Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail
Encyclopedia
The Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail (PLB) corridor stretches nearly 47 miles from the vicinity of SR 238 in Lake Butler
, Florida
to west of US 17
in Palatka, Florida
. The project is located along the former Norfolk Southern Railroad right-of-way and the trail is being constructed on top of the existing abandoned railroad bed through (from east to west) Putnam
, Clay
, Bradford
, and Union
counties.
The corridor was purchased with Preservation 2000 funds through the Office of Greenways and Trails Acquisition Program. The Rails to Trails Conservancy
played a key role in preserving the corridor for conversion to a rail-trail and the trail was designated as part of the Florida Greenways & Trails System in 2007.
Construction of a 12 feet (3.7 m) multi-use recreational trail along this corridor is being completed in phases, and the first paved section of 5.2 miles (8.4 km) opened in Clay County in 2008. The construction was administered by the Florida Department of Transportation
(FDOT) and funded in part through the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century Act (TEA-21). The Trail is managed by the DEP Office of Greenways & Trails.
The Clay County segment of the PLB Trail runs through Keystone Heights
and will also tie into a 10 feet (3 m), 5.5 miles (8.9 km) the FDOT is constructing. This bike path will run north from downtown Keystone Heights to Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park
and is scheduled for completion in 2009. Twin Lakes Park in Keystone Heights serves as the main trailhead for the Clay County segment and was developed by Clay County with funding from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program.
The remainder of the PLB Trail is still in the design phase. The final design must be completed before any additional paving can occur and the 47 miles (75.6 km) recreational trail is fully constructed. There are plans to connect St. Augustine
to Lake City
by way of this trail system at some future date, to make the total length of the Trail over 100 miles (160.9 km).
A section of the 1400 miles (2,253.1 km) Florida National Scenic Trail
is being developed adjacent to the PLB Trail.
Lake Butler, Union County, Florida
Lake Butler is a city in Union County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,927 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,988...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
to west of US 17
U.S. Route 17 in Florida
U.S. Route 17 in Florida is a north–south United States Highway. It runs from the Punta Gorda, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area northeast to the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area....
in Palatka, Florida
Palatka, Florida
Palatka is a city in Putnam County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,033 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 10,796. It is the county seat of Putnam County and includes East Palatka. Palatka is the principal city of the Palatka...
. The project is located along the former Norfolk Southern Railroad right-of-way and the trail is being constructed on top of the existing abandoned railroad bed through (from east to west) Putnam
Putnam County, Florida
Putnam County is a county located in the state of Florida. The entire county makes up the Palatka Micropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 70,423. The U.S. Census Bureau 2009 estimate for the county was 72,893 . Its county seat is Palatka, Florida. The county is centrally...
, Clay
Clay County, Florida
Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2010, the population was 190,895. Its county seat is Green Cove Springs, Florida. Clay County is part of the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan area.- History :...
, Bradford
Bradford County, Florida
Bradford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 26,088. The 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate for the county was 28,118 . Its county seat is Starke, Florida. Bradford County is the home of the Florida State Prison as well as several other state...
, and Union
Union County, Florida
Union County is a county located in the state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 14,916. The county seat is Lake Butler.- History :...
counties.
The corridor was purchased with Preservation 2000 funds through the Office of Greenways and Trails Acquisition Program. The Rails to Trails Conservancy
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is an American nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. that works with communities to preserve unused rail corridors by transforming them into rail trails within the United States of America...
played a key role in preserving the corridor for conversion to a rail-trail and the trail was designated as part of the Florida Greenways & Trails System in 2007.
Construction of a 12 feet (3.7 m) multi-use recreational trail along this corridor is being completed in phases, and the first paved section of 5.2 miles (8.4 km) opened in Clay County in 2008. The construction was administered by the Florida Department of Transportation
Florida Department of Transportation
The Florida Department of Transportation is a decentralized agency charged with the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of public transportation in the state of Florida. The department was formed in 1969. It absorbed the powers of the Florida State Road Department...
(FDOT) and funded in part through the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century Act (TEA-21). The Trail is managed by the DEP Office of Greenways & Trails.
Keystone Heights, Florida
Keystone Heights is a town located in both Bradford County and Clay County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,349 at the 2000 census, all of it in the Clay County section, although over 40 percent of the city's area lies in Bradford County. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
and will also tie into a 10 feet (3 m), 5.5 miles (8.9 km) the FDOT is constructing. This bike path will run north from downtown Keystone Heights to Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park
Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park
Gold Head Branch State Park, a Florida State Park, is 2,000 acres of rolling sandhills, marshes, ravines, lakes and scrub located midway between Gainesville and Jacksonville, six miles north of Keystone Heights on SR 21.-Biology:...
and is scheduled for completion in 2009. Twin Lakes Park in Keystone Heights serves as the main trailhead for the Clay County segment and was developed by Clay County with funding from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program.
The remainder of the PLB Trail is still in the design phase. The final design must be completed before any additional paving can occur and the 47 miles (75.6 km) recreational trail is fully constructed. There are plans to connect St. Augustine
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
to Lake City
Lake City, Florida
Lake City is the county seat of Columbia County, Florida, in the United States. In 2009, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 12,614. In addition, it is the Principal City of the Lake City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is composed of Columbia County, and had an...
by way of this trail system at some future date, to make the total length of the Trail over 100 miles (160.9 km).
A section of the 1400 miles (2,253.1 km) Florida National Scenic Trail
Florida National Scenic Trail
One of eleven National Scenic Trails in the United States, the Florida Trail is a footpath spanning from Big Cypress National Preserve to Fort Pickens at Gulf Islands National Seashore, Pensacola Beach...
is being developed adjacent to the PLB Trail.