Vision Now – November 2025
Vision Now Building a Textbook City: Visionary Planning for Lakeland’s Future
In this forward-thinking episode of The Listen Lakeland Show, host and Lakeland Vision Board Member, Trinity Laurino, is joined by two distinguished visionaries shaping the future of our region—Ana Wood-Rogers and David Bunch. With decades of leadership between them, Ana and David explore what makes Lakeland a “textbook city,” discussing long-range planning, infrastructure, civic identity, and community collaboration.
From Ana’s development of a 150-year solid waste management framework to David’s insights into unifying Polk County’s 17 municipalities, this conversation shines a light on the importance of visionary leadership and long-term thinking. The guests also delve into the concept of shared values across communities, the challenges of rapid population growth, and the need for accessible infrastructure—highlighting a bold proposal to replace a key railway overpass to improve connectivity near Bonnet Springs Park.
This episode is a call to action for residents, leaders, and planners to think not just about today, but about what Lakeland and Polk County will look like 100 years from now.
Related Vision Focus Area and Goals:
- Strong and Safe Neighborhoods
Lakeland will have neighborhoods where residents enjoy their quality of life. - Sense of Community
Institutions, organizations, and neighborhoods will create and support a cohesive and engaged community that fosters intergenerational and geographic unity. - Growth Management
Lakeland will be well planned and managed to preserve green space, create vibrant mixed-use neighborhoods, encourage infill and redevelopment, and ensure that public infrastructure can keep up with the needs of a growing population.
