Thanks, and congratulations, to the City of Sarasota for successfully obtaining a Recreational Trails Program grant to build an extension of The Legacy Trail along the southern border of Payne Park, and along the northern side of Alderman Street. The grant is still subject to some environmental approvals, but these are not expected to be an issue.
This new trail segment will be 1,170 feet long and 14 feet wide. In addition to the trail, the project will include a shade shelter, benches, tables, bike rack, drinking fountain, lighting, informational signage, and landscaping. The total cost of the project is $897,000, of which $400,000 is the state grant award and $497,000 is the matching fund contributed by the city.
This extension, combined with the existing Brother Greenway Trail, is getting us closer to having a safe multiuse recreational trail connection from The Legacy Trail to Bayfront Park.
This video shows the installation of the bridge that will connect the new North Port Legacy Trail Connector to a new parking area at the intersection of West Price Blvd. and South Calera Street. The bridge will provide access to the southern end of the paved trail (map). Thanks again to FLT business member Brett Koppes (The Sarasota Drone Guy) for these amazing videos of the construction.
Official opening of Segments 1 and 2. From left to right: Nicole Rissler, Commissioner Michael Moran, County Commission Chair Alan Maio, Commissioner Christian Ziegler, Commissioner Ron Cutsinger and County Administrator Jonathan Lewis.Photo: From Sarasota County video.
With the opening of Segment 2, we now have a continuous 19.6-mile trail extending from Shamrock Park in the south to Bahia Vista Street in the north. The southern portion includes 3.9 miles of the mainland side of the Venetian Waterway Park. See map for the full picture.
The last segment of the extension, shown in green above, is expected to open around the beginning of December. This section will extend the trail another 2.8 miles to Payne Park and Fruitville Road.
Many thanks to Brett Koppes, “The Sarasota Drone Guy” for capturing these videos of the work and progress during construction of The Legacy Trail extension into downtown Sarasota.
Segment 1 of the Legacy Trail North Extension from Proctor Road to Bahia Vista is now open to the public!! In addition, the county has also opened sections of Segment 2 from Culverhouse Nature Park to Sawyer Loop Road, and from Proctor Road to just north of Ashton Road.
Since Friends of The Legacy Trail first proposed extending The Trail into downtown Sarasota in 2013, it has been a long, hard, campaign with many ups and downs along the way. The opening of Segment 1 represents a very significant milestone for our community and all who have supported and worked for the Extension.
Here are a few scenes showing how we got here:
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FLT Proposes Trail Extension to County Commissioners
Photo from Sarasoto News Leader Oct. 11, 2013
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Hundreds of Information Tables
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Meetings with County Commissioners
New Sign and Board Members
FLT Board Members Celebrate Purchase of First 2-Mile Rail Segment
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FLT Speakers Bureau Gave Many Presentations to Local Organizations
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Campaigning Everywhere
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Two of Our Biggest Supporters
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Thank You Sarasota County
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Election Day
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We Won!!
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Celebrating Purchase of Rail Corridor
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Groundbreaking for the North Extension
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Trail Clearing Begins
Segment 2 Clearing
Progress! Trail clearing proceeding on Segment 2 of the extension.
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Construction Begins
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Paving Begins on Segment 1
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New kiosk, palm trees, and pavement at Wilkinson Ave. Intersection
Groundbreaking for the paved section of the North Port Legacy Trail Connector was held this morning, Monday, June 6. FLT was represented at the event by (left) Sharon Donovan (FLT Newsletter Editor & NP Representative), (center) Louis Kosiba (FLT President), and (right) Rita Miotti (FLT vice-President).
FLT was thanked by everyone who spoke, including Nicole Rissler (Sarasota County Parks Department) and County Commissioners Alan Maio and Ron Cutsinger. It was a very positive event, which is what we all need these days!
