Parking Isn’t the Problem in Lake Wales: Finding It Is, Study Shows
by James Coulter
If you’ve ever tried parking in Downtown Lake Wales, you’ve probably circled the blocks, wondered where all the good spaces went, and wished the city would add more.
Turns out downtown already has plenty of spaces. The real challenge is helping drivers find them and managing the system more effectively.
That’s the central takeaway from a recent presentation by a consultant contracted by the City of Lake Wales.
On Tue. July 15, 2026, the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) received a presentation on the findings of the Lake Wales Parking Study & Mobility Strategy, a parking study conducted by Kimley-Horn.
Senior Planner Marc Ispass told board members that downtown’s issue “isn’t a shortage of parking spaces,” and that the solution “isn’t to build more,” but to make existing spaces easier to locate.
“Downtown Lake Wales has enough parking today, and the data shows it will continue to have enough parking under a variety of forecasted scenarios,” he explained. “The opportunity now is to focus on managing the system so that parking is easier to find, easier to understand, and better aligned with the Downtown Growth.”
The study found 1,442 total spaces downtown, with about 1,332 considered effective public parking. Even during peak hours, only 570 were occupied, leaving roughly 762 still available.
Overall occupancy averaged about 40 percent, with the busiest pockets reaching 65 to 68 percent. Ispass noted that drivers typically “start to circle and experience frustration” only when occupancy exceeds 85 percent.
The study also modeled six future scenarios, including one where the Historic Walesbilt Hotel is fully revitalized and operating. Even then, demand is projected to rise only to about 747 spaces, leaving a surplus of roughly 585.
Ispass said the hotel would be a “major near‑term demand catalyst,” not a “systemwide shortage,” even with about 177 additional peak vehicles.
Because supply isn’t the problem, the study recommends improving how parking is managed. Suggested near‑term actions include clearer signage, coordinated shared‑parking agreements, relocating employee parking so prime spaces remain open for customers, and predictable enforcement.
“These are achievable steps that can improve the downtown parking experience without committing the community to unnecessary capital investment,” Ispass said.
Urban Planner Evan Magley added that none of the recommendations require major spending and would “support downtown businesses” while giving staff flexibility to adjust.
One example underscored the need for better wayfinding: a lot with 109 spaces saw only three cars parked there all day, leaving dozens of unused spaces simply because drivers didn’t know they existed.
Two downtown business owners spoke during public comment. Catherine Mazzullo, property manager of the Bullard Building, asked the city to consider residential needs, including elderly tenants, when enforcing time limits. She claimed it would be unreasonable to expect such residents to “move their cars every three hours.”
Brianna Mayer, owner of Mayers Jewelry, said downtown has less of a “parking problem” and more of an “enforcement problem,” noting that customers and employees from other businesses often occupy the spaces directly in front of her store.
“Our people who are coming in and paying money to keep our doors open are not the ones who should be expected to have to walk a block and a half,” she said.
Ispass welcomed the feedback, saying most of the concerns aligned with the strategy and could be incorporated into the final report.
Commissioner Carol Gillespie questioned whether requiring people to park closer to their destinations or adding more spaces “sooner than later.” Ispass replied that additional parking wouldn’t make a meaningful difference without supporting infrastructure.
The CRA Board voted unanimously to approve the study’s findings and recommendations and authorize staff to advance near-term actions.
