DEP, County Host Grand Opening Of 475-A Trailhead

-- Walk, bike or ride your horse across the Cross Florida Greenway --

Belleview -- Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Greenways & Trails Director Jena Brooks, and Marion County Administrator Jim Lowry, officially opened the 475-A Trailhead today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The trailhead, which took three months to complete, is a cooperative effort between the Office of Greenways & Trails and Marion County. The $375,000 facility includes a paved parking area, an informational kiosk, picnic tables, restrooms, potable water and fenced paddock.

Brooks and Lowry each commented on the successes and long-standing partnership between OGT and Marion County. Following the opening ceremony, Kenneth Smith of the Florida Trail Association led hikers to the Land Bridge along a portion of the Florida National Scenic Trail.

Located on the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway in Belleview, the trailhead provides a primary access point for hikers, off-road cyclists and equestrians to the Land Bridge that opened in September 2000 and spans over I-75. The Land Bridge connects trails on the east and west sides of the Cross Florida Greenway and provides humans and wildlife safe passage across the six lanes of busy interstate traffic.

The 475-A Trailhead is operated through the Office of Greenways & Trails, is free to the public and is open from dawn to dusk. For additional information about facilities on the Cross Florida Greenway, contact the OGT field office in Ocala at (352) 236-7143.