On the Waterway

“The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of something that is elusive but attainable,
a perpetual series of occasions for hope.”
John Buchan (1875-1940)    The Quotable Fisherman
 

Venetian Waterway Park
 

Clear blue skies and gentle breezes beckon us to be outdoors.
And, what a better way to enjoy a beautiful day than with a bicycle ride to the beach!

 “Want to ride the bikes to the pier?” I ask my daughters and their friend. Almost instantly, they have swimsuits in hand and race for the bicycles. Armed with sunscreen and water bottles, I grab the helmets and we’re off for an adventure on the Venetian Waterway Park.

We begin our trek at the trailhead adjacent to the North Bridge and head south.
The scenic 8-foot-wide paved path is frequented by walkers, joggers, cyclists,
and in-line skaters.

The Venice Avenue bridge provides a birds-eye view of the park as it follows both the east and west banks of the Intracoastal Waterway.

Just south of the Venice Avenue Bridge, a mural by local artist Colleen Henry pays homage to Venice’s historic beginnings.

The path meanders along the waterfront before making a hairpin turn,
revealing an arbor and butterfly garden designed by the Venice Garden Club
and planted by the Venice High School Interact Club.

My cycling companions, Elizabeth, Shelley and Summer,
rest on a bench under the canopy of a great oak along Golf Drive.

The kids explore a gopher tortoise hole as I gaze at this scenic stretch
of path lined with fragrant jasmine, bougainvillea and crape myrtle.

A pavilion near the Circus Bridge provides a panoramic view of the path
as it winds south toward Caspersen Beach.

We decide to leave the Venetian Waterway Park and take Airport Avenue
to Harbor Drive, then south to Sharky’s on the Pier. We park our bikes
and head inside for a cold drink and a bite to eat.

A walk on the fishing pier and a swim in the Gulf complete a glorious afternoon!

A shady rest stop offers a picturesque view of the
Venetian Waterway Park alongside Golf Drive.

About Venetian Waterway Park

Venice Area Beautification, Inc. (VABI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to enrich the community with enhancement projects throughout the Greater Venice area. VABI was founded in 1990 by the Venice Chamber of Commerce to address landscape beautification projects along US 41 in Venice including renovation of the old train depot and construction of a linear trail along both sides of the Intracoastal Waterway.

About nine miles of the Venetian Waterway Park is now open for walking, jogging, in-line skating and bicycling (bike helmets and protective gear are recommended). When completed, the park will connect Venice to the Rails-to-Trails project, forming a 22-mile non-motorized trail from

Shamrock Park to Oscar Scherer State Park and other Sarasota landmarks. Venetian Waterway Park is pet-friendly. Amenities include benches, picnic shelters, grills, litter receptacles and dog clean-up stations. A kayak launch is located near Casperson Beach pavilion on Red Lake.

The volunteer Trail Blazer Bike Patrol, sponsored by VABI, the Venice Police Department and Sarasota County Parks and Recreation, bicycle the Venetian Waterway Park daily. Another group of volunteers, the Pepper Patrol, meet weekly to mulch, water, and weed along the walkways.

Parking on the west (island) side of the Intracoastal Waterway can be found at the trailhead at Tampa Avenue, the east end of Miami Avenue near the Venice Avenue bridge, on Golf Drive at the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, the east end of Airport Avenue near the Circus Bridge, and at Caspersen Beach Park. On the east side of the Intracoastal Waterway, visitors can park at the Marina Park and Boat Ramp, the historic Venice Train Depot, and Shamrock Park in South Venice.

For more information and a map of the park, or to learn how you can volunteer, contact Venice Area Beautification, Inc. at 941-207-8224 or visit www.vabi.org.

Written and Photographed by Sandy Johnson
Printed May 2007

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