(Conceptual Trail)
The proposed Main A Canal and the Phillippi Creek Trails provide a relatively inexpensive and easily built route to connect The Legacy Trail with the Celery Fields and neighborhoods east of I-75. The route is entirely on land already owned by the county and an existing I-75 bridge over Phillippi Creek provides a means of crossing I-75 at very little expense.
The map below shows the route from The Legacy Trail to the Sarasota Golf Club Blvd. In addition, check out the great birds-eye video of this route that has been created by Leon Thibeaut. In addition to showing the route, the video identifies the county-owned corridor and the extensive amount of county-owned property that exists along the route. Thanks Leon!
Video of Proposed Route
The Main A Canal Trail was identified in the 2006 Sarasota County Trails Master Plan. This trail would provide significant value at relatively low cost to the county:
- It would connect the Amish and Mennonite community of Pinecraft, and the Legacy Trail, to medical and commercial centers on Cattleman and Bee Ridge Roads.
- It would be relatively inexpensive to build because the county already owns the land. As indicated below, the 2008 Trails Master Plan estimated the cost of construction to be a little over one million dollars.
- It would be a scenic route along the waterway (see pictures below).
- Finally, the route would be eventually extended by connecting to the Phillippi Creek Trail that was introduced in the 2018 Trails Master Plan. (Actually, it makes sense to also call the Main A Canal Trail the Phillippi Creek Trail, since the Main A Canal is the extension of Phillippi Creek.)
Main A Canal Between McIntosh Road and Honore Avenue (Looking East)
Description in 2006 Sarasota County Trails Master Plan
Main A Trail – Canal
Location: From Beneva Road to Cattleman Road, along the Main A Drainage Canal
Experience: A multi-use greenway trail for bicycling, in-line skating, jogging and walking. The trail links major employment centers, Doctors Hospital, and large residential neighborhoods such as Pinecraft, Colonial Oaks, and Sarasota Springs. The trail also links Colonial Oaks Park, and Cattleman Community Center. Connects to Circus Trail and Rails-to-Trails Corridor at the North end.
Length: 3.42 miles
Design Guidelines: The trail will be paved throughout the corridor. The trail will be located in the Main A Drainage canal easement requiring additional access rights. Crossover bridges will have to be considered for access to the trail from adjacent subdivisions. User crossing will have to be addressed at Bahia Vista Street and McIntosh Road. Additional ROW acquisition may be required.
Costs: $1,026,000
Partnerships: Sarasota County Government
Phillippi Creek Trail
This trail was not mentioned in the 2006 Trails Master Plan, but now appears in the current 2018 Master Plan.
Description in 2018 Sarasota County Trails Master Plan
Main Canal A, South
From: The Legacy Trail near Pinecraft
To: Doctors Hospital of Sarasota
Trail / Pathway Type: Shared Use Path
Improvement Type: New facility
Description: The Main Canal A, South will serve as a connection between the Doctors Hospital, Phillippi Creek Canal Trail, Colonial Oaks Park, and neighborhoods in Sarasota Springs.
Phillippi Creek Trail
From: Main A Canal, South
To: The Regional Trail at Cow Pen Slough
Trail / Pathway Type: Natural Surface Trail
Improvement Type: Proposed Trail
Description: The Phillippi Creek Trail will connect Regional Trail, Celery Fields Trail and Main A Canal, South Trail into a seamless recreational network across the eastern and mostly undeveloped part of Sarasota County. Multiple communities will be able to utilize this network of trails.
Trail Priorities in 2018
Sarasota County Trails Master Plan
