South Central Park is a transformative streetscape and public realm project at the heart of downtown Winter Haven. The project advances the City’s long-term vision to revitalize its urban core and expand its award-winning network of connected parks and multi-purpose trails. Originally conceived in 2008, the project was revived in 2016 to respond to evolving downtown development, new public investments, and changing community needs. In order to rebalance the street, the project converts an oversized four-lane Avenue A into a two-lane corridor and expands community open space while maintaining parking capacity and strengthening downtown connectivity.

Inspire Placemaking Collective developed a revised master plan that reimagines the streets and underutilized blocks as a flexible, multi-functional civic landscape. Streetscape improvements extend from building face to property line and include custom shaded swings, bicycle repair stations, landscaped seating areas, decorative walls and planters, human and canine drinking fountains, interactive LED lighting, digital smart-city kiosks, and custom lithomosaic tiles embedded in walkways.

By repurposing Magnolia Avenue from a vehicular corridor into a pedestrian promenade, the new street design completes a critical link in the City’s Chain of Lakes Trail network. Retractable bollards, integrated utilities, and subtle grading strategies allow multiple downtown blocks to close after hours and transform into a piazza-style event space.

Completed in 2018, South Central Park has redefined downtown Winter Haven’s public realm. The area now serves as a distinctive, day-to-night destination unlike any other municipal event space in Central Florida. Downtown activity, nightlife, and private investment have all significantly increased.

Beyond its physical transformation, the project set a new standard for municipal design and public engagement through the innovative use of 3D laser scanning, point-cloud modeling, and animated visualization to communicate complex infrastructure and placemaking concepts. By demonstrating how streets, parking, parks, and events can coexist through thoughtful, multi-use design, South Central Park exemplifies forward-thinking placemaking, and stands as a model for how cities can maximize use of their public spaces.