Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency is constructing a multi-use path along West Lake Parker Drive this fall that will feature artwork from Polk County students.

LAKELAND — The city is paving a path through Lakeland's history as depicted through the eyes of student artists.

Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency is working in partnership with the Polk County School Board to construct a multi-use path for bicyclists and pedestrians along West Lake Parker Drive that will provide a visual history lesson to the city's past. Construction is anticipated to get underway in September.

“The goal is to create a vibrant space along the lakefront path that helps tell the history of our community through the eyes of our talented young people,” Alis Drumgo, the CRA's manager, said.

The mile-long path will stretch along the west shore of Lake Parker from Bon Air Street north to Bella Vista Street, replacing the existing sidewalk. The 10-foot wide walkway will feature artwork depicting significant events and milestones in Lakeland's history from the 1920s through 2000.

“We could have made it a regular old asphalt trail,” Drumgo said. “But we integrated something to increase foot traffic in the area and have a true amenity in the community.”

Nancy Puri, senior coordinator of Visual Arts for Polk County Schools, said student artists at 10 schools will paint 12-by-12-inch tiles that depict scenes and icons from the various decades. Polk's elementary students study Florida's state history, according to Puri, and will be encouraged to focus their artwork on alligators and citrus fruits prevalent in its agriculture.

“It's a unique opportunity,” Puri said. “We are always looking for innovative ways to incorporate our curriculum — math, literacy, science, history — and pair it with the arts.”

Roughly 150 of the students' art tiles will be built into the Lake Parker path alongside larger panels depicting landmark moments from each decade. Some highlights will include the introduction of the city's iconic swans in the 1950s and the establishment of Sun 'n Fun in the 1970s.

Puri said any painted tiles that are left over once the pathway is constructed will be incorporated into the city's future projects. There is also an effort underway to map and identify what tiles are used and where they are placed during construction, so students can easily locate and visit their contributions to the city project.

The Lakeland CRA has budgeted $820,000 for the project.

The Lake Parker multi-use path is part of the city's larger plans to increase bicycle and pedestrian pathways throughout Lakeland, according to Drumgo. It is part of the master plan first introduced as the West Lake Parker Drive/Lakeshore Drive Bicycle Facility by the city in 2016.

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