Lake Mirror Promenade

A focal point and true historic landmark for the City of Lakeland is Lake Mirror’s Frances Langford Promenade. This downtown lake is the site for many public events, weddings, recreational activity, bird watching, and photography. Citizens and visitors are drawn to this neo-classical architecture with all of the striking columns and graceful arches which has been here for over 90 years, since 1928. The story of how this lake evolved from a once wild, bushy area where city industrial and service facilities were located, then evolved into this architectural historic site recognized by the National Register of Historic Places requires a broad recount.

The natural lake closest to the newly created downtown was once called Bushy Lake due to the wild overgrowth. Orange groves ringed the lake on three sides but as the city developed commerce along the railroad tracks nearby, an industrial area evolved around the north and east sides of the lake such as the Water and Power Plant, Lakeland Citrus Growers Packing House, and a city stockyard. Across from the Tremont House a public park gave residents and visitors a place to enjoy the beauty of the lake.

Lake Mirror, as the downtown lake came to be called after it was cleaned-up, became a focal point for the city. A severe drainage issue was remedied by piping the excess water into Lake Wire. This allowed paving all around the lake giving additional transportation advantages with popular automobile travels. Lakeland’s Main Street soon became a spur for the Dixie Highway which routed traffic around Lake Mirror.

In the 1920s, the city began purchasing lands around the lake with the future goal of connecting Lake Mirror to Lake Parker, Lake Hollingsworth and Lake Bonny with a series of canals to form an inland Venice. Though this vision never came to fruition the concept of beautifying the entrance to Lakeland endured with the help of Thomas J. Appleyard (1884-1926).

Appleyard arrived in Lakeland in 1920 to serve as secretary to the newly formed Chamber of Commerce (previously called Board of Trade). Appleyard, along with city manager Anton Schneider, they encouraged the city to buy lake property and engaged support of businesses to create a recreational space near the downtown.

City planning amped up when City Manager Schneider met with a potential architect for the civic center – Frederick Law Olmstead, junior who laid out a proposed plan in 1923.

In 1925, the city contracted with notable landscape architect, civil engineer and urban planner – Charles Wellford Leavitt (1871-1928). Leavitt, inspired by the World’s Colombian Expo (Chicago, 1893) was an ardent supporter of the City Beautiful Movement that introduced beatification and monumental grandeur to cities in the 1920s. His plans for the Lake Mirror Promenade recreational and civic center for Lakeland included neoclassical architectural styled columns and arches. Construction was done in two phases beginning in 1926 and completed in 1928.

The first phase of the Lake Mirror project included removal of several buildings near the shore. The largest of these was the Chautauqua Auditorium (1912) a 1700 seat performance venue. Other buildings were retained such as the Elks Lodge (1924). Land around the lake also had to be excavated and graded to level the planned pathway.

The second phase involved the construction of the bulkhead and walkway lined with columns which supported electrified lights. The arches of the loggia were topped with decorative motifs. 

Unfortunately, money ran out before all elements of the project could be completed. Plans called for an obelisk on the east entrance and an amphitheater too. Both Appleyard and Leavitt died before the promenade was finished. The legacy they left created the iconic the Lakeland skyline. 

Other businesses and recreational venues opened around this newly created space such as the Tourist Community Building (Magnolia) along with the shuffleboard and lawn bowling courts.

The promenade was officially named the Frances Langford Promenade in 1946. Langford grew-up in Lakeland prior to being discovered as a radio star and later appearing in movies. She is remembered for her 1935 song, “I’m In the Mood for Love.”

In 1957 the Lake Mirror Center opened on the east side of the lake. Designed by modern architect Donovan Dean, the two-part facility included both a theater and auditorium. To ease access to the Center, Lemon Street was expanded to go around the lake.

In 1983 the Promenade was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Through historic preservation efforts, this beautiful landmark remains as a popular focal point for the city of Lakeland.