Lake Crago Outdoor Recreation Complex

Lake Crago Park Outdoor Recreation Complex is situated on 144 acres of previously state-owned land. The site, which is situated between Lake Parker (north end) and the southern lakeshore of Lake Crago, had previously been an area with phosphate mining operations on site somewhere around 1940. 

The surrounding environment directly influenced material selections and other details found in both the structure and façade. Exterior limestone depicts fossil-like textures, reminiscent of the site’s historical application and alluding to the new facility’s enduring ethos. Corten steel translates rust from a negative symbol of aging into a beautiful primary aesthetic. Exposed structural glulam wood framing members nod to highly visible woodlands enveloping the lake shores and the core concrete masonry building structure referencing Florida’s history of mining.    

This Outdoor Recreation Complex assembles the site's sense of material history to craft a timeless asset for the City of Lakeland and other visitors to enjoy well into the future.