Published: February 24, 2026
Bartow, Fla. (Feb. 24, 2026) – Polk County officials and project partners gathered Tuesday, Feb. 24, for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the Holloway Family Trail in Lakeland.
The Holloway Family Trail was the vision of the late Ed Holloway, Jr., a land developer and self-proclaimed outdoorsman who purchased 1,600 acres of previously mined land in Lakeland in 1990 for future development and wildlife conservation efforts.
In 2021, Holloway sold some of the 1,600 acres to Orlando Health for the Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital. As a self-proclaimed outdoorsman, Holloway always desired to see the connection of the Lakeland recreational trail system to the Fort Fraser Trail for many years. In continuation with Holloway’s vision, Orlando Health then donated the half-mile strip of land that runs parallel to the Polk Parkway which helped make the connection a reality.
“We’re extremely happy to have this wonderful new multi-use recreational trail as an addition to our existing Fort Fraser Trail system,” said Polk County Commission Chair Martha Santiago. “I am sure cyclists and walkers will love being able to now get from Bartow to downtown Lakeland via this trail.”
“I’m pleased to have a small part in nudging it [the project] along. It’s a beautiful facility, it ties our county and our cities together and it is a great testament to the Holloway family,” said former Polk County Commissioner George Lindsey.
Construction on the Holloway Family Trail began in July 2024. The project was funded with a $3.9 million state grant, including funds from the city of Lakeland and Polk County.
