Funding for Winter Haven Airport Security Gate, Carpeting, and Water Transmission Loop Approved
by James Coulter
A new security gate and carpeting for the airport, along with a transmission loop for the water system, will soon be installed now that city commissioners have approved funding for those proposed projects.
Airport Security Gate
At their regular meeting on Mon. May 11, 2026, Winter Haven city commissioners voted unanimously to approve a resolution for a new high-security gate at the Winter Haven Regional Airport.
The resolution will allow the City to enter into a grant agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), helping fund the installation of a high-security hydraulic sliding gate.
The new high-security hydraulic sliding gate will replace the existing system at Gate 19. The gate “serves as the primary access point into Browns Seaplane Base and ultimately connects to Gate 18, which provides direct access to the airfield,” wrote Airport Director Troy Heidel.
That gate’s location is considered “critical for controlling vehicle and personnel access to secure areas of the airport,” with the new gate providing “enhanced durability, improved reliability, controlled access, and greater resistance to forced entry.”
The project is estimated to cost $40,000. The grant will provide 80 percent of the funding ($32,000), with the remaining 20 percent ($8,000) to be shared by the City.
Airport Carpeting
City commissioners also voted unanimously to approve the second reading of an ordinance appropriating city funding to replace airport terminal carpeting.
Approximately $34,280 will be transferred from the Commission Fuel revenue to fund the replacement of interior carpeting within the airport terminal.
Ascent Aviation Group, Inc. had previously provided a $50,000 Business Development Grant for facility improvements. Part of these funds will be used to cover the cost of carpeting, while the remaining $15,000 will be set aside for any emergency fuel farm repairs, explained Katrina Hill, Director of Public Affairs and Communication.
“The existing carpet is heavily stained in several areas and exhibits significant wear and age, making replacement necessary,” Heidel stated. “Airport staff propose using a portion of these funds to install new carpeting in the terminal that complements the updated paint scheme.”
Transmission Loop Project
City commissioners also voted unanimously to approve a resolution authorizing a grant agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to fund the Reclaim Transmission Loop Project.
The project will help construct an Alternate Water Supply (AWS) transmission loop, which will help extend the current main from County Road 653 and Thompson Nursery Road to Cypress Gardens Boulevard at the State Farm facility.
This transmission loop will be designed “to interconnect and expand the City’s reclaimed water distribution system to maximize its beneficial use while reducing demands on our traditional water supply,” wrote Gary Hubbard, Water Department Director.
The total construction cost is estimated at $4,000,000, with the grant providing $1,500,000 in funding, with no matching funds from the city required. The grant will help cover preconstruction activities such as design, permitting, and construction.
