This past month, Lee Dover’s film, Lake Wales Envisioned, was honored with a 2024 Communicator Award in the “General-Documentary, Excellence” category.
In October 2023, the city leaders of Lake Wales voted unanimously to adopt a design plan for the city that will not only foster healthy economic growth but ensure residents of all backgrounds and income levels have access to greenspace, affordable housing and outdoor experiences.
The ambitious plan was based on ideas originally conceived by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. and philanthropist Edward Bok, whose neighboring Bok Tower Gardens was also designed by Olmsted in the 1930s. You can read more about the plan and the Olmsted Network’s involvement here.
Dover’s film provides a history of the city’s early development and shows how that vision continues to inspire residents. Utilizing hundreds of hours of interviews, thousands of photos and maps, historical records and draft planning documents, the film tells the story of how Lake Wales citizens are coming together to face modern challenges, address neglect and chart a better future.
In addition to receiving the award, the film was recently selected for showing at the Redfish Film Fest in Panama City, FL, in April 2024.
