A 10-acre stretch of mangroves and uplands along the Peace River in Punta Gorda sits where the river opens into Charlotte Harbor. Now the city wants to change that, pursuing federal funding to transform Trabue Park into what officials describe as an active public park with new amenities for residents and visitors.
According to Tampa Free Press, the city is seeking a grant through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program, known as ORLP, to fund improvements at the park. The proposal includes adding an outdoor National Fitness Campaign fitness court, accessible walking pathways, and a pedestrian link connecting the grounds to the city's Harborwalk network, per the same report. The site is currently a passive space, with the City of Punta Gorda noting that it contains 10 acres of mangroves and uplands located along the Peace River east of U.S. 41, featuring observation decks and a multi-use recreational trail.
The park already plays a role in the city's broader trail network. It serves as a trailhead for the Harborwalk East section of the Punta Gorda Pathway, according to the city's facility listing. The city's long-term plans call for eventually developing the parcel into a gateway park, the facility directory states.
Political Support and a Looming Federal Decision
U.S. Rep. Greg Steube has thrown his support behind the city's bid, sending a letter on Oct. 6 urging the National Park Service to approve Punta Gorda's ORLP application, Tampa Free Press reported. Steube said the project would give residents more opportunities to enjoy Punta Gorda's waterfront, per the outlet's reporting.
The city's application will not be reviewed in isolation. The National Park Service will weigh Punta Gorda's proposal alongside applicants from across the country before announcing grant recipients, according to Tampa Free Press. That competition is steep: about 100 cities or tribes typically apply for ORLP grants in a given funding round, and roughly 40 are chosen, per Smart Cities Dive. Recipients for this funding round are expected to be selected by May 1, 2027, the outlet reports.
Eligible applicants must be cities, counties or tribes with populations of at least 25,000, and awards generally range between $300,000 and $15 million, the same report notes. Grants can be used for parks, playgrounds, sports fields and courts, trails, water-based recreation areas and amphitheaters. Applications flow through a state lead agency before reaching the program's review board, with any awarded funds distributed to the municipality through that same state agency.
Local Dollars Already on the Table
Punta Gorda has identified local matching funds to cover the grant program's required non-federal cost share, according to Tampa Free Press. Separately, the city has flagged $1.641 million for Trabue Park improvements through a proposed Local Option 1% Sales Tax extension, according to Gulfshore Business. That measure, pending voter approval in a Nov. 3 referendum, would send 10% of the collected revenue to the city, with the remainder going to Charlotte County. The same sales-tax package includes $4 million for Harborwalk improvements along its 2.5-mile multiuse trail.
U.S. Rep. Greg Steube said the park modernization effort is intended to spur broader revitalization on Punta Gorda's east side, Tampa Free Press reported. The area saw local declines following Hurricane Milton and has since been the focus of community recovery efforts. The park's renaming also carries local history: it was previously known as Mangrove Park before being renamed to honor Isaac Trabue, a founding father of Punta Gorda, according to the city's facility directory.
How the Federal Program Fits the Bigger Picture
ORLP has become a go-to funding source for cities looking to redevelop underused green space. Since its creation in 2014, the program has distributed 160 grants worth a total of $465 million nationwide, per Smart Cities Dive. The program gives priority to projects in economically disadvantaged areas and places lacking outdoor recreation opportunities, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Similar projects elsewhere show the range of waterfront park efforts. In Camden, New Jersey, there is also a North Camden Waterfront Park project. Whether Punta Gorda's bid for Trabue Park will see similar federal backing remains in the National Park Service's hands as review of this funding round continues.
