EDITORIAL - Our Viewpoing
Don't forget we are the Crown Jewel of the Ridge
Is it too bold a statement to say Lake Wales continues to be the Crown Jewel of the Ridge?
Other cities along the ridge have encroached on the title at times but how many have so many unique attractions: A national landmark, Bok Tower Gardens; the highest point in peninsular Florida, an extremely rare species of plant, only found at the top of Iron Mountain; a city that sits astride the crossroads that lead to the four Cardinal points, in the center of the State; a 38.6 mile Scenic Highway, an Historic District, free of non-compliant structures, a City Airport with over a mile long runway planned, a High School girls softball team that won the National Championship two years ago, a city park surrounding the city’s namesake, Lake Wailes that ranks with other Central Florida city parks in size and the Wall Street Journal’s recognition in a column and a half describing the world famous gravity defying phenomenon, Spook Hill.
Other cities of the ridge have grown, although three years ago, Lake Wales was judged by its growth percentage, as the second fastest growing city in Florida.
With its physical location and all its outstanding attributes, the potential to be the inland leader of Ridge cities in Florida is second to none.
What makes Lake Wales even more unique are its three colleges, one in the center of the city and two others within a 10 minute drive.
Part of the charisma of Lake Wales is its position off the high traffic corridor of US 27. The Historic Downtown is pleasantly quiet, void of honking horns and busy intersections.
And typical of Southern ease of life, many of the stores still close for half a day on Wednesdays.
Some may feel that our city needs to modernize itself with parking meters, modern drugstores and video rental shops, but the ambiance of tree lined streets and friendly shop owners and historic murals says it all.
During these difficult financial times we must remain positive, knowing that this city will continue to have potential to even become greater.
Careful planning and the sensitivity to retain our character is vital once gone, we will never recover it.
