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Pinellas Trail
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.
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