For Immediate Release
Wellington, FL – February 12, 2021 – The Lake Worth Road Right of Way Bridle Trail, also known as the Sunnyland Canal Trail in Palm Beach Point, is one of the most unique and desirable publicly accessible bridle trails in all of Wellington, Florida. Used by thousands of horses and riders every year, the trail is at risk due to two adjacent landowners who petitioned the Village of Wellington and ACME Improvement District Board, current managers and owners of the land, to give the land to them. Action is needed by Wellington equestrians and residents who want to keep the trail system open for everyone and avoid setting a dangerous precedent that could put other Wellington trails at risk.
How Can The Community Help? Four ways:
1. Sign the Petition – CLICK HERE! Then, share the petition on social media! (add button)
2. Attend the public meeting – as many people as possible are needed to show up in person on Tuesday, February 23, at 7 p.m. at the City Hall (12300 Forest Hill Blvd.) Can’t attend in person? We will send out further information from the Village that should include call-in information.
3. Make a video petition – Make a video clip (15-30 seconds) and post on the Preserve Wellington Bridle Trails Facebook page of why you support the bridle trail system and believe that the land should be kept as a public trail for everyone to use.
4. Send an email letter – the best piece of support to show the Village of Wellington that the equestrian community still cares about the trail system is a letter to the Village.
Email a Letter!
Please email the public officials below in the next day or two with the following information:
1. Your name and address where you reside/ride in Wellington
2. Details on your equestrian pursuits here in Wellington
3. How many years you or your friends have been enjoying this bridle trail
4. Your request that they DO NOT abandon this bridle trail/ “Right of Way”
5. Your request for this bridle trail to officially be part of the Village Bridle Trail System
Wellington/ACME Public Officials:
Mayor Anne Gerwig: agerwig@wellingtonfl.gov
Vice-Mayor Tanya Siskind: tsiskind@wellingtonfl.gov
Councilman John McGovern: jmcgovern@wellingtonfl.gov
Councilman Michael Napoleone: mnapoleone@wellingtonfl.gov Councilman Michael Drahos: mdrahos@wellingtonfl.gov
Village Manager Jim Barnes: jbarnes@wellingtonfl.gov
Why Is This Important?
The Lake Worth Road Right of Way on the North side of the C-24 Canal in Palm Beach Point has been used by equestrians in Wellington for at least 32 years as a bridle trail. It is openly used by all equestrians in Wellington, not just those in Palm Beach Point. The Equestrian Element of Wellington’s Comprehensive Plan has always placed a high value on adding bridle trails, not eliminating them. Abandoning this trail could allow adjacent property owners to fence off public access, which could be devastating to the entire equestrian community now and to the future.
The LWR ROW Bridle Trail in Palm Beach Point is one of the most unique and desirable publicly accessible trails in all of Wellington due to its generous one-hundred-twenty-foot width (120’) and its extraordinary one-half-mile length. It enables equestrians to work their horse at any gait, including a full gallop, on both the straightaway, in a circle, figure eight or other training pattern. It also allows riders to safely pass while traveling in opposite directions. The highly unique 120’ width also helps maintain the rideable grass surface since traffic is spread over a very large area. Most of the public trails in Wellington are much narrower which decreases rideability due to the greater wear generated by more traffic over a lesser area.
How Is This Happening?
Late in 2020, two landowners petitioned ACME/Village of Wellington to abandon the bridle trail in front of their properties and give the land to them. As such, this could close off the large canal trail along Sunnyland and extend their property with additional paddocks or other uses that could block the trail.
Take Action Today!
Help preserve this special part of Wellington today by signing the petition, sending a letter to the Village of Wellington public officials, and make your plan to attend the public meeting on February 23. For more information, visit the Preserve Wellington Bridle Trails Facebook page or email Glen Fleischer at SaveSunnylandTrails@gmail.com.