Sarasota County commissioners approved $3.79 million for a 1.7-mile trail connecting 17th Street Regional Park to Nathan Benderson Park, bringing the Legacy Trail network closer to the University Town Center area near Lakewood Ranch.

The commission approved the funding Tuesday, Oct. 6, through federally funded Local Agency Program agreements with the Florida Department of Transportation, Your Observer reported.

The project would help close a gap between the existing Legacy Trail and Nathan Benderson Park, although other planned trail segments must be completed to create a continuous route.

New trail connects two Sarasota parks

The proposed 12-foot-wide asphalt path would follow the north side of 17th Street and the east side of Honore Avenue to Athletes Drive, which leads to Nathan Benderson Park's southern entrance.

Plans call for widening existing sidewalks within public rights of way. Kimley-Horn and Associates received the design contract in 2024.

The county has already extended the Legacy Trail north from South Beneva Road across Fruitville Road to Circus Trail, near Bobby Jones Golf Club. A separate city project would connect that section through Bobby Jones Golf Club and Nature Park to 17th Street Regional Park.

Commissioner Mark Smith told WWSB that the trail's popularity has grown beyond its original purpose.

"It's become much more important than I believe anybody thought," Smith said. "We have close to a million people on the trail every year now, it's grown from just an exercise trail to everybody and their dog on it now."

Construction contracts expected in 2027

County officials expect to advertise for contracted services by the end of 2026, followed by construction advertising in early 2027. Contracts are expected to be awarded before summer 2027, according to Your Observer.

Smith told WWSB that residents could expect the park-to-park connection to be completed within the next year, although a firm completion date has not been announced.

The Legacy Trail follows a former CSX railroad corridor that Sarasota County and the Trust for Public Land purchased in 2004. Voters approved a bond referendum in 2018 to expand the trail, and an eight-mile northern extension opened in 2022.

Regional planners have also explored extending the network into Manatee County and Lakewood Ranch. The Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization adopted a SUN Trail alignment study in May 2023 examining potential northern connections.

An April 2026 MPO presentation identified partial funding for the 17th Street segment in fiscal 2027.

Park users welcome expanded access

The proposed connection could benefit visitors to Nathan Benderson Park, which hosts rowing competitions and other recreational activities.

Rob Wucki of the Sarasota Model Yacht Club told WWSB that the trail could create new opportunities for his organization, whose approximately 100 members regularly race remote-controlled sailboats on the park's West Lake.

"Tying it into the Legacy Trail give nice access to the park and any other parks it ties back into," Wucki said.

Smith said the county also hopes to extend the trail into Newtown and eventually connect it to Manatee County as additional funding becomes available.