Local Fitness Options Grow Thanks to Two New WPHF Grants

Local biking and fitness opportunities are growing thanks to two new grants approved by the Winter Park Health Foundation (WPHF) through its Community Health Policy Work Group on April 5.

Work Group members first approved a $50,000 grant to Orlando Community and Youth Trust, Inc. (the nonprofit organization that raises funds for the City of Orlando’s Department of Families, Parks and Recreation Department) to help design and construct an Urban Mountain Bike Park just off Cady Way Trail near Fashion Square Mall.

The 21-Acre Mountain Bike Park project, unique to the Greater Orlando area, has generated a lot of public interest, including more than 200 emails sent to Orlando city officials.

The location allows access to the Cady Way Trail in Winter Park and the Lake Underhill Path, which also strings together multiple park sites including Park of the Americas, Kittinger Park, Festival Park, the 200+ acres of park located in Baldwin Park, and parks outside the city limits.

The City of Orlando and the Mountain Bike Association will build, operate and maintain the park jointly. The project represents a creative collaboration between the City and the mountain bike community.

Work Group members also approved a $15,000 matching grant to Winter Park High School to help purchase fitness stations for the Community Fitness Trail located in the Southeast corner of Winter Park High School bordering Cady Way Trail, Baldwin Park and the Orlando VA Medical Center.

WPHF last year approved a $15,000 challenge grant to help develop the trail which was designed to create a place where people of all ages and abilities can be active. Later phases of the project call for the development of a practice field, community pavilions and an obstacle course.