City of Lake Wales

What City of Lake Wales does

The City of Lake Wales is a municipal government incorporated in 1917 and chartered in 1921, providing essential public services to approximately 16,062 residents across 20.14 square miles in Polk County, Florida. Operating under a commission/manager form of government with Mayor Jack Hilligoss and four City Commissioners, the City delivers utilities (water, sewer, sanitation), public safety (police and fire), parks and recreation, planning and development services, and library services. Core facilities include City Hall at 201 W Central Avenue and the Lake Wales Family Recreation Center at 1001 Burns Avenue, which offers fitness facilities, a pool, gymnasium, and youth programming after the City assumed direct operations from the YMCA in 2023. Additional service infrastructure includes the Lake Wales History Museum, Kirkland Gymnasium, Frasier Field Sports Complex, and over 250 acres of public parks.

The City operates on a tax-and-fee revenue model rather than a commercial revenue model. Recurring revenue streams include property taxes, monthly water/sewer/sanitation utility fees, recreation center memberships (with a 50% city resident discount), and rental income from city-owned venues such as the James P. Austin Community Center. Transactional revenue comes from building permits, business tax receipts, and development fees. Capital funding is heavily supplemented by federal and state grants, including a marquee $22.9 million RAISE transportation grant, FDOT airport funding, Federal Highway Administration trail grants, and economic development grants channeled through the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The City also operates a small business incubator (BizLINC) with the Florida Development Corporation and runs affordable housing programs with the Keystone Challenge Fund and SouthState Bank.

Technology infrastructure is conventional municipal: a CivicPlus-powered website at lakewalesfl.gov with online utility billing, digital communications, and social media channels across Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. The City is differentiated by regulatory firsts (first in Polk County to require Florida Water Star certification for new construction), consistent GFOA financial reporting and budget presentation awards, and active planning initiatives including the Lake Wales Envisioned and Lake Wales Connected plans, which together guide growth, walkability, and downtown redevelopment. Strategic priorities center on transportation infrastructure modernization, affordable housing, historic preservation, and economic development through the CRA.

Name

City of Lake Wales

Legal name

City of Lake Wales

Website

https://lakewalesfl.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The City of Lake Wales is a municipal government in Polk County, Florida, providing utilities, public safety, parks and recreation, and planning services to approximately 16,062 residents across 20.14 square miles. It operates under a commission/manager governance structure and is funded primarily through property taxes, utility fees, and federal/state grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI), Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Public utilities
• Parks and recreation
• Community development
• Public safety services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake Wales

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Taxes: Property tax revenues collected from residents and businesses within city limits to fund general city operations, public safety, and infrastructure.
2. Utility Fees: Water, sewer, and sanitation service fees charged to utility customers on a monthly basis.
3. Permits and Licenses: Building permits, business tax receipts, and various development-related fees collected from developers and businesses.
4. Grants: Federal and state grant funding received for specific projects such as transportation improvements, pedestrian safety, affordable housing, and airport development.
5. Recreation Center Memberships: Membership fees for the Lake Wales Family Recreation Center including pool access, fitness facilities, and programs.
6. Rental and Lease Income: Revenue from facility rentals including the Tourist Center, James P. Austin Community Center, and other city-owned venues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The City of Lake Wales is a municipal government providing essential public services to approximately 16,062 residents across 20.14 square miles in Polk County, Florida. Its core offerings include water, sewer, and sanitation utility services; public safety through the Police Department; parks and recreation facilities anchored by the Lake Wales Family Recreation Center; planning, permitting, and economic development services; the public library; and the Lake Wales History Museum. It also operates the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to administer affordable housing, business incentives, and downtown redevelopment initiatives.

