The City of Lakeland will have the Grand Opening of Westside Park on Saturday, March 4, 2006 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Westside Park is located at 1800 West Oakhill Street. There will be live music, refreshments, children’s activities including face-painting and displays on hand from the Lakeland Police Department as well as the Polk County Sheriffs Department.

This newly designed 22.6 acre park features four soft-ball fields, three picnic shelters, paved walking paths, half basketball-court, swings, playground equipment and restroom facilities. This well-shaded and much needed addition to the park system was funded in part by the City of Lakeland, Polk County and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. It truly is the result of a collaborative effort.

This park is a gem for the area but we have experienced vandalism at the park during the building phase, including the burning of a pallet of modular playground equipment and repeated graffiti taggings. It is a shame because this area needs a park like this and the kids in the surrounding area need a safe, fun place to play. Hopefully, the area will take pride in the park and the vandalism will cease once the park officially opens.