't see how it's going to trickle down to the rest of us," she said.
Eagle Lake can lure tourists, a county official told city commissioners. "We've got plans coming out the wazoo," he said. "When we get businesses to locate here, then we can do some serious planning.“
Croes said building those extra services is "the chicken and the egg:" Winter Haven won't be able to become its own destination until investment is made in a cluster of family-friendly attractions that keep people in Winter Haven after the park closes. But he said investors are not going to make that kind of investment in Winter Haven until Legoland proves it can bring the people. Robertico Croes, associate professor of tourism, events and attractions at the University of Central Florida
What Would You Buy?
Why Plan?
LEGOLAND = Golden Opportunity Planning = Investment Strategy Infrastructure Promotes Growth Minimize the Tax Burden Doing More With Less = Partnering is
Vital City Participation Involve Key Stakeholders Public-Private-Partnerships
Goals of Study
Identify strategies to ensure that US 27 serves as a premiere corridor within Polk County.
Enhance property values and cultivate economic development.
Identify visual blight as well as access management, connectivity, and wayfinding deficiencies.
Improve transit and pedestrian/bicycle access and usage.
Work with municipalities to create a coordinated approach to land use and quality development standards.
Vision Statement
Fully leverage the opportunities associated with the development of LEGOLAND Florida;
Support sustainable use of limited land and public resources by encouraging higher densities, multi-modal transportation access, mixed use developments, and housing options;
Protect, preserve, and enhance natural resources; Coordinate planning efforts between Polk County, the City of
Winter Haven, the FDOT, significant property owners, and other interested parties/agencies;
Provide safe and convenient access to shopping, housing, and essential services;
Support the development of a positive visual character for the City by promoting a high degree of compatibility between land uses and by maintaining a standard for quality development; and
Elevate the level of economic development through repositioning the corridor to accommodate new growth, changes in demographics, and the adaptation of the local economy.
Existing Conditions - Development
Existing Conditions – Land Use
Existing Conditions - Landscaping
Existing Conditions - Signs
Existing Conditions - Design
Existing Conditions - Transportation
Regional Wayfinding Signs
Local Signs
Access Management
Multi-modal Transportation
Pedestrian/Bicycle FacilitiesTransit Parking Access Management
Pre-Construction
Construction
Photos
To Be Continued….
Contact Information
Erin Tilghman, AICP
City of Winter Haven
863-298-5353
etilghman@mywinterhaven.com
Jennifer Stults, AICP
Florida Department of Transportation
District One
863-519-2656
Jennifer.stults@dot.state.fl.us
Tom Wodrich, AICP
Polk County Office of Planning & Development
863-534-6792
tomw@polk-county.net
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