Trail Talk Archive
MAY, 2016

Our Amelia Island Trail (AIT) has been a tremendous success since it was completed in 2013. Every day our local residents and guests on Amelia Island enjoy a walk, run or ride on this beautiful trail. Thanks to the work of some dedicated volunteers, local and state officials, and donors our Trail is functioning just as designed and will provide many years of enjoyment. Here are a few bits of current information about the AIT and related activities:

  1. In October 2013, the 6.2 mile Amelia Island Trail was formally designated as part of the East Coast Greenway (ECG). When completed, the ECG will include 3,000 trail-miles from Northern Maine to Key West, Florida. The ECG, which traverses 15 states, is one of 16 trails in the National Millennium Trail System. The AIT is one of the first parts of the ECG established in Florida.
  2. Our volunteer team and Nassau County officials have submitted a formal request to the North Florida Transportation Planning Office (NFTPO) for funding of a 4.4 mile extension to the existing AIT. We anticipate design and construction to be completed in four segments with work tentatively planned for 2020.
  3. Since 2013, Friends of the Amelia Island Trail sponsored trail maintenance work days along the AIT. Volunteers collected trash and trimmed encroaching foliage.
  4. Nassau County and Fernandina Beach submitted another proposal in 2013 to the NFTPO to construct the Simmons Trail, a 2.2 mile, paved, off-road trail from the athletic fields at the end of Bailey Rd., to a beach access on S. Fletcher Av. It is scheduled for design/construction in 2017-2018.
  5. Other trail volunteers are planning additional trails on Amelia Island including an historic trail and an off-road trail through wooded areas.
  6. Segments of the Timucuan Trail on Little Talbot Island will be completed in coming years and will connect with the AIT via the George Crady Bridge fishing pier over Nassau Sound.
  7. Combining the completed and planned 17.3 trail-miles in Duval, with the completed and planned 12.4 trail-miles in Nassau, we will someday have 29.7 traffic-free trail-miles available in our area.
  8. In recognition of the 1-year anniversary of the Amelia Island Trail, our volunteers conducted counts and surveys of trail users in May, 2014. This data will help us document trail activity and assist with future trail planning.
  9. Using funds raised through donations and T-shirt sales, Friends of the Amelia Island Trail constructed a Map/Information Kiosk at its northern trailhead (Peters Point Park) in spring 2014, constructed benches along the trail in spring 2015 (with a local Boy Scout Troop), and will consruct another Map/Information Kiosk at the southern trailhead later this year.

 

Friends of the Amelia Island Trail began its 2016 Funding Campaign in December 2015. Your continued support will be greatly appreciated as we ask for volunteers and for donations. I'll see you on the trail!

Mike Pikula, President,
Friends of the Amelia Island Trail

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