Groveland Daily Brief: Cold, Construction and Community

Groveland heads into the weekend with freezing temperatures, transportation help for residents in need, and a busy calendar of road planning and family events.

Cold-weather shelter and transportation options

After overnight freezes, Lake County has opened a temporary cold-weather shelter at a church in Eustis, with doors open from Thursday evening into Friday morning. Groveland residents who need a safe, warm place to stay can request free transportation through the county’s paratransit service, which is arranging rides to and from the shelter for those without reliable travel.

Local officials are also encouraging residents to stay tuned to county emergency alerts and text-based updates so they can see quickly if additional shelter nights are added while the cold snap continues.

Backflow and irrigation checks urged after the freeze

The city is warning that last weekend’s hard freeze may have damaged irrigation systems and backflow prevention devices around homes and businesses. When water inside these assemblies freezes, it can expand and crack internal parts, leading to leaks, low water pressure, or potential contamination risks if devices fail.

Homeowners are being asked to walk their property, look for wet spots, listen for running water, and call a licensed backflow tester if anything seems off. The city has shared a list of local companies that can inspect and repair devices so drinking water remains protected.

Open house on S.R. 50 realignment and South Lake Trail

Looking ahead, state transportation staff and city leaders are inviting residents to an open house on the planned realignment of State Road 50 and improvements to the South Lake Trail. The drop-in event will run from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., giving neighbors a chance to review concept drawings, ask how traffic patterns could change, and offer feedback before construction begins later in 2026.

The project is expected to reshape a key east–west corridor through Groveland, with new lane configurations and trail connections intended to improve safety and travel flow for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Tonight at Lake David: Movie Night in the Park

To close out the week on a lighter note, the city is hosting Movie Night in the Park this evening at Lake David Park from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. The feature film is “Remember the Titans,” part of Groveland’s Black History Month programming, and food trucks and dessert vendors will be on site. Families are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs and arrive a little early to find a good spot along the lakefront.

Sources

• https://groveland-fl.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/1260
• https://groveland-fl.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/1259
• https://groveland-fl.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/1261
• https://www.groveland-fl.gov/873/Movie-Night-in-the-Park—27