Back in February the newsletter carried a story about the Jacksonville-to-Baldwin Rail Trail. It was a coming attraction on what will eventually be a fun place to ride.
Only it's not coming quite as fast as expected, and now is not the time to explore it. Construction began in November on the 14.5 mile trail and essential completion was expected by February, with everything wrapped up by April. That was the plan — but those plans got delayed. Louie Jenkins with the Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department said now the completion date has been moved to mid-June, but that too could change. He said some changes in plans and construction problems have caused the delays. Before making the journey to do some exploring it's a good idea to call Jenkins at (904) 630-5400, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to be sure it's open.
While people have ridden it during this construction phase, it's actually against the law. Cyclists have been given warnings and tickets. It's considered a construction area and those who choose to ride are trespassing. It's a situation aggravated by vandals who've come in and caused problems and some good citizens who have seen the site as a perfect place to dump their trash.
The trail follows an abandoned rail line from Imeson Road, near Interstate 295 in Jacksonville, to State Road 121, near the Nassau County line. There will be parking lots at both ends and in the city of Baldwin. There will be a 12-foot wide asphalt path and a non-paved trail for horses. Jenkins says it will be worth the wait.
"It's the best looking park in the state," he said.
Construction has started on the Nature Coast State Trail that when completed will provide a 31-mile Y-shaped connector with Fanning Springs as its hub. The first phase of construction includes the conversion of an old railroad bridge into a bike-pedestrian crossing on the Suwannee River .
Paul Perras, park manager for the Suwannee Basin GEOpark, which includes the trail, Fanning Springs State Recreation Area and Manatee Springs State Park, said the first section will be just under five miles long, starting at U.S. 19 in Fanning Springs . It follows the old railroad line to the bridge and crosses the river into Old Town.
Perras said the work on the bridge and an 800-foot concrete connector is completed and the paving into Fanning Springs is nearing completion. A 150-wooden trestle that would complete the path into Fanning Springs is under construction. Paving near Old Town should begin soon. He expects that the entire first phase will be wrapped up by mid-July.
The trail will eventually connect Cross City, Trenton and Chiefland to the hub in Fanning Springs, the home of one of the best swimming holes on the Suwannee. Perras said bidding on the second phase of construction, which would extend the trail from Old Town to Cross City, will begin in July.