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Plans for bike trail on Davis Islands roll forward

Trail near airport might be built next year

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By GEORGE WILKENS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 5, 2009

TAMPA - Bids for construction of the Davis Islands all-purpose neighborhood trail are due Dec. 1, putting the long-awaited city project on schedule to open sometime next year.

The 1.3-mile asphalt trail that will run from Channel Drive and Davis Boulevard to Peter O. Knight Airport could cost $900,000, according to an August estimate by the city's consultant on the project.

"It's primarily going to run around the perimeter of the airport, in the right-of-way property," said Laurie Potier-Brown, a landscape architect and planner with Tampa's parks department. Airport officials agreed to move the fence line in some areas to eliminate the need to disturb existing utilities and landscaping, she said.

At Martinique Avenue, the trail will cross Davis Boulevard and weave along the seawall, providing a view of the waterfront and seaplane basin, Potier-Brown said. That trail will end at the airport's parking lot.

The trail to accommodate walkers, joggers and bicyclists will be 10 feet wide, except in a few areas where space is tight, narrowing to between 6 and 8 feet.

The project will include benches, bicycle racks and traditional water fountains, modified to service dog bowls. "We're trying to accommodate people and their animals," Potier-Brown said. Additional shade trees will be planted along the route.

Money for the project comes from $1 million Tampa General Hospital donated to the community in 2005 in return for leasing .4 acres of Marjorie Park for the 1,400-space garage completed in 2007.

As part of the agreement, the hospital also upgraded the portion of Marjorie Park that wasn't swallowed by the garage and agreed to build a quarter-mile trail segment on TGH property.
Though the two segments are about two miles apart, the gap can be traversed via streets and sidewalks.

Evaluating bids could take several months, with construction taking six to eight more months, Potier-Brown said.

The project that began with community meetings to receive thoughts from members of a task force, civic groups and others also required design work, easement agreements and approval of the Hillsborough Aviation Authority and city council.

In April 2007, when city officials first detailed plans for the trail, it was estimated it would be open by December 2008.
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Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 627-4769

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