Public using the Trail in that area urged to exercise caution
On Tuesday, April 28, Sarasota County staff began urging members of the public to use caution while bicycling or walking on the North Port Connector of The Legacy Trail, through Deer Prairie Creek Preserve.
For the next three to four weeks, a county advisory says, contractors working for the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) will be working to reduce the wildfire risk along the Forbes/Price Trailhead, on the north side of Deer Prairie Creek Preserve, south of Interstate 75.
“They will be using heavy equipment to mechanically treat and manage overgrown vegetation in areas [where] prescribed fire typically cannot be applied,” the advisory explains. “This treatment will effectively lower fuel loads while ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for trail users.”
In conjunction with the opening of the North Port Connector in September 2022, the nonprofit Friends of the Legacy Trail noted on its website that the entrance to the North Port Connector is located at 1045 Calera St., at the end of West Price Boulevard. Trail users “will find a new bridge that leads into Deer Prairie Creek Preserve,” the organization added.
“From there,” it continued, “the tree-lined paved trail meanders to the north, toward Interstate 75, where it then heads west to Forbes Trail and the north entrance of Deer Prairie Creek Preserve (approximately 5.5 miles).”