- March 12, 2025
Ormond Beach is pursuing funding to construct a mixed-use path on Hand Avenue, from Williamson Boulevard to Clyde Morris Boulevard.
The City Commission unanimously approved a grant application submission to the River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization to help fund 85% of the design and construction cost for the project, which is priced at $1.7 million. The 10-foot mixed-use path will provide an east-west connection for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Assistant City Manager Shawn Finley said the project is part of the city's efforts to assemble its trail network, as outlined in a 2016 Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan.
"We've been working our way through those projects and they're either trying to complete them, or do exactly what we're doing with this one — get them submitted to the TPO to help get grant funding for design and construction," Finley said.
The city has a few other similar projects in the works, including one on North U.S. 1, connecting Airport Road to Broadway Avenue, and the Thompson Creek Trail Project, which will pass through downtown Ormond Beach and connect Central Park and Sanchez Park. That project is slated to receive TPO funding in 2027.
But, there aren't many east-west mixed-use paths in the city, Finley said.
Additionally, Volusia County is in the process of designing a widening project for Hand Avenue between Nova Road and Clyde Morris Boulevard. The city has been speaking to county staff on including a mixed-use path along that stretch as well.
The proposed 10-foot mixed-use path will be an extension of that.
"It gives connectivity from, essentially the hospital to Central Park, which I think is a good thing," Finley said.
According to the city staff report for the grant application request, the city will provide a 15% match for the multi-year project.
When the city completed its Parks and Recreation Master Plan update in 2021, trails were one of the top citizen requests.
"I think it's really great that people have spoken and let us know that that's something important to them," Finley said. "That makes it easier to make it a priority — when we are able to point to reports and studies and surveys, that people are asking for these types of trails and projects. It helps our application, because we can show that's really something that the community supports."
