Apalachee Park Set to Get $1.4 Million in Improvements

The Leon County Board of County Commissioner’s approved the bid for new construction of the Apalachee Regional Park entrance and other improvements. The approval awards the contract to Shaffield Building Specialties, in the amount of $1,349,448. Approximately $440,000 of the funding would come from the Tourism Development fund.

Approving the bid to begin construction on the Apalachee Regional Park Cross Country Facility supports the County’s strategic initiative to expand recreational amenities, working with FSU to host NCAA cross country national and regional competitions, enhance the County’s competitiveness in attracting national and regional championships for cross country, as well as other sports.  

The agenda item states “the scope of work for this project will include construction of a signature entry road with a roundabout, two new entrance signs with associated landscape and irrigation, and the milling and resurfacing of approximately 2,200 linear feet of existing asphalt entry roadway.”

The project also includes the construction of a Kayak Launch and Boardwalk adjacent to an existing water feature on the western side of the Regional Park parcel. Parking will also be provided at the launch.

Construction is anticipated to begin within the next 4-6 weeks and is expected to last roughly three months. Leon County Government recently announced plans to host seven major cross-country events at the Apalachee Regional Park. Including two national championships in the fall of 2021, the events are anticipated to bring over 35,000 visitors to Leon County and result in $10 million in direct spending.