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ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A newly constructed section of the Lake Apopka Loop Trail was unveiled on Friday, bridging Orange and Lake counties via a nearly three-quarter-mile multiuse path. This project, which came with a price tag of $10 million, marks a significant enhancement for local connectivity.
The Lake Apopka Connector Trail is tailored to bolster safety and accessibility for cyclists, runners, and even equestrian enthusiasts, who previously had to contend with busy traffic to move between the two counties.
Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore highlighted the enthusiastic community response during the ribbon-cutting event.
“It’s unprecedented to see so many cyclists gathered for a trail inauguration. This is truly significant,” Moore remarked. “Our announcement reached 50,000 views, making it the most popular post I’ve ever shared. There’s genuine excitement in the air.”
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Before the trail opened, cyclists said one stretch of roadway was particularly dangerous.
“Honestly, that’s the scariest section that you have to ride on because there’s absolutely no berm for us to get on the road,” said rider Nicole Blessing. “So we’re riding on the white line. So you have the cars right by you.”
County leaders emphasized that safety was a driving force behind the project, creating a separated space for recreational users away from vehicle traffic.
The paved trail is open not only to cyclists and runners but also to equestrians — a feature that may surprise some visitors.
“Do you feel safe with the bike riders?” one horseback rider was asked at the opening.
“Oh, they’re usually pretty good about everything. Sometimes they need to holler out, you know, passing,” she replied.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said the county’s Parks and Recreation Department provides education on trail etiquette to ensure different users can safely share the space.
“The horse riders have to be responsive in what they’re doing, just like the children and the bicycle riders and everything,” Demings said. “One of the things that we do through our Parks and Recreation Department is teach about the safety-related issues.”
The opening marked the culmination of years of planning.
“You know, it’s really exciting because I actually was part of the team that designed it,” said Scott Stewart. “So to see it all come to fruition, seeing it in this beautiful and scenic setting, it’s kind of surreal.”
The trail is free and open to the public. County officials say they hope the connector will encourage more residents to get outdoors while providing a safer route between Orange and Lake counties.
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