The Town of Windermere is about to become more bike/walk-friendly. The Town’s website and a press release from Congresswoman Val Demings announced an expected $760,000 in federal funding this fall towards a Safe Routes to School Project.
The Safe Routes to School Phase One is part of a larger project, the Windermere Ward Trail; a multimodal transportation path for walking, cycling, and golf cart travel within Windermere. Phase 1 focuses on increasing safety and accessibility for students to Windemere Elementary School. It will also benefit residents traveling on the paths to civic, educational, commercial facilities.
Windermere began the process of requesting funding for this project back in March with help from Windermere Mayor James O’Brien, U.S. Rep. Val Demings, and residents of the community. In July, Demings announced that funding for ten community projects in Central Florida, with the Safe Routes project included, successfully passed the House Appropriations Committee.
When the announcement was made, Town of Windermere Mayor James O’Brien thanked Representative Demings “for her tireless efforts on behalf of the Town of Windermere. The funding for Windermere’s Safe Route to School Project Phase 1 will ensure that our children have a safe and healthy route to school daily. Additionally, the project benefits the entire West Orange Community by enhancing the walkability of Town and providing enhanced safety and accessibility for all citizens.”
Proposed plans include the improvements and addition of sidewalks, multi-use trail segments, a golf cart network, a mid-block crossing, and a new multi-use bridge.
The Town of Windermere’s goals of improving quality of life for its residents will soon be moving forward thanks to the hard work and advocacy of Town Staff, Mayor O’Brien, Congresswoman Val Demings. The residents who contacted legislators and asked them to support this project funding also played an important role. To learn more visit https://town.windermere.fl.us/ward-trail/
