Bradenton Beach got a look at a pathway to change.
The city’s community redevelopment agency members voted on April 3 to advance plans for a trail leading south from the Cortez Bridge through the commercial district along the bay.
The CRA comprises Mayor John Chappie, city commissioners and business owner Ed Chiles. A citizen seat is vacant. The CRA works to promote projects in the district bound by the bridge, the bay, the Gulf and Fifth Street South with incremental tax dollars.
CRA members on April 3 authorized city attorney Ricinda Perry to work with developer Shawn Kaleta for easements essential for the trail’s establishment.
Kaleta owns the marina, as well as the nearby Pines Trailer Park.
The CRA also directed Perry to apply to the Manatee Tourist Development Council and the county board of commissioners for backing on the project, specifically funding.
Perry said she had been working to secure state appropriations for enhancements to the north side of the Historic Bridge Street Pier, where the city has earmarked plans for the county-operated ferry service.
Perry said the addition would include a designated slip for the ferry allowing the county to store a vessel in Bradenton Beach.
She said establishing the ferry service fueled talks that led to a trail concept from the bridge through the marina, along Bay Drive North to Second Avenue South, to a path behind Pines Trailer Park that would culminate at the pier.
Easements from Kaleta would be essential to the trail development.
Perry presented CRA members a slideshow of design elements from Kaleta that have been proposed to Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, that conceptualize how the trail might be implemented through his properties.
The presentation showed the marina area transformed into a green space, with a bandshell for performances, food truck spaces, seating areas and access to a bar attached to a dry boat storage building. Plans also showed the marina’s main building as a restaurant.
Commissioner Ralph Cole, who chairs the CRA, said, “This is a great opportunity. Today, we should move forward with doing whatever it takes to get the ball rolling. It’s a win-win situation.”
Chappie added, “This is one of the big pieces to the overall vision that we’ve had since the beginning of the CRA and what it can be. That downtown commercial core.”
“The opportunity is there to move forward and see where we can land on this thing,” he continued. “I am totally in favor of applying for the funding.”
Chappie motioned to approve Perry’s collaboration with Kaleta for easements necessary for the trail’s establishment and the submission of applications to the TDC and the county board.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Jan Vosburgh and passed 5-0. Chiles was absent with excuse.
