Trail News

Tips for staying safe on the Legacy trail

At this time, our community is encouraged to stay close to home and limit their interactions. During these challenging times, we understand the need to get outside, soak up some fresh air and get exercise.  When enjoying The Legacy Trail, there are several actions you can take to keep yourself and others safe:

  • Follow the CDC’s minimum recommended social distancing of 6 feet.
  • Keep single-file when walking or biking
  • Avoid congregating
  • If there are people at a stop station, keep going
  • If the trailhead looks busy, come another time
  • Bring your own water so you don’t have to use drinking fountains
  • Practice “pack it in, pack it out” so you don’t have to use the trash receptacles
  • Bring hand wipes or sanitizer

And finally, be smart, stay safe and don’t travel far from home. Our hospitals, resources and emergency services are being utilized in other capacities.  It’s important to keep yourself safe while recreating.

Sarasota County is closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources (PRNR) is in regular communication with the county Health Department and continues to receive updates related to its operations.
Things are changing daily, so for the latest information on COVID-19 in Sarasota County, please visit scgov.net/COVID. 

Tour de Parks

Tour De Parks 2020 Cancellation and Refunds

Save the Date: The 2021 Tour de Parks Ride Has Now Been Scheduled for March 21, 2021 .

Dear 2020 Tour de Parks Registrant,

We hope this finds you and your family safe and healthy.

Friends of the Legacy Trail (FLT) and Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club (SMBC) have been working hard to determine what the best next steps are for this year’s postponed March 22nd Tour de Parks (TdP). We have surveyed Sarasota County leadership, vendors, volunteers, and riders, and we recognize that many people are not here in Sarasota during the fall. As a result, we have decided to move the event to its regularly scheduled weekend date of March 21, 2021. This will allow the maximum number of riders and volunteers to continue to make this event the exceptional tradition that it has become.

We realize that not all of us know if we will be able to ride next year, but hope that the majority of riders will be able to. We are proposing that all 2020 registrants roll this year’s registration over to next year’s event, and guarantee those who do so will get a shirt at next year’s ride. Please note that we will be using the 2020 t-shirts for the 2021 ride. The t-shirts cost more than $6,500, and as a non-profit, we cannot just toss them and start over.

  • If you do not want to keep your current registration and would like a refund now, all registrants can receive the $45-$55 TdP cost (depending on when you registered). (Note that we are unable to refund the added processing fees that were paid to Active Network.) If you later determine you are unable to ride on March 21, 2021, you may submit a refund request by March 1, 2021, and we will refund your money after the ride. Please contact Michelle Stanley at treasurer@friendsofthelegacytrail.org to submit a refund request.
  • Another option is to donate your entry fee to FLT/SMBC. Both groups do important work to promote and sponsor biking in the area. If you would like a tax letter noting this donation, please contact our treasurer, Michelle Stanley, at the above email address.

Thank you for your patience while we sorted out these details and thank you for supporting cycling in the Sarasota County area. Please stay safe.

Past Events

Giving Challenge 2020

Double or Triple Your Donation to Support The Legacy Trail

Once every two years this unique 24-hour event enables all donors to maximize the value of their contributions to Friends of The Legacy Trail.

Every donation of $25-$100 is matched by The Patterson Foundation.

In addition, two FLT board donors will also match all $25-$100 donations up to a total of $2000.  Therefore the first $2000 in donations will then equal $6000!

If you have been thinking of making a donation to support The Legacy Trail, please take advantage of this opportunity to leverage your donation.

Trail News

FLT Donates a Debris Blower to County

FLT President Louis Kosiba (left) & Sam Wright, Trail Coordinator for Sarasota County, PRNR.

Your Donation Dollars at Work

After discussion with management of Sarasota County Parks, FLT has purchased and donated to the county a Stand-On Debris Blower for use on The Trail. Mowing & storms cause The Trail to be littered with debris. This will help to make the trail safer and also help to prevent flat tires.

Check out this video to see this amazing machine in action!

