Legacy Trail (Florida)
{{short description|Multi-use recreational trail in Sarasota County, Florida}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox hiking trail
|name = Legacy Trail
|photo = Legacy Trail @ 681.jpg
|caption = Legacy Trail near State Road 681 overpass
|location = Sarasota County, Florida
|map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|type=line|from=Legacy Trail Sarasota.map}}
|map_caption = Legacy Trail highlighted in green
|trailheads = {{bulleted list
|Payne Park
|Pompano Trailhead
|Sarasota Springs
|Ashton Trailhead
|Culverhouse Nature Park
|Osprey Junction Trailhead
|Laurel Park
|Nokomis Community Park
|Patriots Park
|Historic Venice Train Depot}}
|ROW = Seminole Gulf Railway
|maintainer = Sarasota County
|use = Shared-use for walking and cycling
|surface = Asphalt
|season = Year round
|months = Year round
|sights = Payne Park, Oscar Scherer State Park, Venice Train Depot
|hazards = Weather, at-grade pedestrian crossing at vehicular thoroughfares
|website = {{URL|https://www.scgov.net/LegacyTrail|scgov.net/LegacyTrail}}
}}
The Legacy Trail is an {{convert|18.5|mi|adj=on}} multi-use recreational rail trail connecting Sarasota and Venice, Florida. It runs along a former portion of the Seminole Gulf Railway corridor (most of which was originally a Seaboard Air Line Railroad corridor). The trail runs from the Historic Venice Train Depot to Fruitville Road in Sarasota.{{cite web |title=Sarasota County Trails Plan |url=https://www.scgov.net/government/public-works/bicycle-and-pedestrian-plans |agency=Sarasota County Government |access-date=April 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405025359/https://www.scgov.net/government/public-works/bicycle-and-pedestrian-plans |archive-date=April 5, 2018 |url-status=live}} The original segment of the trail from Venice to Palmer Ranch opened in 2008 and it was extended to downtown Sarasota in 2022.
Route description
File:Legacy Trail in Sarasota.jpg
The Legacy Trail begins in Venice at the Historic Venice Train Depot. At the depot, which now operates as a bus terminal for Breeze Transit, the trail connects to the Venetian Waterway Park (which runs south along the Intracoastal Waterway to the Gulf of Mexico).
From the Venice Depot, the trail runs north along the former rail corridor, crosses over the U.S. 41 Venice Bypass on an overpass, and enters Nokomis. North of Nokomis, it crosses Dona Bay and passes through Laurel. Another overpass carries the trail over Laurel Road.
North of Laurel, the trail passes underneath State Road 681 and runs through Oscar Scherer State Park, where it connects to the park's trails. It continues north through Osprey and passes Culverhouse Nature Park near Palmer Ranch.
The trail crosses Clark Road just north of Palmer Ranch and continues north through Bee Ridge and Sarasota Springs.
The trail crosses Bahia Vista Street and Phillippi Creek before turning west toward downtown Sarasota. At Shade Avenue, a short spur continues west to School Avenue while the main trail turns north and passes Payne Park before terminating at Fruitville Road.{{cite web |title=Trailhead Parking and Other Information |url=https://www.friendsofthelegacytrail.org/map-page-2/ |website=Friends of the Legacy Trail |access-date=May 19, 2021}}
=Historic elements=
{{stack|File:Legacy Trail Railroad Mast.jpg}}
The Legacy Trail references its past as the area's railroad corridor. The trail's milepost numbers (numbered 885–902) correspond to the railroad's original mile numbering. Original trestle bridge crossings remain at South Creek (near Oscar Scherer State Park), Phillippi Creek, and a creek near Beneva Road.{{cite web |title=The Legacy Trail Bicycle Trail in Sarasota from Sarasota to Osprey and Venice, Florida |url=http://www.ospreyfla.com/legacy_trail.html|access-date=April 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051432/http://www.ospreyfla.com/legacy_trail.html|archive-date=December 22, 2017|url-status=live}} Information plaques are placed along the trail detailing the history of the railroad corridor. Roadway crossings on the original segment include decorative railroad crossing signals with crossbucks reading Sarasota Rail Trail.
