Wellen Park unveils plans for three new parks and two nature trails

From its ever-growing demand from residents and visitors alike, Wellen Park is expanding outdoor recreation this year with the addition of three new parks and approximately 10 miles of nature trails. The alfresco destinations, located close to new and existing neighborhoods and Downtown Wellen, complement Wellen Park’s existing parks and expansive trail network, while underscoring the community’s commitment to providing fitness and wellness opportunities and natural interactions for every age. Sitework and construction are expected to begin this March.

“Current and future residents spend a lot of their free time enjoying our existing parks, 30-plus miles of trails and outdoor venues, and they have expressed a desire for even more opportunities to experience being outdoors,” said Rick Severance, president of Wellen Park. “We’re excited to offer new play areas and nature trails that will enhance our residents’ and visitors’ outdoor experiences while fostering a sense of community, well-being and environmental stewardship.”

Two of the new parks will be located in Downtown Wellen, a pedestrian-friendly mixed-use gathering place with restaurants and retail boutiques. Situated on the south Hammock Lawn behind The Banyan House restaurant, the temporary Pop-Up Play Park for children 6 years and younger will offer two sets of playground equipment. Featuring climbers, planks and slides, the park opened in early March.

Nestled along Downtown Wellen’s nearby waterfront, Grand Lake Dog Park will offer an aesthetically engaging area where you will be able to let your pets run free. The 2-acre fenced park will include canine agility equipment to provide a fun and safe space for dogs to play and promote a sense of community among their owners. Featuring large open areas, jumping rings, a grassy mound with a tunnel, benches and seating, and two large shade structures, the park will inspire pets to play their heart out. Expected to open in October 2025, the park will have angled parking spaces along the planned Wellen Park Boulevard extension.

A new community playground named Park 87, which will be located near the roundabout along Manasota Beach Road and Preto Boulevard, is set to become a vibrant and engaging community space, featuring custom-built playground equipment with a unique fire station theme. This theme pays homage to its location next to the future Firehouse No. 87 and will serve as a dynamic play area for children and families living in nearby communities.

Beyond the playground, Park 87 will offer a variety of amenities to ensure comfort and convenience for all visitors. A multi-purpose lawn will provide open space for recreational activities and community events, while shaded areas and a covered pavilion with restrooms will offer respite from the sun. The park will also feature a well-designed parking area for ease of access. With a total size of approximately two acres, Park 87 will have dedicated areas for toddlers, ensuring that the youngest visitors have a safe and engaging space to play.

The playground, designed and installed by KOMPAN, Inc., will inspire Wellen Park families with an array of exciting playground equipment, including a 27-foot-tall giant play tower with fire station-themed play panels and two slides. Children can step into the boots of everyday heroes when they climb aboard the rescue helicopter or take the wheel of the fire truck play structures. The surrounding freestanding play equipment, such as a rope obstacle course, spinners, a Universal Carousel and swing set with ADA-accessible seating, cater to children of all ages and abilities. Poured-in-place rubber surfacing lets children with mobility-assisted devices move throughout the play space with greater ease and continues the fire station theme with a fire hose, sirens, hydrants and more featured in its design.

While the firehouse theme honors the park’s soon-to-be neighbor, thematic play spaces have been found to support communication skills, support social-emotional development and strengthen critical thinking skills.

 “Themes in play structures are helpful in initiating play between children of all abilities,” said Jennette Fich Jespersen, head of KOMPAN Play Institute. “Rescue is a theme that resonates with children and their caregivers. It inspires endless stories of cooperation, heroism and humanity. The fire station-themed play structures offer a multitude of thematic cues and fine motor manipulative play items that will support longer, more engaging play sessions for all children.”

Wellen Park expects to complete Park 87 by early 2026, transforming what is currently an open area of land into a dynamic and interactive play area. This effort reflects a broader commitment to creating accessible and engaging parks that serve the entire community.

This investment in public spaces underscores the importance of fostering connections among residents while enhancing the overall quality of life. By welcoming families and creating spaces where neighbors can interact, these parks play a crucial role in strengthening the fabric of local communities. They not only serve as recreational hubs but also contribute to social cohesion and well-being.          

Also slated for March construction is Oakheart Nature Trail, a winding 3-mile trail offering shell paths, boardwalks and an immersive natural experience. Meandering along a 50-acre lake, wetlands and preserves bordering the EVERLY and Lakespur neighborhoods, the new trail will offer a fishing pier and connect to a planned school campus for kids walking and biking to school. Completion is anticipated for spring 2026. The trail will include two trailheads with restrooms and parking.

            Wellen Park has also unveiled the new Buttonwood Trail, a 2.5-mile shell path and boardwalk trail through natural scenery adjacent to the Palmera neighborhood, which will include a gated entry directly to the Palmera community. Trail development began in March and will be completed at the end of 2025.

            Wellen Park abounds with opportunities to enjoy nature and being outside, including the pedestrian-friendly downtown, two-acre Harvest Community Garden for residents, paddle sports and angling on downtown’s 80-acre Grand Lake, The Landing fishing pier, intimate parks, green spaces and over 30 miles of trails and paths connecting to CoolToday Park, Downtown Wellen and residential neighborhoods.

The epicenter of Wellen Park’s outdoor recreational opportunities, Downtown Wellen features unique alfresco areas, including a nature-inspired playground, a 3-mile trail around Grand Lake, a lakefront fountain and splashpad, The Yard food park, and the one-of-a-kind outdoor lounge area under a decades-old live oak.

Wellen Park’s commitment to wellness and the environment complements its intentional approach to championing sustainability and celebrating its natural assets. As part of its Heritage Tree Program, Wellen Park relocated more than 25 healthy live oak trees from various locations within the community to Downtown Wellen. The nearly $1 million effort to relocate mature trees not only saved these well-established trees but also created an immediate sense of authenticity and scale for Downtown Wellen. Each year, the development team and resident volunteers plant hundreds of saplings around the community to increase shaded areas, wildlife habitat and the state’s pine population.

An important part of Wellen Park’s sustainability mission, multimodal trails and pathways encourage walking and biking as alternate means of transportation, decreasing reliance on cars. Trails are also developed with crushed shell material instead of concrete near wetland areas and along lakes. Throughout the community, no wetland mitigation has been needed to offset development.