Past Events

2020 Sharky’s Ride the beaches

This Event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

More Information and Registration

Ride Benefits:

✅ Team Tony, a local Sarasota based foundation helping, hands on those going though cancer treatment and their families.

✅ Friends of the Legacy Trail, dedicated to the maintenance and expansion of Sarasota County’s best cycling asset, the Legacy Trail Park.

✅ Livestrong Foundation, helping people nationwide finding the resources and strength to fight cancer.

Trail News

The Legacy Trail South Creek Stop Station and Learning Area is Now Officially Open

A celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony were held on Friday November 15 to mark the official opening. We hope all trail users will enjoy this new trail amenity sponsored by the Jelks Foundation and Friends of The Legacy Trail. See map here for location.

Darryl Lang cuts the ribbon. Darryl is the FLT board member who initiated and coordinated this project. Thanks Darryl and all who contributed!
Past Events

2019 Tour de North Port

10th Annual Tour de North Port, Sunday, October 20.

Registration – now open for this annual fun, organized, on-road scenic bicycle ride with routes of 15, 35, or 65 miles. Travel through some of North Port’s most beautiful, natural settings: Florida pine flatwoods & parks that border the Myakkahatchee Creek –each route has its own color-coded road markings. Sponsored by People for Trees. More info and registration here.

Extension News, Trail News

“Race to Completion” Begins for Next Phase of The Legacy Trail

by Jay Castle
June 28, 2019

Unveiling of The Legacy Trail Extension bond. From left to right: Sarasota County Commissioners Michael Moran, Nancy Detert, and Charles Hines, and Nichole Rissler, Director of Sarasota County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources

On your mark…get set…GO! Officials from Sarasota County, City of Sarasota, City of North Port, and other honored guests kicked off the “Race to Completion” of the Legacy Trail with food, speeches and interactive exhibits.

This special event marked the County’s acquisition of the right of way for the Trail extension from the Culverhouse Nature Center, just south of Clark Road, north up to Fruitville Road. Attendees enjoyed a lovely summer morning in Payne Park while receiving the latest information on the property acquisition as well as construction plans.

Sarasota County Commissioner Charles Hines

Sarasota County Commission Chair Charles Hines told the assembled crowd that “the Trail offers a chance to commune with nature, it builds a sense of community, and it honors the rich history of our County… that’s why we voters overwhelmingly approved the bond referendum. It showed us … that [the Trail] is just as important to our community as anything else…It is paramount to our Board to get this project up and running as quickly as possible.”

Nichole Rissler, Director, Park, Recreation and Natural Resources

Sarasota County Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Director Nicole Rissler added that “Since the passing of the referendum, Sarasota County staff have worked tirelessly – and I really mean tirelessly – to bring the Legacy Trail extension to life…when complete, the extension will create nearly 30 miles of continuous, non-motorized, paved, multi-use trail enhancing connectivity from North Port through Venice to downtown Sarasota and include improvements such as crossings and overpasses at Clark Road and at Bee Ridge, amenities, and increased accessibility.”

Friends of Legacy Trail (FLT) has played an integral part in this process, and we participated in the “Race To Completion” kickoff by sharing information and handouts with attendees. FLT President Louis Kosiba noted that “this is a great day for the Legacy Trail. The County has now acquired the land we need for the extension into downtown Sarasota, and it won’t be too long before Trail users can travel directly from North Port through the Venice Train Depot to Payne Park. Our early vision from way back in 2008 is growing clearer and closer to reality.”

For more information, go to here and here.

Past Events

Celebrate the Purchase of The Trail Corridor

Join Us — Commissioners, Staff, and Friends of The Legacy Trail — as we Celebrate the Purchase of the Trail Extension Corridor into Downtown Sarasota and Begin the “RACE TO COMPLETION” of The Trail!

  • Where:  East side of Payne Park (map)
  • When:  This Friday June 28 | 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.

**Wear Your “Extend the Trail” Yellow Shirt to Show Your Support.**

Coffee and snacks will be available.

It’s Been a Long Road to Get to This Milestone.  Let’s Celebrate!!

Friends of The Legacy Trail