Update 7/9/20: Click here for video of event.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the start of construction of the north Legacy Trail Extension is scheduled for this Thursday July 9 at 10:30 a.m. Attendance at the event is restricted due to Covid-19 concerns, however, everyone can watch via a live event on the Sarasota County Facebook page.
Details for accessing this event are given below:
The rain has brought out many beautiful wild flowers along the sides of the Legacy Trail! Here are pictures of four (out of many) I noticed yesterday: butterfly-pea, morning glory, elderberry and lanceleaf coreopsis.
Be aware of any fire ant nests when you step off the Trail to look at the flowers (I speak from experience).
Photos and article by Darryl Lang
You see lots of different types of bicycles on the trail, but this is the first four wheel trike configured with 1:2:1 wheels. I spotted Don, Jo, and rear pilot Riley on a hot summer days ride along the Legacy Trail.
Don hand built this 115 pound rig from bicycle parts after Don and Jo tired of riding their tandem. It’s got electric assist in case they need a little push (!). The best part: they can enjoy the ride and the scenery while they carry on a constant conversation like they were, well, sitting next to each other.
Photos and article by Roger Normand.
Dreaming of the Tour De France, that is. I’d seen Paulo and young Gian Carlos riding at a good clip several times on the trail, sometimes Paulo in front, sometimes Gian leading. Interesting.
We chatted. They came down from Orlando to get in some good long rides along the Legacy trail. “Gian is 9 years old and loves to ride his bike and the science of training. Most days, we ride 30 to 60 miles together, and Gian has done a 90 mile ride. Gian can safely get in some long rides on the trail as there’s no cars. He wears a heart rate monitor to stay in his training zone.” Here’s to seeing him on the podium some day, Gian Carlos!
Photo and article by Roger Normand
Celebrating their 41st Anniversary over several bike rides to total 41 miles, the Margolis’s of Venice, FL, included their first trip to the end of the current Legacy Trail.
They commented, “What a treasure to have a path we can safely navigate without cars to experience native Florida flora and fauna. We can’t wait for the day we can ride to downtown Sarasota!” Won’t be long!
Article by Joan Attenberg
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.