[enquiremind]

Hello, We're thinking about moving to Lakeland in the near future. We are Haitian American, raised in New York. We lived in California, but didn't care for the Earthquakes. We currently live in Port St Lucie, Florida. It's a nice place, but we want to eventually move closer to Tampa and Orlando Area. We've been thru many Hurricanes, but still prefer that then Earthquakes. We heard wonderful things about Lakeland, but wanted to ask some questions that we didn't see. I'm a nurse working for The Dept. Of Health. My husband work for the city as a Code Enforcer. I'm trying to get a transfer to Polk County Health Dept. My husband will need a job as well. We have a school-age child, and I want to pursue a degree as a Registered Nurse (which school should I go to that offer Lpn to Rn transitional program?) Please send us info. about Best neighborhoods (Kids Friendly), Schools and racially mix Christian Churches. Also are there any Carribbean (West Indies) restaurants,stores, and activities? Please send us a web site where we can see and get more info. about Lakeland/Polk County. Thank You!

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by enquiremind

Hello, We're thinking about moving to Lakeland in the near future. We are Haitian American, raised in New York. We lived in California, but didn't care for the Earthquakes. We currently live in Port St Lucie, Florida. It's a nice place, but we want to eventually move closer to Tampa and Orlando Area. We've been thru many Hurricanes, but still prefer that then Earthquakes. We heard wonderful things about Lakeland, but wanted to ask some questions that we didn't see. I'm a nurse working for The Dept. Of Health. My husband work for the city as a Code Enforcer. I'm trying to get a transfer to Polk County Health Dept. My husband will need a job as well. We have a school-age child, and I want to pursue a degree as a Registered Nurse (which school should I go to that offer Lpn to Rn transitional program?) Please send us info. about Best neighborhoods (Kids Friendly), Schools and racially mix Christian Churches. Also are there any Carribbean (West Indies) restaurants,stores, and activities? Please send us a web site where we can see and get more info. about Lakeland/Polk County. Thank You!

Try Polk State College (formerly Polk Community College)
Polk State College - Nursing

Carribean Food - I don't live in Lakeland anymore so I'm not certain if either of these establishments are still open.

Restaurant 1
Restaurant 2

City Calendar

Regarding what neighborhoods are kid friendly, I would recommend SouthEast Lakeland (Lkld Highlands, Highland City), North Lakeland (Gibsonia and east). Honestly, most areas outside the general core of the city aren't that bad.

[enquiremind]

Thank You for the informations.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by enquiremind

Thank You for the informations.

You're welcome! I'll respond in greater detail either tonight or in the morning. By the way, welcome to the forum!

[enquiremind]

Thank You for welcoming me to this forum. I look forward to receiving more info from you, and others. I especially want to know about a good elementary school for my child. Is there any Magnet/Charter schools? And what is the procedure to apply? I also would like for us to live in a safe and secure environment with minimal environmental pollutants. There's a town in Palm Beach County where a high no. of people and animals reportedly developed brain and other form of cancers. the government is trying to investigate to find out why? I don't expect you to know all these answers. Maybe someone else who might be reading this might know. I also wanted to know what's the average amount people who lives there pay for water, electricity, gas,phone,cable, and other household services. By the way I found out that the first caribbean restaurant you posted is still in business. I called and they sounded like they're Jamaican. Which is great cause I love Jamaican food. Do you know if there is any Haitian restaurants? Do you mind if I ask you ,why did you move out of Lakeland?

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by enquiremind

Thank You for welcoming me to this forum. I look forward to receiving more info from you, and others. I especially want to know about a good elementary school for my child. Is there any Magnet/Charter schools? And what is the procedure to apply? I also would like for us to live in a safe and secure environment with minimal environmental pollutants. There's a town in Palm Beach County where a high no. of people and animals reportedly developed brain and other form of cancers. the government is trying to investigate to find out why? I don't expect you to know all these answers. Maybe someone else who might be reading this might know. I also wanted to know what's the average amount people who lives there pay for water, electricity, gas,phone,cable, and other household services. By the way I found out that the first caribbean restaurant you posted is still in business. I called and they sounded like they're Jamaican. Which is great cause I love Jamaican food. Do you know if there is any Haitian restaurants? Do you mind if I ask you ,why did you move out of Lakeland?

Glad that I could assist. I still plan on providing more detail later but to briefly answer your last question "why did you move out of Lakeland"; I left Lakeland to go to college and I just never moved back but I get down there on a regular basis. Jobs in my field (Information technology) are in high demand but unfortunately low supply.

[gypsychic]

Hi there! We also use to live in Lakeland, it's a beautiful little city and a nice place to live - if you search this forum for my posts I have written many about Lakeland and posted links to websites for more info. Here are a few links for you:

Leisure in the City of Lakeland

What Others Say About Lakeland

home

Lakeland has very healthy air quality, one of the best in Florida if not the country I have read. For utilities, you will pay electric, water, and garbage all on one bill - can't give you an average, it depends size of home, family and how much you use.

Lakeland has magnet and charter schools, one is Harrison School for the Arts. I can't give details on these, we don't have kids. Lakeland is a nice arts town with a beautiful art museum and center, and public displays of art everywhere:

Polk Museum of Art :: More Than An Art Museum

The town symbol is the swan, and you will see swan art and sculptures everywhere, as well as butterfly sculptures - so beautiful! And the Lake Morton in downtown is a swan sanctuary.

Lakeland has a number of ethnic restaurants but I don't know about Haitian. But sooner or later they may get one. The core of the city in and around downtown is the most diverse with many ethnic groups represented. Nice neighborhoods are in and around downtown and south .

I hope some of this helps, I think you will enjoy living here!

[rogercobb]

I'd spend a few weeks in Lakeland before making the plunge. You'll be in for a huge shock after having lived in New York and California. Lakeland couldn't be any more different than NY or CA. If you've got your heart set on Central Florida then Lakeland might make sense. It will be about one hour commute to both Tampa + Orlando but the commute on I4 will be torture with the construction and the kamikazee style drivers. If I could think of something positive about Lakeland it would be the rather low cost of living and all the strip malls at your convenience.

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by rogercobb

I'd spend a few weeks in Lakeland before making the plunge. You'll be in for a huge shock after having lived in New York and California. Lakeland couldn't be any more different than NY or CA. If you've got your heart set on Central Florida then Lakeland might make sense. It will be about one hour commute to both Tampa + Orlando but the commute on I4 will be torture with the construction and the kamikazee style drivers. If I could think of something positive about Lakeland it would be the rather low cost of living and all the strip malls at your convenience.

I agree with this post 100%.


Enquiremind- Please please please come here for yourself and stay BEFORE you move here. You'll find the REAL Lakeland to be a much different place than realtors and newbies on this forum make it out to be. There is much more to Lakeland than just the small downtown area that people see when they visit.

Also make sure that both of you have jobs BEFORE you move here. Our unemployment rate is 11% and rising.

What did you hear about Lakeland that makes you want to move here? This area is one of the LAST places I would move to in Florida if I had children. Too many meth addicts, child molesters, shysters, yankee hating natives, run down areas, transients, etc etc etc for my liking. But to each their own. Best of luck to you.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by Lakeland Yankee

This area is one of the LAST places I would move to in Florida if I had children. Too many meth addicts, child molesters, shysters, yankee hating natives, run down areas, transients, etc etc etc for my liking. But to each their own. Best of luck to you.

You just described a large percentage of the state. There are worse places too be......