City Council Continues to Review "Ring Around Punta Gorda" Nearly Complete at Tomorrow's Meeting

Tomorrow the Punta Gorda City Council will review and make decisions regarding components of the  “Ring Around The City.”  The "Ring will ultimately include more than 15 miles of interconnected pedestrian and bicycling pathways, making Punta Gorda one of the most bicycle and pedestrian-friendly towns in Florida.   Council will be reviewing two alternate designs for the Linear Park II.  Once a selection is made, the project will be bid, with construction completing in 2012.  There will also be an update on the status of the section of Harborwalk in front of Benedettos Restaurant.

The orginal concept for the "Ring" stemmed from the Citizen's Master Plan developed by Team Punta Gorda in 2005 right after Hurricane Charley.  It was one of the many concepts that were part of a vision of what the City could be and has been evolving into over the last six years.  The planned "Ring Around the City" is now part of the City's plan to create a system of Bicycle and Pedestrian Trails and Paths that will connect the City's neighborhoods, parks, and commercial areas.  It is now being funded through a combination of Federal Transportation Funds, a One Cent Local Option Infrastructure Sale Tax, and private sector development projects.

The ring is designated to have three major components: the Harborwalk, along the harbor from the eastern City limits to Fisherman’s Village ( The eastern segment of this is complete with the beautiful walkway extending from the Event Center east.  Engineering for the west segment which would create a new wider path through Gilchrist Park is underway.  Issues regarding the path in front of the Best Western are  being addressed and a solution here was looking promising.); the Linear Park, circling the downtown and east and  west side historic districts, connecting with the two ends of Harborwalk; the MURTs (Multi-Use Recreational Trails), running along US 41 from the southern City limits to Airport Road and then along Shreve, connecting with the Linear Park at Virginia. ( The MURT along Shreve was recently opened. )  

The City Council Meeting is tomorrow at 9 a.m. In addition, the meeting is broadcast on Charlotte County TV20 on Thursday at 7 p.m. and on Sunday at 12 p.m.