MULBERRY, FL – Polk County has completed an $8.17 million drainage improvement project in the Imperial Lakes community in Mulberry, aimed at reducing roadway flooding and improving stormwater management along Imperial Lakes Boulevard. The project was largely funded through $7.1 million in American Rescue Plan funds and is designed to protect the roadway from flooding during storms as severe as a 100-year rainfall event.
The improvements focused on a section of Imperial Lakes Boulevard near Country Club Lane, an area that has experienced repeated flooding after heavy rain. The roadway serves as the only access route for several neighborhoods within the Imperial Lakes community.
As part of the project, Polk County raised a quarter-mile section of Imperial Lakes Boulevard, upgraded the existing storm sewer system, and constructed wet detention ponds on the former golf course property to better manage stormwater runoff. Additional work included replacing a drainage pipe on Old Colony Road and installing a new outfall pipe at Misty Lake to improve water flow. Construction began on Feb. 17, 2025, and was completed Spring of 2026.
County officials said the project is expected to improve public safety, enhance roadway reliability during severe weather, and strengthen the long-term resilience of stormwater infrastructure within the Imperial Lakes community. Nothing further at this time.
SOURCE: POLK COUNTY GOVERNMENT
