Fred E. Marquis Pinellas Trail - Pinellas County, FL
N 27° 45.875 W 082° 42.602
17R E 331486 N 3072296
Quick Description: One point along this 34 mile, and growing, this county wide rails to trails project. Designated a National Recreation Trail in 2003.
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 7/27/2009 3:33:22 PM
Waymark Code: WM6WAK
Views: 3
Long Description:http://www.pinellascounty.org/trailgd/
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Pinellas Trail
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
--
The Fred E. Marquis Pinellas Trail is a pathway in Pinellas County
in the U.S. state of Florida. It stretches from Tarpon Springs in
the north to St. Petersburg in the south, passing through the towns
of Crystal Beach, Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Largo,
Seminole, Bay Pines, South Pasadena and Gulfport. It is generally
used for exercise and leisure (such as walking, jogging, cycling
and inline skating), but can also be used as an alternative to
driving. Motor vehicles, other than wheelchairs are prohibited on
the trail. The distance of the main trail currently covers 34 miles
(55 km).
History
In 1983, a man whose son was killed while riding his bike helped
form the Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organizations
Bicycle Advisory Committee. This committee, in conjunction with the
Pedestrian Safety Committee, wanted a safe place to enjoy cycling,
hiking or jogging. At the same time, Pinellas County officials had
the problem of what to do with a 34 mile (55 km) corridor of
abandoned CSX Transportation right-of-way. The Seaboard Air Line
and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroads both served St. Petersburg
and Clearwater. When they both merged into the CSX, CSX
Transportation combined the best of the former rail routes to keep
as a rail line and the remainder was abandoned. The Pinellas Trail
is composed of the following railroad segments: former Seaboard Air
Line to the east of Tarpon Springs, the former Atlantic Coast Line
Railroad which ran from Tarpon Springs to Clearwater. At
Clearwater, the Trail used the former Seaboard Air Line through the
western suburbs and into St. Petersburg. Recently, some former
Seaboard Air Line track in an industrial area of western downtown
St. Petersburg had been decommissioned by CSX Transportation and
converted to an eastward extension of the Pinellas Trail to
downtown St. Petersburg.
On December 1, 1990, the first five mile (8 km) stretch of the
trail opened linking Taylor Park in Largo to Seminole Park in
Seminole. The trail’s popularity exceeded all expectations, and
with the passage of the first Penny for Pinellas one-cent local
option sales tax, plans were made to connect the rest of the
county. There are discussions about connecting the Pinellas Trail
to the Upper Tampa Bay Trail using former Seaboard Air Line track
to northwest Tampa through Cosme, Citrus Park, Odessa and Tarpon
Springs
In 2003, the trail was designated as a National Recreation Trail
in the National Trails System by United States Department of
Interior, National Park Service.
Timeline
1888 The Orange Belt Railway arrives in St. Petersburg.
1910 The Tampa and Gulf Coast Railroad arrives in Tarpon
Springs.
1914 The Tampa and Gulf Coast Railroad arrives in St.
Petersburg.
1983 Railroad right-of-way purchased by Florida Department of
Transportation.
1984 Pinellas Bicycle Advisory Committee proposes using the
right-of-way as a bike route.
1988 Pinellas Trails Inc. forms, expands the idea to a linear park
and promotes public support.
1989 The Pinellas Trail Project is approved by the Board of County
Commissioners and they allocate $1.5 million to build a 15 mile (24
km) segment. County voters approve the Penney-for-Pinellas sales
tax referendum with funding to complete 35 miles (56 km) of
trail.
1990 Two Trail preview sites are built near Seminole City Park and
at Curlew Road and Alt. 19 in Dunedin. Five miles (8 km) of the
Pinellas Trail from Taylor Park to Seminole City Park are completed
on December 1.
1991 The first Trail overpass opens over Ulmerton Road,
Largo.
1992 Trail from Taylor Park to Ozona opens. The West Bay Drive
overpass in Largo is completed.
1993 Trail from Seminole City Park to St. Petersburg opens. The
Trail overpass at Orange Street and Alt. U.S. 19 opens.
1994 St. Petersburg and Tarpon Springs sections of the Trail
open.
1996 Park Boulevard overpass opens in Seminole.
1997 Seminole Boulevard and 113th overpasses in Seminole open. The
downtown Clearwater section opens and construction on the Cross
Bayou Bridge begins.
1999 The Friendship Trail Bridge (old Gandy Bridge) linking
Pinellas County and Hillsborough County opens.
2000 Cross Bayou Bridge opens in Seminole.
2001 Park Street overpass near Tyrone Boulevard opens.
2002 Central Avenue, 1st Avenue South and Pasadena Avenue overpass
opens.
2003 Pinellas Trail designated as a National Recreation Trail in
the National Trails System by United States Department of Interior,
National Park Service.
2008 Pinellas Trail extends to Demen's Landing Park in St.
Petersburg from former southern terminus at 34th Street South at
the north side of Gibb's High School.
Future
When completed this unique linear park will convert approximately
47 miles (76 km) of unused railroad easement and other
rights-of-way into a trail for runners, bicyclists, walkers,
skaters, and other outdoor enthusiasts.
("http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinellas_Trail"
target="_blank">visit link)