Legacy Trail (Florida) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Legacy Trail |
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Railroad mast at the trail's southern terminus in Venice, Florida
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| Length | 12.5 miles (20.1 km) |
| Location | Sarasota County, Florida |
| Established | December 21, 2004 |
| Trailheads |
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| Use | Shared-use for walking and cycling |
| Season | Year round |
| Months | Year round |
| Sights | Oscar Scherer State Park, Venice Train Depot |
| Hazards | Weather, at-grade pedestrian crossing at vehicular thoroughfares |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Right of way | Seminole Gulf Railway |
| Maintained by | Sarasota County |
The Legacy Trail is a fun path in Sarasota County, Florida. It's about 12.5 miles (20.1 km) long and is perfect for walking, running, and biking. This trail connects the areas of Sarasota (near Palmer Ranch) and Venice.
The Legacy Trail used to be a railroad line. The county bought the land in 2004. It officially opened to the public on March 28, 2008.
Contents
History of the Legacy Trail
The railroad line that became the Legacy Trail was first built in 1911. It was part of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and went all the way to Venice. Trains carried passengers to Venice until 1971.
This railroad was very important to Venice's history and helped the city's economy. Here are some cool facts about its past:
- From 1933 to 1970, students and teachers from the Kentucky Military Institute used the train for their winter classes.
- It transported patients to Fred H. Albee's Florida Medical Center from 1932 to 1942.
- During World War II, it moved goods and soldiers to the Venice Army Air Field.
- The famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus used the train! The circus was based in Venice from 1959 to 1992. They were the last regular users of the rail line.
Over time, fewer people used the train, and the tracks became old. So, the railroad companies agreed with Sarasota County to stop using the line south of Palmer Ranch. In December 2004, Sarasota County and The Trust for Public Land bought the land for $11.75 million. They wanted to turn it into a public trail for everyone to enjoy. The Legacy Trail officially opened on March 28, 2008.
In 2011, a special bridge was built for people to cross over the Venice Bypass. This is a big six-lane highway. Before the bridge, trail users had to cross at a busy intersection. The new bridge is 18 feet (5.5 m) tall and 900 feet (270 m) long. It cost $3.1 million and was built with government funding.
Another pedestrian bridge was built over Laurel Road. Construction started in November 2017 and finished in late 2018.
Plans for the Northern Extension
Sarasota County is working on making the Legacy Trail even longer! They plan to extend it north into the city of Sarasota. This extension will add about 8 miles (12.9 km) to the trail. It will connect to Payne Park towards downtown Sarasota.
In 2017, the railroad companies decided to stop using another 9 miles (14.5 km) of the rail line. In December 2017, Sarasota County and The Trust for Public Land bought 2.7 miles (4.3 km) of this land for $7.9 million. This extended the county's ownership up to Ashton Road.
In November 2018, people in Sarasota County voted to approve a plan. This plan allows the county to buy and improve another 6.3 miles (10.1 km) of the old railroad land. It also includes building two more overpasses and improving trail connections.
What You'll See on the Trail
The Legacy Trail starts just south of where the Seminole Gulf Railway currently ends near Palmer Ranch. From there, it goes straight south towards Venice.
Along the way, you'll pass through Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey. You can even connect directly to the park's own trails! After the park, the trail continues south, going under State Road 681 and through Nokomis.
South of Nokomis, the trail crosses Dona Bay and enters Venice. The trail then goes over the U.S. 41 Bypass. It leads to the historic Venice Seaboard Air Line Railway Station. This old train station is also a bus station now. At the station, the Legacy Trail connects with the Venetian Waterway Park. This other trail continues south along the Intracoastal Waterway all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Legacy Trail still has reminders of its past as a railroad. The mile markers (numbered 892–902) are the same as the original railroad's mile numbers. You can also see part of the original trestle bridge over South Creek, just south of the Oscar Scherer State Park trailhead. There are information signs along the trail that tell you about the railroad's history. Even the road crossings have cool railroad crossing signals that say Sarasota Rail Trail!
Future Plans for the Trail
There are plans to extend the Legacy Trail even further to North Port. This extension would connect to the Legacy Trail in Nokomis. It would run along the T. Mabry Carlton Reserve and through the Deer Prairie Creek Preserve.
The Legacy Trail is also going to be part of a bigger project called the Southwest Coast Regional Connector. This project aims to build a continuous multi-use trail from Tampa to Naples.
Gallery
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Southern terminus near Historic Venice Train Depot
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Legacy Trail crossing Laurel Road
(before construction of pedestrian overpass) -
Portion of original rail trestle along the trail
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Covered benches called "stations" can be found throughout the trail every few miles
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Bridge over Dona Bay
Images for kids
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Legacy Trail at Shade Avenue in Sarasota where the spur to School Avenue splits from the main trail