North Port Connector
A separate trail connects the Legacy Trail to North Port in southern Sarasota County. The North Port Connector runs for 5.5 miles and begins at Price Boulevard in North Port.{{cite web |title=Legacy Trail Extension and North Port Connector |url=https://www.kimley-horn.com/project/legacy-trail-extension-north-port-connector/ |website=Kimley Horn |access-date=28 December 2024}} It heads north through Deer Prairie Creek Preserve before turning west and paralleling Interstate 75 for over almost four miles. The North Port Connector ends at Forbes Trail and from here, trail users use surface streets and roads (South Moon Drive, Border Road, Edmondson Road, and Florence Street) to access the main Legacy Trail. Florence Street connects to the main Legacy Trail at Nokomis Riverview Park.{{cite web |title=Legacy Trail Connector to North Port |url=https://friendsofthelegacytrail.org/legacy-trail-connector-to-north-port/ |website=Friends of The Legacy Trail |access-date=28 December 2024}}
History
File:Legacy Trail South Creek Trestle.JPG over South Creek along the trail near Oscar Scherer State Park]]
The railroad line from School Avenue (on the trail's spur) to a point near Beneva Road was initially built in 1903 by Seaboard Air Line Railroad (via their Florida West Shore Railway subsidiary) and was extended south from there to Venice in 1911. Track from Shade Avenue north to Fruitville Road was built in 1927 by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (via their Tampa Southern Railroad subsidiary). The Atlantic Coast Line tracks ran directly beside the Seaboard Air Line tracks between Shade Avenue and Beneva Road before the former continued east out of the city. The two parallel railroad lines were consolidated onto the route the trail follows today in 1967 when the Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air Line merged and became the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (which later became part of CSX Transportation).{{cite book |last=Turner |first=Gregg M. |title=Railroads of Southwest Florida |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |series=Images of America |date=December 1, 1999}}
In Venice, the railroad line was integral to the city's history and benefited the city's economy. The railroad was used by cadets and faculty of the Kentucky Military Institute for winter classes from 1933 to 1970, transported patients to Fred H. Albee's Florida Medical Center from 1932 to 1942, transported goods and servicemen to Venice Army Air Field during {{nowrap|World War II}}, and used by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which was headquartered in Venice from 1959 to 1992.{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasotacircushistory.com/articles/circusinvenice.php |title=The Circus in Venice, Florida |website=Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau |access-date=November 3, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111029142912/http://www.sarasotacircushistory.com/articles/circusinvenice.php |archive-date=October 29, 2011}} The circus was the last consistent service the rail line carried.
Owing to decreased demand for service and the heavily deteriorated condition of the tracks and bridges, CSX Transportation and Seminole Gulf Railway, who had been leasing the line from CSX since 1987, came to an agreement with Sarasota County to abandon the railroad line south of Palmer Ranch. In return, Sarasota County, in conjunction with The Trust for Public Land, purchased and acquired the right of way in December 2004 for $11.75 million to use as a public recreational trail.{{cite web |url=https://www.mctlaw.com/federal-takings/rails-to-trails-conversions/sarasota-legacy-trail-claims/ |title=Sarasota County Legacy Trail Conversion Claims |website=Maglio Christopher & Toale |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327213346/https://www.mctlawyers.com/federal-takings/rails-to-trails/sarasota-legacy-trail-claims/ |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |access-date=April 9, 2020}} The original {{convert|10|mile|adj=on}} segment of Legacy Trail from Venice to Culverhouse Nature Park near Palmer Ranch opened to the public on March 28, 2008.{{cite web |title=The Legacy Trail Referendum |url=https://www.scgov.net/government/parks-recreation-and-natural-resources/the-legacy-trail-referendum |agency=Sarasota County Government |access-date=April 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407053812/https://www.scgov.net/government/parks-recreation-and-natural-resources/the-legacy-trail-referendum |archive-date=April 7, 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.scgov.net/parks/Pages/LegacyTrail.aspx |title=Pages - Legacy Trail |agency=Sarasota County Government |access-date=April 7, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620192143/https://www.scgov.net/parks/Pages/LegacyTrail.aspx |archive-date=June 20, 2013}}
Image:Legacy Trail Overpass.jpg
In 2011, a pedestrian overpass was built to carry the trail over the U.S. 41 Venice Bypass, a major six-lane highway. The $3.1 million overpass is {{convert|18|ft|m}} tall, spans {{convert|900|ft|m}}, and was built with federal stimulus funding.{{cite web |title=Cyclists cheer Venice's Legacy Trail Overpass |first=Thomas |last=Becnel |website=Sarasota Herald Tribune |date=November 4, 2011 |url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20111104/ARTICLE/111109765?tc=ar |access-date=April 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924130949/http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20111104/ARTICLE/111109765?tc=ar |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live}} Another pedestrian overpass constructed by FDOT over Laurel Road started construction in November 2017 and was completed in late 2018.
