Think of all the great reasons to use the written word:…read more The words written here are meant to last forever, beyond a lifetime. The words written here are descriptive and defining, the words written here are the lasting memories, a memorial for the mortal. There are lots of cultural reasons these places exist and all are for the living, in remembrance, sometimes for closure - a final resting place, a waiting room for the rapture for others. All men are equal here, the lanes between the plots are only for access not to segregate, a path the living can roam between the concrete and the granite and the caretakers can keep the living lawns maintained and pristine and the barked giants can shade the souls and her shedding leaves can blanket and comfort as the cycle of life is renewed. I came here with an elderly friend who traveled here from afar to visit her resting father to offer flowers and a prayer. Her nearly nine decades on earth hasn't tempered the influence of something good or benign as she stood before the eroding inscription in silence for a moment or two before turning away with a smile that said thank you - we never spoke of this again...

The City of Haines City helped me secure a gravesite my Great Grandfather purchased for the family…read more I truly appreciate it.

Munn Park is located in the Munn Park Historic District, a designated U.S. historic district in…read moreLakeland, Florida. It is named in honor of the city's founder, Louisville, Kentucky businessman Abraham Munn. Munn purchased 80 acres of land that now comprises the Lakeland downtown business district. Munn Park was the first open space in the city. It was dedicated in 1884, as a town square. In 1889 the park was developed with sidewalks, a bandstand, and a well. Lakeland's first train station was located at the park's northern border. Early in the 20th century the park served as an outdoor meeting place. In 1910 the Daughters of the Confederacy erected a monument dedicated to those who died in the Civil War. Later ponds and gardens were added. In 1961, angular pattern walkways replaced the circle and a gazebo and fountain were added. In 1989 the park was redesigned to go back to the more simple town square design. The Confederate monument was removed in 2019. Today Munn Park is a great place to relax in downtown Lakeland. Surrounding the park are historic buildings, restaurants, bars, and businesses. I enjoyed sitting on a bench as the hustle and bustle of the city went on around me. At night the trees are lit with meteor shower lights. One of my favorite sculptures, Live Large by Keith Williams has found a permanent home in the park. During the holiday season the city decorates the park with lights and a Christmas tree and the park is used for pop events, food trucks, and farmers markets throughout the year. Future plans for Munn Park call for a shade pavilion at the north end of the park, restroom, swan themed splash pad, dog park, open lawn, gardens, and children's play area. The City of Lakeland has approved the new design but the city has been working on securing funding and plans for the new park have been moving forward slowly.

A perfect little park full of Xmas Spirit. This park is located in the middle of downtown Lakeland…read more Downtown Lakeland is a quaint perfect area full of restaurants, sidewalk cafes, and some cute shops to stroll! It was also a perfect spot for many to be in the middle of the Lakeland Xmas Parade action. The Xmas lights spread cheer and happiness and Munn Park is a great place to bring the family for some fun free Xmas fun and take sparkling festive holiday pics!

First time came here, went for a walk, it was a nice walk, we could hear the birds.. I recommend…read morethis place if you are in the area..

Pretty scenic area. Saw lots of birds of prey, some snakes and deer. Enjoyed this walk lots. The…read morefull loop is about 4 miles with a fair amount of tree coverage.

What a wonderful time! My husband surprised me with reservations (SUN 4/23/17) as an early Birthday…read morepresent. Upon our early/Punctual arrival, Barb and Robert were still preparing the horses for our trail ride, so my husband and I took a little, exploratory walk around the ranch. We were able to meet several Horses and a very sweet Goat. One of the horses is Ziva... she's an absolute Lover! We returned back to the stable to meet our Horses, Dancer and Houston. Dancer was my Riding Buddy and he was a very good Boy. I Love Him. My husband was paired with Houston, a beautiful Painted and also a very good Boy. Barb and Robert assisted us with mounting and briefed us on what to expect of the trail as well as our horses disposition and preferred methods of control, i.e. DO'S/DON'TS. They were Super Nice and Funny TOO! The trail was beautiful and serene. WE HAD SOOO MUCH FUNNN!!! AND Will Definitely Return , as we are local residents. I'm so pleased to know that I can travel just a few moments down the road and feel so far removed from the hectic bustle of Disney. I Can't Wait to go Back. I even think that I'd like to be paired with Dancer again. And AGAIN! Hope you enjoyed your Birthday Barb!

