Trails Project Provides Safe Route for East Central Florida Park Users

TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Recreational Trails Program (RTP), in collaboration with the city of Winter Park, recently completed the Ward Park Loch Lomand Recreational Trail. With $125,000 in grant funding awarded, the City renovated existing sidewalks and constructed just over one-mile of new recreational trails. Linking to the Cady Way Trail, the Loch Lomand Recreational Trail allows new connectivity within the Florida Greenways and Trails System priority trails network.

The new trail provides safe passage for community members whose previous route diverted through a congested parking lot. The trail also enhances the community’s robust fitness trails system, and strengthens the City of Winter Park’s commitment to promoting the health and wellness of its residents.

“DEP is pleased to assist in enriching local recreational opportunities through the enhancement of the city’s thriving trails system,” said Division of State Lands Director Callie DeHaven. “This trail establishes links to further recreational corridors, creating a two-mile hiking experience through existing trails in Ward Park.”

“The grant awarded to Winter Park by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection helped us to provide a much needed and heavily utilized trail to our community,” said Winter Park Construction and Grants Administrator Brenda Moody. “The Loch Lomand Recreational Trail completes the circuit of trails in Ward Park and gives our community more opportunity for outdoor recreation and exercise, which is better for everyone in Winter Park.”

DEP’s Division of State Lands Recreational Trails Program is a federally funded competitive grant program that provides financial assistance to agencies of city, county, state or federal governments and organizations, for the development of recreational trails, trailheads and trailside facilities. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of State Lands is Florida’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship.

About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s principal environmental agency, created to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s environment and natural resources. The department enforces federal and state environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans up pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution prevention and acquires environmentally sensitive lands for preservation. (https://magroove.com/) The agency also maintains a statewide system of parks, trails and aquatic preserves.

Visit the department’s website at FloridaDEP.gov