Boardwalk

3,100 linear feet of boardwalk has been constructed. Future site improvements include an entrance shelter and parking for 30 vehicles and two busses. The boardwalk runs from the uplands through the wetlands to a pavilion and dock on Lake Apopka, and will provide a "living laboratory" for the study of wetlands ecology and water issues critical to a sustainable environment.

HISTORY

APRIL 27 2002

Today, we celebrated a red ribbon cutting to mark the beginning of construction of our 3,000 linear feet of boardwalk from the heart of the Preserve on the West Orange Trail through the pristine wetlands to the shores of Lake Apopka. The $600,000 project will be completed in about six months by Coquina Engineering, Inc. Included with this construction will be a 900 square foot pavilion and lakeside dock to be used as classrooms in our environmental education programs.

The boardwalk project represents the partnering of several private and public entities with about half of the money coming from each sector. The ceremony was attended by many of the ONP workday volunteers as well as several dignitaries from supporting organizations and their families. In attendance were Commissioner Teresa Jacobs, her aide Graciela Noriega, and Rick Baird of Orange County EPD; also in attendance were Trustees Jim Dexter and Kirk Ardaman of the Ella B. Sadler Foundation as well as Representative Fred Brummer of the Florida State Legislature, and Mayor Jon VanderLey, Councilmen Kathy Starks, Bill Dudzinski, Mike Satterfield, and Town Manager Jay Evans from the Town of Oakland.

ONP has now begun a major effort to sell boards on the Boardwalk for $25 each. Each $25 donation will be tax deductible and help ONP pay for the over 6,000 boards on this marvelous nature trail. $25 will entitle you to an annual membership in ONP and your name on a plaque for contributors. Contributions can be sent to ONP, Box 841, Oakland, FL 34760, or just click here for a printable form.

(Click on any small image to see a larger picture; click your "Back" arrow or press your Backspace key to return to this page.)

	Beginning of the upper section of the new boardwalk. When finished in September, this 8 foot wide walkway will meander through over 3000 feet of wetlands to the shore of Lake Apopka.
	Work continues on the upper section. This section starts in the uplands, and will be reached from one of the walking trails. It will meander through several hundred feet of wetlands to the site of our future educational building. There, it will connect to the lower section that leads through more wetlands to the shore of the lake.
	With planking in place, handrail support posts are bolted to the support beams underneath. Meanwhile, the pile driving crew has worked their way back from the lakefront installing the pilings for the lower section.
	Work continues on the covered shelter at the Lake Apopka end of the boardwalk. This shelter will provide space for relaxing with a wonderful view of the lake and the many creatures that live along the shore. It will also serve as a classroom for the study of the ecology of the lake and its slow but steady recovery.
	Hand rails have now been added to the upper section along with black wire screening for protection. Using the wire instead of a series of boards gives us a much more open view of the area.
	Here is one of the three nodes you will encounter as you make your way through the wetlands to the large pavilion and dock on Lake Apopka. They have tin roofs and provide a sheltered resting place to stop and observe the area. The grand opening and dedication ceremony took place on Saturday, Oct 12th with several hundred people attending.
	Names of the first 360 Board Owners are now on permanent display at the peninsula where the two sections of the new boardwalk meet. They are listed in the order they were received, and new names will be added as they are processed. This is a temporary display, to be maintained until we have built our education center at this site. The final plaques will be installed there.