By Emma Longwell, Interning Correspondent for The Apopka Voice
As several city projects progress, Apopka residents can expect significant upgrades to parks, trails, and recreational facilities.
During the February 19th Apopka City Council meeting, Parks and Recreation Director Radley Williams provided updates on developments, including the nearly complete Apopka Action Sports Park, the Downtown Apopka Trail expansion, and a new inclusive playground.
With many projects set for completion within the next year, the city is making significant strides in enhancing public spaces.
Thanks to a wave of city-led redevelopment projects, Apopka residents will soon have access to new parks, expanded trails, and upgraded sports facilities. At Wednesday’s Apopka City Council meeting, Parks and Recreation Director Radley Williams detailed progress on major initiatives, including a new skate park, an inclusive playground, and a multi-purpose sports complex. City officials aim to open many of these amenities by the end of 2025, ensuring more recreational opportunities for families and athletes alike.
One of the most anticipated, the Apopka Action Sports Park, is on track for a mid-March grand opening. The $500,000 community redevelopment project will create 9,000 square feet of new park space, featuring a street skate course and a pump track with direct access to the West Orange Trail. Williams confirmed that construction is wrapping up this week, and a final walkthrough is scheduled before the park opens to the public.
Phase One of the Downtown Apopka Trail is underway after breaking ground on December 12th. This $1.1 million investment will add 1.1 miles of new trail, connecting the Alonzo Williams Park area. Phase one is expected to be completed by April 2025, and city officials are working on the design for phase two, pending available funding.
A 13,000-square-foot inclusive playground will replace older equipment at the Northwest Recreation Complex. Designed for accessibility, the playground will include ADA-compliant play structures, such as a zip line and a merry-go-round-style feature. The project is scheduled for completion by April 2025.
New multi-purpose fields are also developing, adding 980,000 square feet of playing space. While some fields will be sodded for immediate use, others will undergo a sprigging process to allow grass to grow, pushing full completion to spring 2026.
A new tennis and pickleball facility is also being designed. The complex will include 10 tennis and 10 pickleball courts, complete with lighting, sidewalks, and ADA parking. Williams noted that the location was chosen to minimize the impact on nearby residents, and community feedback is being considered as the project progresses.
A 40-foot by 18-foot gazebo will replace the previous structure at Kit Land Nelson Park. The new gazebo will be placed near the area used for the city’s holiday tree-lighting stage, allowing for larger event gatherings. Construction is expected to occur during the summer of 2025, after the park’s busy spring event season.
“It's always exciting to bring new facilities to the community and I think we have some very valuable amenities coming that the community is going to enjoy," said Williams.
Several upgrades are in progress at Apopka’s cemetery, including:
- A new maintenance storage building (in final design stages).
- Columbarium expansion (two new structures arriving soon).
- A new gazebo, sidewalks, and patio (pending construction).
- Automatic entrance and exit gates to regulate access from dawn to dusk.
Additionally, Williams confirmed that recent fencing repairs at the cemetery were completed, with another section set to be fixed after being damaged by a vehicle.
Williams also shared updates on the city’s $13.1 million Tourist Development Tax (TDT) Grant. The funding will support two key projects:
- A new softball quad featuring four fields, restrooms, concessions, and ADA-accessible parking.
- Amphitheater enhancements include a ticket booth, vendor space, additional ADA seating, and an expanded loading dock for better event access.
The city has completed internal reviews of the grant agreement, which will soon be submitted for final approval before work begins.
Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson praised Williams and his team.
"I don't know how you do it," he said to Williams. "You've got a great team able to put all this together in a short six to nine months."
