Tavares FL (October 24, 2025) - Lake County, the City of Tavares, the City of Mount Dora, Trust for Public Land, Continental Strategy, and Lake County's Government Relations Firm, Acalde and Fay, hosted a joint tour this week for Congressman Randy Fine to highlight the regional significance of the Wekiva Trail Extension Project, a transformative multi-use corridor proposed to connect communities across Central Florida.
The visit showcased key portions of the railroad corridor between Mount Dora and Tavares, emphasizing the project's potential to generate substantial economic and tourism benefits while enhancing regional mobility and infrastructure resilience. Envisioned as a multimodal asset, the Wekiva Trail Extension will drive economic opportunity, improve quality of life, and strengthen connections between Lake, Seminole, and Orange Counties for decades to come.
The Federal BUILD Grant application would help fund the acquisition and development of this corridor into a dual-purpose trail and utility corridor, accommodating critical infrastructure improvements including water, wastewater, reclaimed water, underground electric, and fiber-optic lines while also creating a safe, accessible trail system for bicyclists and pedestrians. This dual-use approach maximizes federal investment by addressing both community infrastructure and mobility needs in a single, transformative project.
The Trust for Public Land is partnering with local governments to assist with the real estate acquisition and right-of-way purchase from CSX Transportation, Inc. Both The Trust for Public Land and Continental Strategy are also working collaboratively to advocate and lobby for federal support and funding for the project.
Segment 1 of the Wekiva Trail Extension will extend from Sorrento through Mount Dora, connecting with Segment 5 in Tavares. Together, these segments represent a critical step toward realizing a continuous trail network that links communities, supports sustainable development, and enhances tourism and recreation opportunities across Central Florida.