Mulberry

The Willow Oak neighborhood, a suburb of Lakeland, Florida, “is a quiet neighborhood, and homes generally come with more land,” says Stephanie Meyer, Realtor with Keller Williams, who has sold houses in the area for eight years. Streets in the neighborhood wind in a maze-like fashion around lakes and wetlands. Along Bailey Road, statuesque live oaks adorned with Spanish moss line the road, and large, masonry vernacular residences sit tucked behind them. Further into the labyrinth, there are streets of two-to-three-bedroom manufactured houses behind chain-link fences interspersed with colorful 3,000-square-foot bungalows or pockets of homes within planned communities. Area schools have unique electives for Willow Oak students, and there are several nearby parks to explore. Listings in the area begin in the low-to-mid $200,000 range. At this price, buyers can usually find single-story manufactured homes or ranch-style homes in need of repair. Homes at the upper end of the spectrum are often 3,000-square-foot lakefront residences with transitional-style architecture listed in the low-to-mid $500,000s. “The area has a good mix of homes,” Meyer says. The median price is around $315,000; for this, one might find a three-bedroom, single-story masonry home. Students in Willow Oaks may attend James W. Sikes Elementary School, which earns a C-plus on Niche. Mulberry Middle School, with a C rating, offers pre-academy options such as pre-business and pre-agriculture. Students can also participate in intramural sports. Mulberry Senior High School gets a B-minus and has robotics and medical academies. The academies and pre-academies are elective programs that allow students to learn about topics that interest them and explore future careers. Sports offerings at the high school include tennis, volleyball and wrestling. Lakeland has several colleges to choose from; students with an interest in architecture may enjoy learning at Florida Southern College, which is about 9 miles away. The campus is home to the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed structures in one area. “The neighborhood is very close to Shepherd Road and shopping,” Meyer says. Locals also have close access to Florida State Roads 37 and 60, which lead to downtown Lakeland and Tampa, respectively. There are Citrus Connection bus stops along Shepherd Road and Bailey Road that run from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Lakeland Linder International Airport, 7.5 miles north, is planning to offer passenger flights with Avelo Airlines. Avelo has six airport bases in locations including Los Angeles and New Haven, Connecticut. “This area is loaded with places to go. You can get groceries at Publix. For lunch, you can go by Uncle Nick’s Italian Deli and Bagels. They have corned beef sandwiches and pistachio muffins as big as your hand that are to die for.” Meyer says. “There’s an iconic feed store on Old Road 37 called Lay’s Western Wear Feed & Pet Supply; they sell dog food for a better price than the pet store and have clothing too.” For more shopping, residents can drive to Lakeside Village, a shopping mall that is about 6 miles north. If Willow Oaks residents want to find lake access, a dog park, a soccer field or wetlands to explore, there are options for each within a 3-mile radius. The Alafia River Reserve, off SR 60, is a 334-acre conservation area that is home to tortoises and sweet gum trees. To find out why Lakeland is known as Swan City, locals can drive about 9 miles to Lake Morton. “You walk around the lake, and it’s like an outdoor aviary. You can bring food, and the birds will surround you. There are ducks, geese and swans. The first swans here came from the queen of England. There are picnic tables there, too, but you have to protect your food, or the geese will get it.” There are lots of events in downtown Lakeland, about 10 miles north. Tasty Tuesdays and Festive Fridays are some recurring ones that feature local businesses, and there are also holiday markets and food truck rallies. The Lakeland Linder International Airport, 7.5 miles north, has a Sun n Fun Aerospace Expo every year in April. “People come from all over to see it; the air shows are impressive to watch,” Meyer says. There are aerobatic performances and hot air balloon launches for spectators to enjoy. Some parts of the neighborhood are prone to flooding. The flood risk level, as assessed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is listed under lot information for each home. Also, the Southwest Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility is located at the southeast corner of the neighborhood.