DeBary Ribbon Cutting Ride January 21, 2022

We had a great Ribbon Cutting Ride – nearly 100 riders and lots of press coverage. 

The Orlando Sentinel had a full-page article.  

The West Volusia Beacon  also had a good article.  

The long-awaited trail segment between Highway 17/92 at Dirksen Drive and Highbanks Avenue was celebrated with a Ride to the Ribbon Cutting on Friday January 21. It’s now possible to ride all the way from Titusville or Edgewater to DeLand’s Lake Beresford Park all on trail! 

The Loop is now essentially complete from Titusville to Lake Beresford Park – a distance of over 56 miles of continuous multiuse trail, plus SUNTrail sections to Edgewater and to Lake Monroe Park – a combined total of 76 miles!  There remains only a highway crossing at the light at 17/92 and Dirksen Drive, and a short stretch along Donald E. Smith Blvd. 

This important trail section was completed by Volusia County supported by funding from the FDOT SUNTrail program. We are planning a special ride to celebrate. We are still working on a few details. The tentative plan is to meet at Gemini Springs County Park at 9:30 for check-in, then ride on the new trail section to W. Highbanks Avenue for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Following the ceremony we will enjoy a ride to Blue Spring State Park where our group of riders will be granted free entry to the park to view the manatees from the boardwalk.  

We rode to the Ribbon Cutting on W Highbanks Road from Gemini Springs and following the ceremony we continued to Blue Spring State Park to see the manatees.  There was a record number of manatees present! Over 600.

Following the ride many stopped off for a fun and relaxing social meetup at Central 28 Beer Co, complete with deliciious tacos and other treats from a food truck.    

Be sure to thank Volusia County Parks, Recreation and Culture for their support of trails and for generously providing the check-in location. Also thank Florida State Parks for allowing our group free entry to Blue Spring State Park.  
 

Special thanks to our 2022 Trail Alliance Partners: – You allow us to keep on pedaling toward our goal of completed Loop and bike-friendly five-counties.  

Trail Alliance Contributors:

And as always thanks to Volusia County Parks

 Florida State Parks, and the FDOT SUNTrail program.