Bob Deakin Short Stories

A runner takes advantage of the Lake Fran Bike Trail. Photo by Bob Deakin

The Lake Fran Bike Trail is located in the Malibu Groves neighborhood in west Orlando and surrounded by Colonial Drive (S.R. 50) to the north, S. Kirkman Rd. to the west and I-4 to the east and south. To find it, even with a GPS, is like following foot prints on the beach. There is no “Lake Fran Park” by designation, and only a tiny map of the trail available after a deep search on the Internet thanks to David’s World Cycle franchise of Central Florida.

Lake Fran, of course, is the main attraction. It is a 70-acre man-made lake created for water quality treatment and flood control and bordered to the west by a thick cover of native trees and vegetation, while the east side encompasses a curiously long, concrete-covered utility easement. It is a stark contrast in scenery from one side to the other; one a rural setting and the other urban. The shorelines reflect the contrast with the east dotted with debris and the west virtually pristine.

The official address to the bike trail is 2274 Mantilla Ave., which is a path between two homes with concrete barriers, about a mile west of S. John Young Pkwy. There is no parking near the trail, requiring a hike or ride from one of the nearby parks or stores, which essentially makes it a bike-only destination except for residents of the neighborhood.

The trail itself spans only two miles but branches off in several directions toward nearby parks and schools. A proposed plan calls for it to eventually connect with a larger chain of parks and schools as part of the 33-mile Shingle Creek Trail from the West Orange Trail to Kissimmee. For now, cyclists must navigate through congested city streets to reach the Lake Fran Bike Trail, and the two-mile stretch of trail is barely a sneeze for most. For runners, cyclists or rollerbladers who live in the immediate area, the trail is convenient to get off the main roads and cut through to adjoining neighborhoods and parks.

Lake Fran Bike Trail is not a recommend destination for those who must travel to get there. The trail travels between residential homes from both ends to get to the lake, with many barking dogs along the way. On a recent visit, the music blaring from one of the homes could be heard from more than a half mile away. Although the benches and canopies are in good condition, beer cans and trash are visible throughout the trail, the path is filled with cracks and the eastern shore of the lake is lined with litter and dead fish.

On a positive note, the western end of the trail is unblemished, particularly the southwestern stretch toward Eagle’s Nest Elementary School. Lots of exotic birds can be seen in the tree-lined shores, and the park appears to be a very welcome respite from urban congestion for residents of the area. No signage indicates the presence of the trail and mileage markers painted on the path are the only indicators of distance traveled.

One pleasantly quirky aspect of the neighborhood is the street names. Most are named in honor of famous athletes from the mid-20th Century, particularly boxers and baseball players. Names found on the signs include Cassius, Patterson, Liston, Willie Mays, Roseboro, Cepeda, Owens and many more.

The Lake Fran Bike Trail, like so many others in and around the Greater Orlando area, is a small link in a much larger proposed chain. For those in the Malibu Groves neighborhood, it is a pleasant getaway and a convenient shortcut. For those outside the neighborhood, wait until the chain is complete.

Originally published on Examiner.com Orlando in 2010

Copyright 2010