Q4: Mayor John’s Response

What is your vision for Lake Placid over the next five to ten years?

My vision for Lake Placid over the next five to ten years is straightforward — I want this to be a town where families choose to put down roots, where businesses choose to invest, and where every resident regardless of how long they’ve lived here feels proud to call it home.

We are standing at a genuinely exciting moment in Lake Placid’s history. The foundation has been built. Now it’s time to build on it deliberately, smartly, and in a way that preserves everything that makes this town special while opening the door to everything it can become.

Economically, I want to continue attracting quality employers and businesses that bring real careers — not just jobs — to our community. Amazon’s arrival is a signal to the business world that Lake Placid is open for investment. I want to build on that momentum by working closely with the Chamber of Commerce, our Economic Development partners, and Highlands County to recruit additional employers who align with our community’s values and growth capacity.

On infrastructure, the nearly $40 million in water and sewer improvements currently underway will lay the foundation for responsible growth for the next generation. Pair that with our road repaving program, our downtown lighting improvements, and the continued revitalization of Interlake Boulevard, and you have a town that is physically ready to welcome its future.

For our families and young people, I want to see Dal Hall become a thriving community hub — home to programs through the Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA that give our children safe, enriching places to grow. A town that takes care of its young people is a town that takes care of its future.

For tourism, I want Lake Placid to become a must-stop Florida destination. Our Mural Society and Caladium identity are platforms that with the right investment in events, marketing, and partnerships can drive significantly more visitor traffic to our local businesses year-round.

And through all of it — every decision, every dollar, every project — I will continue the approach that has guided my 28 years of service. Grow smart. Protect what matters. Include everyone. And never forget that behind every budget line is a family that calls Lake Placid home.

That is the Lake Placid I am fighting for — and I am not finished building it yet.