LAKELAND, Fla. — The Lakeland Downtown Development Authority has some ideas on how to spruce up Munn Park after the removal of a Confederate statue, and a carousel is at the top of the list.
The LDDA will host a public meeting in the downtown park on April 29 to present ideas for the park's future. The group said it advocates for a carousel, but "other ideas have merit."
Back in March, a statue of a Confederate soldier was removed and taken to a veterans' cemetery. The history of the statue dates back more than 100 years. It was erected in Munn Park by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1910.
The development group said a "Lakeland-themed" carousel will "reinvigorate and reinforce Munn Park's fundamental role" as a downtown centerpiece and a family-friendly way to bring the community together.
The LDDA said the 36-foot carousel would depict iconic Lakeland places, historical figures and landscapes. The riding animals will also be "made for Lakeland" -- swans for Lake Morton, a tiger for Spring training, horses for Circle B Bar Reserve and Colt Creek State Park, an alligator for Blinky, a Publix truck and a plane for Sun 'n' Fun.
The Lakeland Ledger said city workers installed paving stones and electrical outlets in the center of the park after the Confederate statue was removed. The city commission also told the paper that it wants to wait on any decisions regarding the possible carousel.
The public meeting hosted by the LDDA is at 11 a.m. April 29.
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