New Trail Will Connect Lake Wailes With Bok Tower Gardens

A new bicycle and pedestrian trail will connect the Lake Wailes Trail and the Lake Wales Trailway paths with Bok Tower Gardens as a result of a newly-awarded $282,380 grant.

Plans for the development of the new multiuse trail along Tower Boulevard include the construction of a 12-foot-wide surface to connect Lake Wales Park Trail to Bok Tower Gardens. Five park benches, trash receptacles, bike racks and directional signage will complement the trail.

Courtesy Dover, Kohl & Partners

The planned Crystal Lake Trail is typical of the new 12-foot wide trail system being developed to link neighborhoods across Lake Wales.

Lake Wales was one of four communities awarded funding by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Recreational Trails Program.

The grant was obtained by the city's grant consultants Lee Hale and Hilary Waers of Hale Innovation That firm also recently btaineda grant for the Kiwanis Park Loop Trail connecting the lake and rials-to-trails projects, as well as the blockbuster $22.93 million Safe Streets grant which is expected to fund completion of the Lake Wales Connected plan.

"We requested and will receive $282,380 in grant funds, and the city will contribute $70,595," said Parks and Recreation Director Stephanie Lutton.

The new link segment is one of several trails in the Parks and Recreation master plan. Grants have already funded several links that are connecting individual segments into an expanding network.

Other grants already awarded will connect the west end of the Lake Wales Trailway at Scenic Highway with the Crystal Lake Trail, looping it through city-owned property behind the city's Kirkland Gym and Lake Wales Little Theatre, and in front of the newly-established classroom and office of Lake Wales Heritage.

Other grants will extend the current trail along Scenic Highway south of Park Avenue, as well as a new loop around the north side of Crystal Lake. All the trails are expected to be attractively landscaped.