Manatee County will celebrate the official start of construction on the Gateway Greenway Trail with a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, June 18, at 8:30 a.m. Residents are invited to attend as the county marks the milestone in the development of its first countywide trail system.
The ceremony will be held at 17915 Waterline Service Road and will mark the beginning of construction on the initial phase of the Gateway Greenway Trail, a project that lays the foundation for a larger vision to create a connected network of trails linking communities, parks, preserves, and destinations throughout the county.
“This groundbreaking represents more than the start of a construction project — it is the beginning of a long-term investment in connectivity, recreation, and quality of life for our residents,” said District 7 Commissioner George Kruse. “The Gateway Greenway Trail will serve as the backbone of a future trail network that connects people to places and communities to one another.”
The Gateway Greenway Trail is planned as a regional multimodal corridor that will ultimately connect Palmetto and Parrish while providing access to key destinations throughout Manatee County. Planned extensions south of SR 64 along Bournside Boulevard will connect with trail facilities developed by private partners, creating a more comprehensive regional trail network.
“The Manatee Gateway Greenway Trail will create new opportunities for safe recreation and transportation,” said Trust for Public Land Florida Gulf Coast Trail Project Director Charles Hines. “This groundbreaking is an exciting milestone for Manatee County and brings us that much closer to a more connected Florida Gulf Coast Trail.”
The groundbreaking ceremony will feature remarks from county officials, project partners, and community leaders, followed by a ceremonial shovel-turning to commemorate the start of construction.