LEGACY TRAIL EXTENSION to downtown Sarasota
Now open! March 2022!
Now open! March 2022!
Legacy Trail connection to neighborhood, a punch list item: Mind the Gap !
UPDATE: The County has completed the connecting sidewalk, resolving The Gap !
The developers of Lyra Apartments (the old Ringling Shopping Center) agreed to grant an easement across the south edge of their parcel, between SLime and the RR tracks (now Legacy Trail), and to build and landscape a pedestrian sidewalk for public access for neighbors in Paver Park and Gardens of Ringling Park over to Payne Park, which had long been a neighborhood pedestrian thoroughfare. And they did this.
Unfortunately, now that the old RR right-of-way has been developed into the Legacy Trail, there's a GAP between the LYRA public sidewalk and the pavement of the Legacy Trail. This is, of course, both an inconvenience and an ADA fail.
UPDATE: The County has completed the connecting sidewalk, resolving The Gap !
The developers of Lyra Apartments (the old Ringling Shopping Center) agreed to grant an easement across the south edge of their parcel, between SLime and the RR tracks (now Legacy Trail), and to build and landscape a pedestrian sidewalk for public access for neighbors in Paver Park and Gardens of Ringling Park over to Payne Park, which had long been a neighborhood pedestrian thoroughfare. And they did this.
Unfortunately, now that the old RR right-of-way has been developed into the Legacy Trail, there's a GAP between the LYRA public sidewalk and the pavement of the Legacy Trail. This is, of course, both an inconvenience and an ADA fail.
LEGACY TRAIL SAFETY
New road crossings with signage and flashers have been installed on Shade and on School (2), one south of Payne Park Village and one north of PPV (where the old "blinking light" used to be).
Drivers: watch for the new pedestrian/bicycle crossings! Please be careful not to kill pedestrians and cyclists. And needless to say, bikers and peds, watch out for cars, they can hurt you.
Also, the City has applied for infrastructure funds to construct a ped/bike path continuation west from the School Ave crossing (where it ends), across the south end of Payne Park to Alderman Street (by Sarasota Ford), with a new Park ped/bike access entrance at East Ave (where that breezeblock wall now stands).
New road crossings with signage and flashers have been installed on Shade and on School (2), one south of Payne Park Village and one north of PPV (where the old "blinking light" used to be).
Drivers: watch for the new pedestrian/bicycle crossings! Please be careful not to kill pedestrians and cyclists. And needless to say, bikers and peds, watch out for cars, they can hurt you.
Also, the City has applied for infrastructure funds to construct a ped/bike path continuation west from the School Ave crossing (where it ends), across the south end of Payne Park to Alderman Street (by Sarasota Ford), with a new Park ped/bike access entrance at East Ave (where that breezeblock wall now stands).
For detailed information about the Legacy Trail extension to Sarasota, see the Friends of the Legacy Trail site (Trail Extension menu item) and/or Sarasota County website for Legacy Trail . This County website has an option for you to sign up to receive future updates.
The City parks dept has plans for a bike-ped connector path continuing the path from the south spur ending at School Ave, across the south edge of the park towards Alderman St (behind Sarasota Ford), with an entrance off East Ave (at the breezeblock wall). While not in the budget, the City has applied for funding from the federal infrastructure funds. Informational community meeting was held at City Hall Feb 17, 2022.
Also, eventually, plans may be in the works for a northern extension from Fruitville all the way to University Parkway.
The City parks dept has plans for a bike-ped connector path continuing the path from the south spur ending at School Ave, across the south edge of the park towards Alderman St (behind Sarasota Ford), with an entrance off East Ave (at the breezeblock wall). While not in the budget, the City has applied for funding from the federal infrastructure funds. Informational community meeting was held at City Hall Feb 17, 2022.
Also, eventually, plans may be in the works for a northern extension from Fruitville all the way to University Parkway.
(older) map of planned extension
