LOCAL

'A changer for us': New Dream Center pavilion, community garden unveiled

Visitors take a tour of the new pavilion at the Kids Park. Dream Center Breakfast and tour of new Kid's Park facility at the corner of 5th and Kettles Avenue in Lakeland, Fl. July 14th 2022. Special to the Ledger/ Calvin Knight

LAKELAND — Michael Cooper and Teresa Swann tried to cut through a length of yellow tape with a pair of garden sheers on Thursday morning. When it didn't work, they were quick to rip through the ribbon with their hands.

This hands-on approach to tackling problems is what attracted donors to supporting the Dream Center of Lakeland's vision: transforming a rundown city-owned block into Kids Club Park.

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"This pavilion is a changer for us," Michael Cooper, executive director of the Dream Center, said. "This is major for us. This is not a small structure. This is something people in the community drive by and go 'wow' as they see something happening in the community." 

The nonprofit organization celebrated the completion of an outdoor stage and covered pavilion in its park at the intersection of Kettles Avenue and West 5th Street. These two structures were the final pieces of Kids Club Park. 

"This corner back in the '70s and '80s — if you are from Lakeland you know — was the hottest corner for crime in Lakeland," Cooper said. 

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The project began more than five years ago when the Kiwanis Club of Lakeland chose it as their project of the year. The Kiwanis dedicated its annual fundraising banquet at Victory Church which draws around 600 people to the cause. 

"We were told if Kiwanis would put a nice fence around the property, not chain link, the city would donate the other half of the block to the Dream Center," Kiwanis member Dennis Harrison said. 

Visitors take a tour of the new community garden at the Kids Park. Dream Center Breakfast and tour of new Kid's Park facility at the corner of 5th and Kettles Avenue in Lakeland, Fl. July 14th 2022. Special to the Ledger/ Calvin Knight

The Kiwanis raised more than $40,000 that funded installation of a wrought-iron fence around the perimeter and paid for the initial building slab. 

Cooper said when digging up ground for the foundation, the nonprofit found a shotgun and a rifle buried on site. 

"Most cops will tell you their first encounter with a shooting was in this area," he said.  

Among the first features built in the park was a community garden to support the Dream Center's food pantry and soup kitchen. It also provides a valuable learning experience for community children, according to Jeffrey Williams, a Dream Center employee. 

Lake Kiwanis members Susan Hurlburt, Dennis Harrison, Kiwanis President Adam Hartley, and pass President Ben Fairchild pose after they unveiled a part of the mural that reads "Kiwanis Cares for Kids".  Dream Center Breakfast and tour of new Kid's Park facility at the corner of 5th and Kettles Avenue in Lakeland, Fl. July 14th 2022. Special to the Ledger/ Calvin Knight

Williams said he teaches kids about the value of hard work and the basics of hydroponic gardening can result in tasty food. 

To the east side of a property, Kiwanis helped complete the "Sam Swann" stage named after a late Dream Center volunteer. Cooper said he hopes to use the venue to hold community events similar to First Fridays in downtown Munn Park. 

Teresa Swann said her late husband had recovered from drug abuse and shared his life experience to help mentor children and teens. He was well known as "Mr. Sam" by the kids. 

Jeff Clyne of Mid-State Industrial Maintaince talks efforts to expand on the new Park facility by encouraging donations to build a new restroom on the site.   Dream Center Breakfast and tour of new Kid's Park facility at the corner of 5th and Kettles Avenue in Lakeland, Fl. July 14th 2022. Special to the Ledger/ Calvin Knight

A new covered pavilion on the west side of the site provides an outdoor space protected from the elements for the Dream Center to host community gatherings. The funding came together in a joint effort from Mid-State Industrial Maintenance CEO Jeffrey Clyne and and community grant from The Mosaic Company. 

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Clyne said he noticed the park was missing two key features: a public bathroom and roof for the stage. He estimated the cost of a 500-square-foot bathroom and shower house at around $40,000 and challenged those present to help raise it. Clyne offered $10,000 to kickstart the fund. 

"Let's see if we can put this together, we have a good start financially," he said. "I promise you we are going to get there." 

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545.