Stewart, Wald & Smith to host free Wekiva Trail meetings for nearby landowners

Stewart, Wald & Smith will hold two free informational meetings Sept. 2 in Mount Dora for property owners near the proposed Wekiva Trail Extension in Lake County. The sessions come as the project advances with local government support, a CSX corridor acquisition contract and applications for state and federal funding.

Why it matters: - Nearby landowners are being asked to weigh in on a proposed rail-trail corridor that could reshape transportation, utilities and land use in central Lake County. - The Wekiva Trail Extension is being framed not just as a recreational path, but as a corridor that could carry water, wastewater, reclaimed water, fiber optics and underground electric service. - The project’s progress also depends on public funding, land acquisition and the legal history of the railroad corridor.

What happened: - Stewart, Wald & Smith, LLC will host two complimentary informational meetings for landowners whose property adjoins the proposed Wekiva Trail Extension corridor in Lake County, Florida. - The meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. - The location is Premier Office Center, Main Conference Room, 18097 U.S. Highway 441, Building 100, Mount Dora, FL 32757. - The sessions are designed to explain the proposed project, the history of railroad corridors and how rail-trail projects move through planning.

The details: - Stewart, Wald & Smith is a national law firm that has spent more than two decades studying railroad corridor ownership and Rails-to-Trails issues. - The informational meetings will cover railroad rights-of-way, railroad ownership versus railroad easements, how many railroad corridors were originally acquired, the general rail-trail planning process, why historical deeds and railroad records matter, and common questions from adjoining landowners. - Attendees will be able to ask questions about the planning process and the history of the railroad corridor. - Project partners say the proposed Wekiva corridor has gained momentum over the past year through a partnership involving Lake County, the cities of Mount Dora and Tavares, and the Trust for Public Land. - Project partners have announced that the Trust for Public Land secured a contract with CSX Transportation to acquire about 11 miles of railroad corridor. - Plans call for an approximately 11.5-mile multi-use pathway that would connect Sorrento, Mount Dora and Tavares. - The corridor is also being advanced through applications for federal and state grant funding. - Local governments have approved pursuing a $25 million federal BUILD grant to help fund portions of the project. - The corridor is envisioned as part of a larger regional network serving Lake County.

Between the lines: - The meetings are as much about corridor ownership and property rights as they are about trail planning. - The focus on railroad easements and historical records suggests the legal status of the underlying land remains a key issue for neighbors. - The project’s utility and infrastructure role signals a broader public-works strategy beyond recreation alone. - Steven M. Wald, a founding member of Stewart, Wald & Smith, said adjoining landowners naturally want to understand what is being proposed when a community begins planning a rail-trail project.

What's next: - Stewart, Wald & Smith is encouraging adjoining landowners, neighborhood residents and others interested in the proposed Wekiva Trail Extension to attend one of the free meetings. - The meetings are intended to provide an overview of the project and answer general questions about railroad corridor history and rail-trail conversion. - More information is available at the firm's website or by calling (314) 720-0220.

The bottom line: - The Wekiva Trail Extension is moving forward, and nearby property owners are being given a chance to learn how the corridor was created, what the project could become and what the planning process may mean for them.