Lake Elbert Trail completed near Polk State Winter Haven

The Lake Elbert Trail is officially open near Polk State College’s Winter Haven Campus, providing a beautiful amenity that will benefit residents and Polk State students alike.

With its completion, Lake Elbert Drive, located to the east of campus, has also reopened. This provides another route for commuters to and from campus. During construction, the road had been closed except for through traffic.

The City of Winter Haven will host a ribbon cutting ceremony, open to the public, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22 to formally celebrate the trail’s opening. Construction of the 2.4-mile trail around Lake Elbert began in early 2024. During the ceremony, attendees will be encouraged to join elected officials and community leaders for a “first lap” around the trail. There will also be snacks and giveaways.

Other construction elements include storm water system upgrades, water and sewer line connections, pedestrian crosswalks, resurfacing, shoreline enhancements and pedestrian connectivity. For more information about the project, visit the City of Winter Haven’s Lake Elbert Trail project page.