Product overview

The City of Lake Wales is a municipal government providing public services to approximately 16,062 residents across 20.14 square miles. The city's offerings consist of a unified set of government services rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core services include Parks & Recreation (Lake Wales Family Recreation Center with fitness facilities, pool, and sports fields), Public Safety (Police Department with K-9 unit), Library services, Utility/Water services, Planning & Development, and the Community Redevelopment Agency. Additional facilities include the Lake Wales History Museum, Kirkland Gymnasium, Frasier Field Sports Complex, and multiple neighborhood parks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lake Wales Family Recreation Center A municipal fitness and recreation facility offering fitness classes, gym equipment, lap pool with diving boards, indoor sauna, and childcare services (KidWatch), with membership plans available for city residents and non-residents.
• Parks and Recreation Department Municipal department managing the Lake Wales Family Recreation Center, Kirkland Gym, Frasier Field Sports Complex, and a network of parks, trails, and athletic fields exceeding 250 acres, including organized activities for citizens.
• Lake Wales Public Library Public library services including books, digital resources, meeting rooms, and community programs available to residents and visitors.
• Lake Wales Police Department Municipal police department providing law enforcement services, a K-9 unit, and community programs including the Shop with a Cop initiative.
• Utility Services (Water, Sewer, and Sanitation) Water, sewer, and sanitation services provided by the city, including water infrastructure, irrigation schedules, and conservation programs available to residents and businesses.
• Planning and Development Department City department overseeing land use planning, development project review, building permits, and economic development initiatives for the City of Lake Wales.
• Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Municipal agency facilitating affordable housing programs, downtown redevelopment, business development incentives, and community improvement projects through partnerships with Keystone Challenge Fund, SouthState Bank, Florida Development Corporation, and others.
• Lake Wales History Museum Museum preserving and presenting the history of Lake Wales through exhibits, archives, and educational programs with free admission to the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• The restoration of the Walesbilt Hotel is projected to create new jobs and generate millions of dollars in visitor spending
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Florida Development Corporation (FDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022CRA approved nearly $1 million three-year grant agreement for creation of small business incubator (BizLINC) by Florida Development Corporation. CRA provided $46,500 for construction of new house on B Street.
• Keystone Challenge FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with nonprofit Keystone Challenge Fund for affordable housing development in the Northwest Neighborhood. CRA provides funding for construction of new homes for qualified homebuyers.
• Citrus ConnectioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with local area transit provider Citrus Connection to operate Lake Wales Circulator, a microtransit golf cart service connecting people to food distribution points and health services.
• Polk Regional Water CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity participates in Polk Regional Water Cooperative for water supply. Update on city's water demand projections and SEWF project provided at public meetings.
• Central Florida Health CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for food distribution programs at community facilities including Central Health Care food distribution events.
• Patriot Canine ServicesminorOthersDonated a 9-month-old Belgian Malinois canine named Bogey to partner with newly appointed K-9 handler in Police Department.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• City of Kissimmee, FL: Central Florida municipality running utilities, recreation, public safety, and redevelopment programs in a similar political and climatic environment. The Lake Wales Family Recreation Center manager previously held a role in Kissimmee, indicating direct operational comparability.
• City of Avon Park, FL: Highlands County municipal government of very similar size and service profile (utilities, recreation, police, CRA). Comparable as a small central-Florida city confronting the same growth and infrastructure challenges.
• City of Clermont, FL: Florida municipal government of similar size that has pursued an aggressive growth, trail, and complete-streets strategy. Comparable because both cities emphasize connectivity, recreation, and growth-driven planning.
• City of Sebring, FL: Small central-Florida municipal government offering utilities, recreation, planning, and public safety to a similarly sized population. Comparable as a peer in scale, service mix, and climate exposure.
• City of Haines City, FL: Polk County municipal government with a population and service portfolio (utilities, recreation, planning, CRA redevelopment) closely matching Lake Wales. Both cities are pursuing growth strategies in the same central-Florida growth corridor.
• City of Davenport, FL: Polk County municipal government serving a comparable small-city population with utilities, planning, parks, and redevelopment services. Directly relevant as a near neighbor pursuing similar growth-oriented municipal services.
• City of Bartow, FL: Polk County seat with a comparable mix of utility, public-safety, parks, and CRA operations, and a similar small-city scale. Provides the closest benchmark for a commission/manager municipal government in the immediate Lake Wales market.
• City of Winter Haven, FL: Another Polk County municipal government providing water utilities, parks, recreation, planning, and CRA-style redevelopment services. Comparable because it serves a similarly sized central-Florida population with a comparable mix of utility, recreation, and economic development functions.

Broad incumbents

• Polk County Government: County-level government within which the City of Lake Wales operates, providing overlapping services such as transit (Citrus Connection), emergency management (Alert Polk), and regional water supply (Polk Regional Water Cooperative). Comparable as a higher-level government peer that shapes Lake Wales' operating environment.
• City of Lakeland, FL: Larger Polk County municipal government that operates a much broader portfolio of utilities (including an electric utility), parks, CRA, and transit. Comparable as a scaled-up version of Lake Wales' service mix, but operates at significantly larger scale and budget.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cityofLakeWales
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/cityoflakewales
• Facebookfacebook.com/CityOfLakeWalesFlorida
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-of-lake-wales
• Instagraminstagram.com/cityoflakewales

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Lake Wales