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PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Great news for walkers, runners, and bicyclists in Pinellas County: You can now journey 75 miles on the Pinellas County Duke Energy Trail loop. This is after Pinellas County leaders simply completed a essential phase of the path on a mission that began in 1990.
The new 6.7-mile path phase stretches from Enterprise Road in Clearwater by means of Countryside to John Chestnut Sr. Park in Palm Harbor.
It completes the North Gap of the deliberate Pinellas Trail Loop, a steady 75-mile multi-use pathway that can circle the County.
The Pinellas Duke Energy Trail is full apart from some minor enhancements and a pedestrian bridge over the Lake Tarpon Outfall Canal. Construction on that bridge is predicted to start subsequent spring and conclude in summer season 2024.
In the meantime, sidewalks are offering for a short-term connection from the intersection of Tampa Road and McMullen Booth Road to East Lake Road. Trail customers can comply with indicators around the realm.
Pinellas County
83-year-old Freda Brown of New Port Richey is happy in regards to the enhancements. She likes to place in the miles.
“I love the Pinellas Trail because I can go everywhere by bike, like the St. Pete Pier, and I can go all the way up to Brooksville on a trail without having to get on the road,” she added.
Brown bikes 20-30 miles on daily basis, regardless of her age and far to the bewilderment of her buddies.
“They say, ‘oh are you kidding me?’ she said with a hearty laugh.
Fred Marquis was at Friday’s trail opening. He is a retired Pinellas County Administrator and spent 34 years working on trail improvements. He dedicated so much of his life to the project that county leaders named a portion of the trail after him.
“It’s an honor that’s hard to express. It makes me cry every time. This is a completed dream for a lot of folks,” he defined.
WFTS
The Pinellas path has exploded in reputation in the course of the pandemic and is now welcoming 2 million customers a 12 months.
“We knew 30 years ago that this project would be very exciting. We knew people would like it. We had no idea the capacity of what the Pinellas Trail would mean to our county, to Tampa Bay and to the state of Florida,” stated Scott Daniels of the Friends of the Pinellas Trail.
With the path’s reputation additionally comes the necessity for security, stated Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard.
“It’s a wonderful asset, but it can also lead to tragedy if people are not aware of one another,” Hibbard added. “If you see a pedestrian crossing signalized or non-signalized, pedestrians and bikers have the right of way in the state of Florida. Most drivers, unfortunately, don’t know that.”
Brown stated a little courtesy and customary sense go a great distance.
“When you’re coming up behind a slower person, get to your left and holler on your left, so they know you’re coming. If you don’t, it scares them,” she elaborated.
Pinellas County leaders stated The Pinellas Trail Loop additionally has regional connections to the Hillsborough and (*75*) County path networks linking to the western finish of the Florida Coast-to-Coast Connector Trail, a 250-mile loop that goes to Titusville on the East Coast.
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