Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/190797
Sarasota News Leader October 11, 2013 Page 52 advocates for the trail extension were starting They direct political will to a specific project to both "raise awareness" and "raise funding." and can improve the chances that funding can be secured, he pointed out. Thus, add"We don't expect that this project will be ing the Legacy Trail extension to that section funded by all public dollars," Dillon added. would have been a positive step for the proj"Public dollars, from all levels of government, ect, Lasche said. will be mighty handy, but we expect private dollars to be a part of that." ECONOMIC BENEFITS The group has a catchphrase for its fundrais- During the Friends of the Legacy Trail's preing campaign: "Become part of the legacy." sentation at Monday's City Commission, Dillon said Biter, the downtown entrepre- members of the nonprofit organization touted neur, has had discussions about the project the economic benefit of local trails, citing the already with other members of the Friends of $42 million annual economic impact of such a route in Orange County. the Legacy Trail. "He understands that [the extension] would be a wonderful thing, and it would make people in Sarasota happy and provide customers for businesses downtown," Dillon told the News Leader. The presentation also highlighted how an extended trail in Sarasota would improve the ability of students to walk and bike to school and foster families' use of the pathway close to their neighborhoods. A MISSED OPPORTUNITY? The president of the group told the city commissioners Monday that once the feasibility study has been completed, the Friends will present the findings to city and county government officials. "We hope you will participate," said Mike Gippert. "The city has some unique opportunity for grants that the county does not." On Tuesday, the County Commission approved a Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan designed to improve pedestrian and bicycle access as well as safety throughout the county. The plan was developed over the past year, and the process included community input. Sarasota cycling advocate Mike Lasche said one significant problem with the plan is that while it lists the proposed Legacy Trail extension as a deficiency, it does not include the project in its recommendations section. The Legacy Trail's northward expansion might not be the only extension in the future. Robinson also mentioned the potential for another pathway that would lead from the Legacy Trail to North Port. "Those do have some weight," Lasche said about the recommendations in an interview City Editor Stan Zimmerman contributed to this report. % with the News Leader.