Legacy Trail Extension
Breaks Ground

Less than two years after the passage of the bond referendum to support the Legacy Trail extension, Sarasota County is set to break ground on the construction of the Legacy Trail extension. On July 9, the county will livestream its groundbreaking ceremony from its Facebook page. Per Covid-19 restrictions, the ceremony is closed to the public. Details on accessing this event will be made available through FLT's social media channels and through the county. Sign up for the county's Legacy Trail notices here.

The extension project has been divided into three segments. Construction on the first phase, from Proctor Road to Bahia Vista Street with a trailhead at Webber Street, begins this month. Construction on the second and third phases is currently scheduled to begin in September. The second segment extends from the current northern terminus of the trail at Culverhouse Nature Park to Proctor Road with a trailhead at Ashton Road. The third segment goes from Bahia Vista Street to Ringling Boulevard with a trailhead at Pompano Avenue. The ground-level work is expected to be completed in 2022, and the bridge overpasses at Clark Road and Bee Ridge Road will follow. 

Friends of The Legacy Trail commends the county for its diligence in moving this project forward, despite a global pandemic. "This is some good news we can all celebrate during these difficult times," said Louis Kosiba, FLT board president. "This is a tremendous asset to this community that we can all look forward to." 

On June 25, the county's public meeting about the Legacy Trail was held for the first time via Zoom due to Covid-19 restrictions. In addition to information about the construction timeline, the county informed attendees about potential trail amenities, such as food trucks, dining areas, and shade shelters. The county is also planning ahead and designing parts of the trail for the future possibility of adding hard-packed walking paths that would parallel some portions of the paved trail, allowing more room for users; however, this would require separate sources of funding. In the meantime, grass berms will be installed alongside the paved trail. Access to the recorded public meeting can be found on the right side of the page here.

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An interpretative sign (right) was recently installed at the South Creek Stop Station and Learning Center. The sign provides trail users with information about the history of the Legacy Trail, the historic train trestle nearby, and the Seaboard Air Line Railway that ran through the area. A family from Ohio (left) stopped to read the new sign and take advantage of the rest area. 

The groundbreaking for the Legacy Trail extension is just around the corner, and, as Winston Churchill once said, this is "the end of the beginning." The "beginning" I am referring to covers the period between the passage of the referendum to fund the extension on November 6, 2018, and the groundbreaking on July 9, 2020. For the casual observer, this may have seemed like a period of inactivity. But, on the contrary, work has been going on behind the scenes at a rapid pace.

After the referendum passed, Sarasota County undertook due diligence to establish clear title to the property, work out contractual details, and conduct surveying. The first bonds for the project were sold in June 2019, and the land was purchased shortly thereafter. The right of way varies between 100 and 200 feet. The extension was placed in a federal railroad land bank that allows development of the trail extension. Importantly, the federal government agreed to defend all litigation and assumed all financial liability for adverse legal claims by adjacent landowners.

A second wave of work then began, undertaken by surveyors, designers, and engineers hired by the county. Hundreds of property owners had encroachments on the right of way consisting of things like fences, patios, and pools. These needed to be addressed. Meanwhile, the railroad had roughly six months (ending in December 2019) to remove any of its equipment, rails, or ties.

Design and engineering work resulted in multiple sets of plans that were reviewed by county staff at various stages. Several public hearings were held in Sarasota, North Port, and locations in between. Numerous concerns from adjacent landowners were addressed. And don't forget the completion of applications for permits! Even county government needs to obtain permits from city, state, and federal agencies. Construction plans and specifications were developed and then advertised for prospective contractors to bid on the construction. Proposals submitted by construction companies were evaluated, and contracts were reviewed and approved. Layer on top of that the unexpected: Covid-19 with its accompanying disruptions to government and business operations. 

You can see that the "beginning" was a busy time indeed. Now we are at the end of the beginning. The next two years will see construction work all along the extension. I call this the "middle period," when the tangible work is undertaken. It may have seemed quiet, but progress has been made behind the scenes. Soon the segments will be completed and opened to the public.

This project has been fast-tracked by the Board of Sarasota County Commissioners, and it has been a top priority of multiple county departments and staff. The Friends of The Legacy Trail would like to acknowledge the commitment and hard work of the Board of Sarasota County Commissioners and county staff. Without them, this magnificent park would not be possible. The trail is truly a legacy for us and for future users not yet born. I can't wait until it is done.

Two new water fountains were recently installed adjacent to the Legacy Trail. The one on the right is at the Bellacina neighborhood, and the one on the left, after the bridge on the left, is at the Legacy Estates neighborhood. The fountains were installed by these communities as part of an agreement that allows them direct access to the trail.

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📝 Stories from the Trail 📝

Friends of The Legacy Trail wants to hear from you!
Have a good trail story to tell? Want to share what the trail means to you? We will be running some of these stories in our upcoming newsletters. Submit your stories (200 words or less) to news@friendsofthelegacytrail.org.