John Yarbrough Linear Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Yarbrough Linear Park |
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| Length | 6 mi (9.7 km) |
| Location | Fort Myers, Florida, United States |
| Trailheads | Six Mile Cypress Parkway Colonial Boulevard |
| Use | Cycling, Walking, Hiking, Jogging |
| Season | Year round |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Website | John Yarbrough Linear Park |
The John Yarbrough Linear Park is a fun 6-mile trail located in Fort Myers, Florida. It was first called the Ten Mile Canal Linear Park. This awesome trail runs right next to the Ten Mile Canal and the Seminole Gulf Railway. Lee County Parks and Recreation owns and takes care of the park. It's also part of Lee County's "Tour de Parks" route, which connects to other cool spots like Lakes Regional Park.
Contents
History of the Park
The area where the John Yarbrough Linear Park is located has been important since the 1920s. Back then, the Ten Mile Canal was dug. This canal helped control flooding and moved water to Estero Bay.
Two railroad lines were also built along the canal. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad built tracks on the east side in 1925. These tracks are now used by the Seminole Gulf Railway. Another railroad, the Seaboard Air Line's All Florida Railway, was on the west side from 1926 to 1952. Some parts of the trail today are very close to where that old railroad used to be.
The first part of the trail opened in November 2005. It stretched 1.25 miles between Six Mile Cypress Parkway and Daniels Parkway. This first section included two shelters with picnic tables. The second part opened in October 2006, adding another mile and a half north to Crystal Drive. The third part was finished in April 2008, extending the trail all the way to Colonial Boulevard.
When the trail first opened in 2005, it was known as the Ten Mile Canal Linear Park. On September 9, 2008, the park was renamed. It was given the name John Yarbrough Linear Park to honor John Yarbrough. He was the director of Lee County Parks and Recreation and was retiring.
What You'll Find at the Park
The main trail goes from Six Mile Cypress Parkway to Colonial Boulevard. It's pretty straight and runs right next to the Ten Mile Canal and the Seminole Gulf Railway.
At Six Mile Cypress, you can keep going south. A bike trail next to Michael G. Rippe Parkway connects to Alico Road. This connection was finished in 2012. The linear park is a great place to bring your dog! It also has picnic tables, benches, and covered shelters for shade.
When you cross roads, there are special flashing signals. These signals turn on when you approach to warn drivers. However, at Daniels Parkway, which is a big six-lane road, you'll need to go west along the road to a traffic light to cross safely.
Because the trail is so close to the canal, you can often see amazing wildlife. Keep an eye out for birds, turtles, and even alligators!
The Filter Marsh
The park also has a special filter marsh south of Daniels Parkway. This marsh was built when the first part of the trail opened. Its job is to clean water from the Ten Mile Canal. The water slowly moves through the marsh, and plants like white water lilies and bulrush help clean it. After being cleaned, the water flows back into the canal. You can see these marshes and plants right next to the trail.
Cool Places Nearby
- Page Field
- Seminole Gulf Railway Yard
- Ten Mile Canal
- Sun Harvest Citrus Factory
Future Plans for the Park
There are plans to make the John Yarbrough Linear Park trail even longer! The idea is to extend it north past Colonial Boulevard to Hanson Street. This new section would be built by the City of Fort Myers and would be on the west side of the canal.
The City of Fort Myers also plans to extend the North Colonial Linear Park Trail. This is another trail that runs east-west. It will connect with the northern part of the John Yarbrough Linear Park. As of 2018, the City of Fort Myers is studying how to make this extension happen.
The John Yarbrough Linear Park is also set to be part of a huge project called the Southwest Coast Regional Connector. This is an effort by the Florida Department of Transportation. Their goal is to create a continuous multi-use trail that goes all the way from Tampa to Naples.
Gallery
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Ten Mile Canal's Filter Marsh, which includes a number of attractive plants to filter the canal's water
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Shelter with a picnic table along the trail
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Turtles can often be seen sunbathing in the canal along the trail
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Alligators can be spotted occasionally in the canal
Images for kids
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Trailhead at the south end of the trail
