The Amelia Island Trail (AIT) officially opened today in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Peter's Point Park in Fernandina Beach, Nassau County, FLA. Phil Scanlan, head of the Amelia Island Trail team, hosted the 45-minute ceremony attended by federal, state and local officials and by area community leaders and volunteers who helped make the 6-mile long paved off road trail a reality. Mike Pikula, President of the Friends of the Amelia Island Trail and key member of the AIT team, also spoke. The grand opening of the AIT was well attended by several hundred cyclists, joggers, runners and walkers of all ages. The event was capped off with Nassau County Commissioner and North Florida Transportation Planning Organization Chairperson Danny Leeper given the honors of cutting the ribbon. The AIT is also part of the larger East Coast Greenway, a multi-state, 3,000 mile trail that when fully completed will stretch from Maine to Key West. Construction will soon begin on the Big Talbot Island trail that will connect the AIT with the newly completed Little Talbot Island trail. For more info on the AIT, the Friends of the Amelia Island Trail, or the East Coast Greenway, check out the links below.
http://ameliaislandtrail.org/index.html
http://www.greenway.org/index.shtml
Nassau County Commissioner and North Florida TPO chairperson Danny Leeper cuts the ribbon at the official opening of the AIT as those who helped make the decade-long dream
a reality stand beside him.
Phil Scanlan, head of the AIT team, hosts the opening ceremony held today at Peter's Point park in Fernandina Beach.
Mike Pikula, President of the Friends of the Amelia Island Trail and key member of the AIT team, speaks to the crowd of several hundred cyclists, jogging and walking enthusiasts.
The crowd, led by the cyclists, leave Peter's Point Park and head onto the AIT. Many of the biker riders were from the North Florida Bike Club. Joggers and runners soon followed behind them onto the trail. The AIT team are planning to erect a kiosk nearby to mark the northern entrance to this section.
The AIT was built on the state owned right of way of SR A1A by the Florida DOT with funds from the North Florida TPO. It runs from Peter's Point Park to Amelia Island State Park, a total of 6 miles. It will be connected to the south by the Big and Little Talbot Island Trails. The AIT will also extend north through Fernandina Beach, connecting neaby schools, parks, and community centers along the way. A passenger ferry was to connect the AIT to Georgia and the northern part of the East Coast Greenway, but unfortunately the privately owned ferry is no longer in service.
Cyclists enjoy the shade of the tree-lines trail. Although it parallels SR A1A for its entire length, the AIT weaves in and out of the canopy-lined road. Many parts of the trail are barely visible from SR A1A, especially the southern half, giving the trail a rural flavor.
A sign post shared by the AIT and East Coast Greenway logos marks the AIT's southern entrance at Amelia Island State Park. Construction of the Big Talbot Island link will begin shortly and will allow riders to continue south into Duval County and the Talbot Islands State Park via the Crady Bridge spans the Nassau Sound.
