My New Blog

More signs of progress in Polk County helps us to maintain a positive attitude in the midst of the weak economy.  Posner Park continues to grow and has just opened Camille's Sidewalk Cafe close to the entrance of the shopping complex.  This cafe has outdoor umbrella tables as well as indoor seating and offers a variety of light meals, such as salads, sandwiches and soups.  They are now celebrating their grand opening and are ideally located to the first section of retail stores.  In this first section, Ross Department Store is also gearing up to open by spring, as well as Payless Shoes and a few other retail shops.  GNC Vitamins will soon hold their grand opening and many other retail spaces are due to be occupied.  

The owners of Cypress Gardens Adventure Park  are moving forward with plans to re-open in late March with a new management team. They were closed temporarily in November.  When the gates open in March, visitors will no longer find amusement rides or animals, which were the least profitable sections of the park, but the water park will be expanded.  They are returning to the park's roots with a renewed focus on the botanical gardens, water ski show and its history.  A new museum dedicated to the vision and contributions of Cypress Gardens founders is in the works.  Cypress Gardens was founded in 1936 by Dick and Julie Pope.  It has changed hands several times, but all owners have led campaigns to insure restrictions on all 150 acres of the property, in order to maintain the botanical gardens and the conservation areas, thereby protecting this historical area from developers. 

Yes, there are signs of progress in Polk County, even though we are struggling through a difficult market.   We must trust that the difficulties of today are the down payment for a better tomorrow.