SARASOTA – More than 100 Suncoast residents attended the two day public meeting to talk with Sarasota County officials to discuss what’s next for the Legacy Trail expansion that will connect the current trail to downtown Sarasota and the City of North Port.
“The extension will start at the current terminus of the trail, which is at Culverhouse Nature Park and it will go north to Payne Park,” said Nicole Rissler.
Rissler, Director of Sarasota County Parks and Recreation, says the public meetings are a chance for residents to voice their concerns and talk to the men and women that are overseeing the project to get a better understanding of things to come.
“Some people may be more interested in what the amenities will be like from a parks perspective, but some may be more worried about the transportation connections, or the storm water and the drainage and how it may affect their property,” said Rissler.
Rissler says the extension will create nearly 30 miles of continuous non-motorized paved multi use trail that will connect Manatee, Sarasota, Desoto, and Charlotte County something Kristen Mytinger a born and raised Sarasota resident says she personally can’t wait for.
“Oh my god, I couldn’t be more excited about the Legacy Trail, it’s been a long time,” said Mytinger. “I’m just super excited because it’s going to be good for community building, connecting the neighborhood.”
Mytinger says as a nature enthusiast she hopes the extension will allow more residents to get out and discover what the Suncoast has to offer. Sarasota County resident Ryan Brown agrees.
“I’ve been really excited about the path forward as far as getting into town. I think it’s going to open it up to more commuters and people actually moving into town and whatnot,” said Brown.
Rissler says some parts of the trail extension are still in the design phase and want the communities input on amenities, shelters, and playground designs the county wants to include making sure the taxpayers money goes into a project by the community for the community.
Construction is expected to begin in 2020. Rissler says the county hopes to finish the extension project by 2022.