Wonderful guides and horses and amazing scenery!…read more The last time I road a horse was over 30 years ago, but the patient guides and horses at II Ventures put me at ease. Dancer knew the trail well and kept up with the other horses so I could enjoy the beautiful Green Swamp and some great conversation with the owners. II Ventures would. E perfect for new and experienced riders, families, singles, young, older, or whomever wants to ride. I highly recommend!

I love these type of parks and I have been to a few across Florida. A town will move several of…read moretheir historic buildings to one area which saves them from being demolished and it creates a place where people can learn about the history of the area. This historical park was created in Homeland, Florida in 1985 and it was set up to recreate a community from the mid 1800's. The town of Homeland got its name from an Irish peddler who was passing through and said that the town reminded him of his homeland. Buildings in the park include:: The Homeland Schoolhouse built in 1878. It was first called the Bethel Academy. The name was changed in 1885 when the town changed its name to Homeland The school started with only 5 students but when it grew to 60 a large room was added in 1888. Students in first through eighth grade were taught basic reading and math so they could help with farming and read the Bible. By 1925 the school had been expanded to a L shape. It closed in 1956 due to a decline in enrollment. It is the only building in the park on its original foundation. It is also the oldest school in Polk County. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Homeland Methodist Church was established in 1875. Construction of the church started in 1887, 500 feet south of its current location across the street. It took two years to complete and it was finished in 1889 at a cost of $2,000. In 1946 the church steeple was knocked over by a hurricane. The church served the community until the 1970's. In 1986 it was donated to the park. In 1990 the church steeple was built back up to its original height. Today the church can be rented for weddings. The Raulerson Home was built in the 1880's by Mr. and Mrs. Blocker. It was originally located in Lakeland near County Road. The house is an example of what an affluent family would have lived in. The house was purchased from the Blockers by Daniel Amos Raulerson who lived in it from 1901 until 1912. After that they rented it out. The house contains two rooms on the second floor that can only be entered from a ladder on the porch. These type of rooms were meant for the farm help. This was the third building to be added to the park and it was moved here on March 25, 1988. The English log cabin was built in 1888 in the Winston area of Lakeland, Florida by Cornelius English and his brother James Jackson. It was as a family home until the 1900's. The building is an example of the earliest kind of dwelling in Polk County, a single pen log cabin. The house remained in possession of the English family until it was donated to the park and moved here in 1989. The Pole Barn is the type of outbuilding a settler would have had in 1894. The building was added to the park in 1994 and it was the last building to be added. The barn was used to store farm equipment, protect animals, and store crops. The loft was used to store hay and feed for the animals. The barn was donated to the park by the English family. Tours of the buildings are given by appointment and several events are held throughout the year. In April they hold the Good Old Days Festival and their largest event is the Cracker Storytellers Festival. In December they hold the Christmas Notes Festival . Homeland Heritage Park offers scheduled tours, walk in tours, field trips, and their special even programs. Even though the buildings were closed I still had a great tour. Signs outside of each of the buildings told their history. It was so cool seeing buildings over a 100 years old preserved. I would love to make it back for an event one day.

Great small scale historical outdoor museum area. Free access to outdoor areas that are…read morewell-marked with historical signs. If you want to tour inside buildings, you need to make an appointment or peer through windows. Original school on original site from 1878. Small Methodist Church, one of first with stained glass windows. 1900 log cabin, 1880 aristocratic farmhouse, pole barn with some farm implements. Giant live oaks. Will take about an hour to stroll through it all. Great place for a picnic and peek back at the original cracker life in central Florida. South of Bartow, north of Fort Meade on 640. Signs are good to get there. Raw honey stand and "greens for sale" on the way in. Gotta love it!