In early 2017, Seminole Gulf Railway and CSX announced their intention to abandon an additional {{convert|9|mi}} of the remaining southern segment of the railroad up to a point just south of Fruitville Road. In December 2017, Sarasota County, in conjunction with The Trust for Public Land, purchased and acquired {{convert|2.7|mi}} of the former railroad corridor right of way for $7.9 million, which extended the county's ownership of the corridor up to Ashton Road, approximately {{convert|1/2|mi|km|spell=in}} north of Clark Road.{{cite news |title=Land acquired for Legacy Trail extension |url=https://www.scgov.net/Home/Components/News/News/3299/23?seldept=13 |access-date=April 4, 2018 |agency=Sarasota County Government |date=December 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405024437/https://www.scgov.net/Home/Components/News/News/3299/23?seldept=13 |archive-date=April 5, 2018 |url-status=live}}
In November 2018, Sarasota County voters approved a referendum to acquire and improve {{convert|6.3|mi}} of the former railroad corridor, extending the trail and constructing the North Port Connector.{{cite web |url=https://www.scgov.net/government/capital-projects/legacy-trail-update |title=Legacy Trail Update |website=Sarasota County Government |date=June 7, 2019 |access-date=June 18, 2019}} By early 2020, Seminole Gulf removed tracks and signals from the corridor, and construction for the trail expansion started shortly after.
The first segments of the northern extension, which include the segment from the original trail at Culverhouse Nature Park to Sawyer Loop Road and the segment from Ashton Road to Bahia Vista Street, opened on July 8, 2021.{{cite news |last1=Kimel |first1=Earle |title=Northern portion of Legacy Trail now open for use, parking limited to neighboring parks |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2021/07/08/sarasota-county-opens-northern-segment-legacy-trail/7897565002/ |access-date=July 16, 2021 |work=Sarasota Herald Tribune |date=July 8, 2021}} The segment from Sawyer Loop Road to Ashton Road opened on October 7, 2021.{{cite news |last1=Kimel |first1=Earle |title=Legacy Trail now open from Bahia Vista Street to Shamrock Park |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2021/10/07/sarasota-county-opens-latest-segments-legacy-trail-linear-park/6011655001/ |access-date=October 20, 2021 |work=Sarasota Herald Tribune |date=October 7, 2021}} The final segment from Bahia Vista Street to Fruitville Road opened on March 3, 2022.{{cite news |last1=Kimel |first1=Earle |title=Legacy Trail now extends to Payne Park in Sarasota; trailhead also opens at Webber Street |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2022/03/03/legacy-trail-opens-payne-park-along-two-trailheads/9351429002/ |access-date=March 8, 2022 |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |date=March 3, 2022}} The North Port Connector opened on September 9, 2022.
Future
The Florida Department of Transportation is currently building overpasses for the trail at Clark Road and Bee Ridge Road. They are planned to be completed in 2025.{{cite news |title=Construction almost finished on Legacy Trail overpasses |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxJr4C2rXuQ |access-date=December 28, 2024 |work=WTSP |date=December 20, 2024}}
The North Port Connector is planned to be extended south from Price Boulevard south to Warm Mineral Springs with completion planned in the 2030-31 fiscal year.{{cite news |last1=Kimel |first1=Earle |title=Legacy Trail connector to Warm Mineral Springs a priority for Sarasota, Manatee region |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/venice/2024/12/05/warm-mineral-springs-link-to-legacy-trail-now-eligible-for-state-funds/76585875007/ |access-date=28 December 2024 |work=Sarasota Herald Tribune |date=4 December 2024}}
The Legacy Trail is planned to be part of the Florida Gulf Coast Trail, a collection of trails connecting Tampa and Naples.{{cite web |title=Florida Gulf Coast Trail |url=https://www.tpl.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/FGCT_Trail_8_2023_rotated.pdf |website=Trust For Public Land |access-date=27 December 2024}}
Gallery
Image:Legacy Trail south end.jpg|Southern terminus near Historic Venice Train Depot
Image:Legacy Trail Shelter.JPG|Covered benches called "stations" can be found throughout the trail every few miles
Image:Legacy Trail.jpg|Legacy Trail near Nokomis
Image:Legacy Trail Dona Bay.jpg|Bridge over Dona Bay
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Legacy Trail, Florida|Legacy Trail}}
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
- [https://www.friendsofthelegacytrail.org/ Friends of The Legacy Trail], nonprofit organization established in 2006 that supports, promotes, enhances, and protects The Legacy Trail
- [http://www.traillink.com/trail/legacy-trail-(sarasota-to-venice-rail-trail).aspx?gce=201304_1 TrailLink profile for Legacy Trail]
- [https://www.100floridatrails.com/legacy-trail.htm Legacy Trail] at [https://www.100floridatrails.com 100 Florida Trails]
Category:Transportation in Sarasota County, Florida
Category:Hiking trails in Florida
Category:Rail trails in Florida
Category:Bike paths in Florida
Category:Seaboard Air Line Railroad
Category:Protected areas of Sarasota County, Florida