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| Legacy Park - Rails to Trails |
Sarasota County's Newest Trail
 This weekend we decided to take in a trail we have not been on before. A co-worker had mentioned a new trail in Sarasota a few weeks ago, so after a bit of online sleuthing, I found the Sarasota County link to The Legacy Trail. The site gave some info, but even after careful reading, it was vague as to what had actually been accomplished, and what still needed to be done.
There is only one way to find out for sure. Ride it. I was able to glean that the trail ran 10.2 miles, and there was a trailhead at Potter Park, which was off McIntosh Road. That was our target, so we loaded up the truck and struck out south on I-75. We exited at SR 72 / Clark Road, turning right (west) and drove about a mile. The sign for McIntosh Road was clearly marked. I should mention that we did not see a sign for the Legacy Trail. We turned south onto McIntosh Road and drove about two miles, past Palmer Ranch Parkway. We could see the trail on our left, but could not find a place to park. On the curve just past Palmer Ranch Parkway, we discovered a small trailhead for the Trail. This was the first (and only) sign we saw for the Legacy Trail. We never did find the Potter Park trailhead.
This trailhead has grass parking, no facilities. No water, no restroom. After unloading the bikes and locking the truck, I had a feeling that water could be a issue. So I unlocked the truck and went back into the cooler and snagged a third bottle of water. A short grass path connects you to the actual trail. We did not have a problem with the path, as our bikes are shod with wide tires, but a pure road bike might want to consider the option taking the sidewalk to a connector a couple of hundred feet to the north.
Once on the trail, you notice the new pavement, very smooth. The occasional water crossings are done with a wood side rail, concrete floor bridge. Rest benches are sprinkled along the trail, but only two had coverings. The trail is wide enough for two experienced riders to ride side by side, while still leaving enough room for another oncoming pair to pass safely.
The first street to cross was the Central Sarasota Parkway. This did not make me happy. No lights, just a crosswalk over what appeared to be a main artery into several subdivisions /condominiums. The traffic moved at a considerable pace, and even though it was 9:00 am Sunday morning, the road was pretty busy. We waited until the cars came to a stop before crossing. Yeah, I'm a chicken.
The Legacy Trail connects Oscar Scherer Park and it's network of trails. We stopped for a short break, but as there is a fee for entering and using Oscar Scherer Park, we continued on our way.
Around seven miles, the trail crosses Laurel Road. There is a crossing light, and a small trailhead. There was also, curiously, a sign that stated "Detour". I could see the trail stretching out before us, so we continued on. For about a mile. The trail stopped at Shakett Creek. The old railroad trestle was not safe enough to put a trail on, so the county is awaiting funds to replace. We came back to the "Detour" sign, and followed it.
The detour takes you onto either a bike lane or the sidewalk, depending on your preference. We stayed on the sidewalk. The detour runs down Laurel to Albee Farm Rd. After a couple of miles, it dives into a side road (Bird Bay Drive) that only gives you a bike lane option. This takes you through a cluster of condominiums, and eventually to U.S. 41 and a Big Lots. After crossing with the light on U.S. 41, you pick up the trail again. It runs for about a mile and ends at the Venice Train Station. It is a nice train station, but the refurbish is not complete. No water and the restrooms were locked. Water could be an issue on any trail in Florida, so if you choose to ride this trail, I recommend you carry as much water as you can. I was glad I went back to the truck and grabbed that third bottle.
We turned back and made our way across the city streets once again, picking up the trail at Laurel, and slogging back to the trailhead. We had planned on riding 20 miles, but with the additional mileage of the detour, we ended up covering almost 26 miles.
The Legacy Trail has great potential, and I applaud Sarasota County for it's decision to build it. It should be noted that the trail is not done at this time. It does lack some of the conveniences we have come to expect, but it is a work in progress. Given the current economic conditions, I am surprised to see the trail open at all. I believe that once complete, the Legacy Trail will be one of the Great Trails in Florida. I look forward to riding it again, and watching it grow.
Check out the photos we took
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