County trails gain SunTrail eligibility; local leaders push feasibility study to compete for funding

Mike Stevens, chairman of the Florida Greenways and Trails Council, told the City Commission that two Lake County routes — the North Lake River-to-Hills Trail and the Wekiva Trail — were added to the state's priority list, making them eligible to apply for SunTrail funding. He said the state’s five-year plan (2024–28) and a recent increase in annual SunTrail funding to about $50 million opens an opportunity for local projects to compete for construction and right‑of‑way funding.

The state list does not guarantee grants, Stevens said: “You have to compete against other trail systems, but because we got it on the priority map, it's now eligible for SunTrail funding.” He described SunTrail as a recurring fund that comes from vehicle registration and said some planning and PD&E (project development and environmental) studies have already been funded through the program.

Stevens urged cities and the county to finish a feasibility study and put local “skin in the game” to increase the chances of securing state funding. He praised staff members Miranda and Tom for re‑energizing an interlocal agreement among Tavares, Eustis, Umatilla and Lake County and said the jurisdictions budgeted money for a feasibility study that will identify preferred corridors and strengthen future grant applications.

Commissioners pressed Stevens on timelines and costs. He said building a trail network in Lake County will take years: “It could be 20 years or it could be 5. We could get lucky and get some trail funding and just move it right along.” On costs for buying railroad right‑of‑way, Stevens estimated informally that acquiring the Wekiva corridor could run “$10,000,000 to $20,000,000,” acknowledging figures grow with time and parcel length.

Stevens and the commission discussed CSX railroad negotiations, noting appraisals are underway on rail parcels where trails are proposed. He said CSX has at times declined sales but that recent conversations show the railroad is willing to talk and that local groups and the Florida Rails‑to‑Trails Conservancy are participating. Where the North Lake Trail is drawn over an old railroad corridor, Stevens said CSX and the trust have appraisals under way and that one Tavares customer still uses a short portion of track for intermittent freight.

Why it matters: adding the two Lake County trails to the state priority list makes them eligible for recurring SunTrail grants, but local matching, clarified routes and feasibility studies are essential to compete for limited funds. The commission encouraged completion of the feasibility study and coordination with the county to strengthen grant applications and to negotiate right‑of‑way acquisitions.

Stevens closed by asking for continued local support, letters of endorsement and developer coordination so planned trails are incorporated when parcels redevelop. Commissioners directed staff to continue interlocal coordination and to prioritize the budgeted feasibility study.