The newest 3 mile addition to St. Johns County's Palatka to St. Augustine Rail with Trail, along the St. Johns River to Sea Loop, is open for business! We are excited to have this amazing opportunity to highlight the opportunities for Hastings as a trail town stop as the trail continues ever closer to the Atlantic Ocean.
Press Release: https://www.dropbox.com/s/995pppephogk22y/Press%20Release%20Hastings%20Trail%202019%20-%20%20FINAL.pdf?dl=0
FULL INFO BELOW & on www.VELOFEST.org under Events!
Hastings Ribbon Cutting April 6th, 9:00AM at the Palatka to St.Augustine Tail & Main Street Hastings, Florida!!
Co-hosted/planned by Velofest, Putnam Blueway & Trails CSO and Bike Florida, we will be celebrating the 30 year Palatka to St Augustine Trail! This section is the northern most portion of the St. Johns River to Sea Loop and once complete will connect the City of St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach to a 260 mile regional continuous separated paved trail. Come early for a stroll or stay after for the local hospitality. Hasting Christ United Methodist, Norma D's Kitchen, The Chicken Koop, Rail Road Park, Cora Harrison Trail Head, Deep Creek Bridge and more await to be explored.
Cycling clubs and groups are ridding to the ribbon cutting! Thanks to North Florida Bicycle Club for also designating our little event as a charity club ride! Thanks to St. Augustine Mom's Blog for featuring the event too.
This event wouldn't be possible without the financial support of many. North Florida Bicycle Club, St. Johns River to Sea Loop Alliance and others are helping achieve what many thought was a "trail to nowhere." We had to start somewhere and now, we are going places! Consider a donation today.
FREE Event....BUT you might want to register and bring a little pocket change because:
-Commemorative shirt designed by local resident and artist, Terrance Ford for sale ($15) and a SAG supported trail bike ride after the ribbon cutting with Bike Florida ($10). Full details on our Facebook event "Hastings Trail Ribbon Cutting".
-Donations welcome and will support SEA Community and the quest for a community center at the Armstrong Trail Head as well as Hastings signage needs for the trail. Businesses who donate $100 will get a special mention on our facebook pages, event links and at the event. You can donate online or mail a check. Please emaildirector@velofest.org for more information.
-Hastings Christ United Methodist Historical Site and Church will be open for FREE tours until 12:00PM.
Parking
If you are attending the ribbon cutting and strolling Hastings, the quaint downtown offers ample on street parking. If you are riding in the Bike Florida ride, please consider parking at the Cora Harrison Trail on SR207 just passed Church Street. If the lot is full, please park anywhere in Hastings Downtown except directly on Main Street as the businesses are OPEN!!
Cora Harrison Trail Head 8989 W. Church Street, Hastings FL. Entrance to trail head is on SR207.
Bike Parking (415 N. Main Street, Hastings, FL)
If you are riding to the event, there will be ample bike parking donated by VeloFest near Main Street Trail crossing and Rail Road Park. Site map to come.
Volunteer- Volunteers are welcome. We are looking for other lovers of this trail to help with set up (no heavy lifting), registration check in, t-shirt table, info directors and of course clean up! Please register on the event link.
Schedule
8:00AM - Early stroll, skip, jog or birding. We will have some coffee and light items to enjoy. Area running clubs will be holding group runs. Check with Palatka Running Club or Ancient City Road Runners Facebook pages for more info! Local organization and businesses and supporting area groups will have tables set up! Meet and greet these groups and state officials who all worked nearly 3 decades to make this linear trail park possible.
9:00AM- Ribbon Cuttingg ceremony begins. Hear from the many organizations both public and private who helped usher this 12 mile project along.
9:45AM- Ribbon cutting and Bike Florida Ride begins
10:00AM-12:00PM - Historic Hastings Christ United Methodist Church will be open for tours.
The Ribbon Cutting Ride with Bike Florida, VeloFest, and Putnam Blueways & Trails CSO has been approved as an official NFBC charity ride team event! Sign up today for the low-low price of $10
Bike Florida, in support of trails, the #cyclingeconomy and our friends at VeloFest & @ Putnam Blueways and Trails CSO, are proud to provide the inaugural "Ride to the Ribbon Cutting" April 6, 2019. This historic event marks the completion and completion filling a significant gap in the Palatka to St. Augustine Rail Trail. Riders will have the chance to see old Florida beauty and tour historic St. Johns and Putnam County. This ride is great for the slow roll, families, the young and the young at heart. Not interested in riding? Help out by volunteering or purchase a commemorative shirt designed by local artists.
Ceremony starts at 9 AM. Parking and event registration begins at 8:30 AM.
Ride starts at 9:45 am, immediately following the ribbon cutting on the trail at Main Street in Hastings.
The route will be mostly rail trail that will take you to Palatka, a beautiful town situated on the St. Johns River.
There is a 10 mile out and back option to Armstrong. Those wishing to go further will ride to Palatka and back for a grand total of 32 miles.
Route details here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29365819