New funding helps Coral Springs pave way for expanded access to Everglades
Coral Springs is one step closer to expanding access to the Everglades.
City officials last week celebrated the official transfer of $800,000 in federal funding for an ongoing project that will give residents and visitors more ways to explore the wetland.
Congressman Jared Moskowitz, whose district no longer includes Coral Springs, secured the money earlier this year.
The Everglades Memorial Loop, a planned 10.7-mile multi-use trail, will stretch from Wiles Road to the Conservation Levee Greenway, with connections to the SUNtrail Network.
Existing paths will be changed to accommodate walkers, runners and bikers, and keep users safe from passing vehicles. That includes the single-highest spending item of the project — a bridge over the Sawgrass Expressway.
The design also includes a floating dock, allowing users to continue their journeys over the Sunshine Water District canal from W. Sample Road to Wiles Road.
The project’s crown jewel, a three-story lookout tower with views of the Everglades, will be located next to the Sportsplex development.
It will also include restrooms, a concession stand, bike station, benches and parking, according to one design consultant’s report.
The city also plans to use $300,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act and an additional $750,000 federal grant for the project, according to a city spokesperson.
The city has not shared a timeline for the project’s construction as of June 23.