They call it Lakeland for a reason! Wire Lake has a nice sidewalk path around it and is a short…read moredistance.from downtown. The roads by it are a lil busy in sections but if you like birds, water, palms, historical sites, and Middle Schools, this lake has it all!!! There is a section with various palms marked with labels along the lake by Lawton Chiles Middle School. Arboretum like. Some of the palms haven't survived but there are many to look at for the palm enthusiast. Choose a good one foe your next landscaping project! Juat past the palms is a historical marker for the 10th Cavalry "Buffalo Soldiers". African American soldiers had a very important role in the American Civil War and were stationed here a few decades later before deploying to Cuba to hekp liberate it from Spain. What would the area have looked and felt like back then? Interesting to reflect on. There is some trash in the lake. Styrofoam cups. Plastic bottles. :,( But birds as well. Views of taller downtown buildings in distance. A shiny new Methodist Church building is across the street. Those Methodists seem to be doing very well! Have to respect their methods.. Circling around to the other side there is the old courthouse building and you can cross the Traintracks on New York Avenue to reach downtown and Munn Park. Hurry before the Confederate Memorial statue of Munn is gone! Make sure to stop and smell the roses. Where? How did I get here? And the days go by. Water flowing under ground.. Apparently there is a cycling trail circuit around Lakeland's lakes. Check it out. Someone should.make a Yelp entry for it..

McCall Park is located in downtown historic Plant City, famous for its annual Strawberry Festival…read more The park was named in honor of Theodore Jeffers McCall(1905-1991) who was an aviator in the 1920's. In 1929 he became a motorcycle policeman before going on to become the chief of police in 1939. He also worked in the street department, sanitation department, and the city jail. He served as City Manager from January 1941 until December 1967. During his time as City Manager he was instrumental in overseeing a 240 percent growth in the city. McCall Park is a .751 acre linear park that runs parallel to the east-west CSX rail line. It contains a restroom, gazebo, and benches for relaxing. The park goes four blocks through downtown and is surrounding by businesses, restaurants, and shops. The park is anchored on the east end by the Union Station Depot. Special events held in the park throughout the year include the Chamber Classic Car Show, the Chamber Bike Fest, the Main Street Food Truck Rallies, and other non-profit special events. In December it is the site of the towns Christmas displays. If you visit downtown Plant City, there is sure to be something going on in this charming green space.

McCall park located in z plant City equipped with activities inside the park. Hugh chess game, hop…read moreScotch numbers, gazebo, facilities, across street from Train museum. Memories to be made, beautiful place to spend time.

The Willow Lawn Cemetery is an African-American burial place just west of downtown Lake Wales. It…read moreis located next door to Washington Park across Highway 27, on Washington Avenue near Florida's Natural. The Lake Wales Cemetery was established in 1918 when the Lake Wales Land Company that founded the city donated 9.3 acres of land "on a pine knoll west of town" for a cemetery. Additional land was acquired in 1938, and the Lake Wales Cemetery on U.S. Highway 27 was expanded to its current 27.4 acres. Only whites could be buried there because of the segregation laws in place at the time which necessitated the creation of a place where the African-American community could bury their dead. According to a sign in the back of the Willow Lawn Cemetery, it looks like this place was used as an unofficial place of burial for the African-American community long before it became a recognized cemetery. The 10-acre Willow Lawn Cemetery on Washington Avenue was deeded to the City by a group of African-American community churches in 1941. The oldest part of the cemetery is a back field area where there is a single sign honoring all those buried unmarked in the field before 1941. It is likely that the graves here had wood markers that decomposed over time. Another section of the cemetery contains graves from the 20's and 30's but records were not kept until the 40's and 50's. The earliest people buried here would have come to the area to work in the turpentine industry. The hard work and exploitive practices of the turpentine industry and lumber industry were documented by Zora Neale Hurston in her famous work, Of Mule and Men. Later African-Americans found work in the railroad and citrus industries. In 1921 the Lake Wales Land Company subdivided a new plat just north of town on the other side of the railroad tracks for the African-American community known informally as "the Quarters." Many of the citrus packing houses were built in the surrounding areas which the community worked at. Interestingly this hallowed historic land is still used as a cemetery today. As such it is well maintained. The Willow Lawn Cemetery holds the history of the African-American pioneers who built Lake Wales. More can be leaned about the early settlers and history of the cemetery from the Lake Wales Historical Society.