The City of “New Lake Worth”? “Lake Worth Beach”? “Jewell”? What reporter quoted an elected official. . .

“. . . Lake Worth is distinctive, with its walkable downtown and beach, and that the new name would create an ‘instantly recognizable brand for the city.’ ”

Where did the quote above come from? Find out below.

Do you know where the western border of our City is and why our City needs a “recognizable brand”? Don’t feel bad. Most local reporters in the press and media don’t understand our municipal border either.

Do you know what the “Lake Worth Corridor” is? This unincorporated area has a profound effect on our City in both positive ways and very negative ways as well, e.g., crime is a major one. Learn more about area which includes Palm Beach County College, the local airport, and John Prince Park using this link.

The issue of changing the name of Lake Worth is nothing new. Remember Post reporter Willy Howard? He sat down with Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell to talk about changing the name of our City and the reasons why back in 2012. More about that below.

We can be “New Lake Worth”, “Lake Worth Beach”, or even “Jewell” (a historic name for this area prior to incorporation).

Should we let the voters decide, maybe by referendum? Tourists and visitors saw this sign back in the day when driving south on Dixie Hwy (U.S. 1).

The idea of changing the name of Lake Worth comes up from time to time. Interest seems to spike after a sensational but false news story “in Lake Worth” that isn’t in the City of Lake Worth.

There is no such thing as ‘western Lake Worth’. Or ‘West Lake Worth’ either.

That’s another completely false geographic designation by some in the news media who don’t like having to type out the extra few letters for “suburban Lake Worth”.

Back in April of 2016 was part of a conversation/debate about changing the name of Lake Worth and learned there were other discussions, albeit quietly, about bringing this up again. However, that “branding” effort went nowhere. Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell was the last one to make this a priority; here is an excerpt from a Willy Howard article in 2012:

     “Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell is suggesting changing the city’s name to Lake Worth Beach to help distinguish Lake Worth from parts of unincorporated Palm Beach County that have Lake Worth mailing addresses. According to postal officials, places as far west as Wellington can use Lake Worth mailing addresses. 
     In a memo to the commission about the name change, Maxwell notes that crimes committed west of the city in unincorporated parts of Palm Beach County are sometimes reported by the media as happening in Lake Worth. Residents with Lake Worth mailing addresses who live west of the city mistakenly come to city hall seeking solutions to their problems.
     Maxwell said Lake Worth is distinctive, with its walkable downtown and beach, and that the new name would create an ‘instantly recognizable brand for the city.’
     With the 100-year anniversary of the city next year and the opening of the renovated beach site and casino scheduled for this fall, he said, this is a good time to change the city’s name.”

and. . .

“The timing is just about right,” Maxwell said. “It kind of gives us a renewed sense of pride for the next 100 years.”


So. What do you think? About time for a “renewed sense of pride” here in this unique City for the next 100 years and generations to follow?