Back alleys — long treated as little more than service corridors and shortcut routes — have emerged as a centerpiece of Dixieland’s new redevelopment vision.
A 113-page “Restore the Core” plan presented to the Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency’s advisory board on May 7 shifts the neighborhood’s focus beyond historic preservation and beautification toward connectivity. It calls for safer crossings, better pedestrian and bike access, free Squeeze shuttle service, activated alleyways, and a street network designed to make it easier to move through Dixieland without relying on a car.
“I can’t leave this meeting without calling out our alleys because they are such a huge asset,” CRA Manager Valerie Vaught told the advisory board. “We’ve got to strengthen these alleys.”