SAN CARLOS PARK : OPENING A NEW PATHWAY
San Carlos Park is a large community of 18,000 + people at the north end of the planned Bonita Estero Rail Trail . The community is bordered by Alico Road to the north , Highway 41 to the west , and both commercial and residential properties to the east and south . Today , bicyclists and pedestrians , particularly those living in the west and north portions of the community , are forced to use Alico Road and Highway 41 as their primary transportation route when venturing outside the Park . These two routes lead to area businesses which many residents depend on for services and employment . However , these roadways are very congested and , from a safety perspective , are challenging for pedestrians and bicyclists .
The Seminole Gulf Rail corridor that will be converted into the trail runs from north to south near the west center of the San Carlos Park area . Like other areas along BERT , San Carlos Park will benefit tremendously from the conversion of the unused and unmaintained rail corridor to a well-designed and constructed rail trail . As other rail trails , BERT is expected to serve as a vibrant ‘ linear park ’ that provides beautification and revitalization to the communities it traverses . More importantly , it will also provide a safe transportation route that provides connections to other communities along the trail , enabling new opportunities for commuting to work , schools , retail , and other destinations . This new active transportation route will serve not only the areas south of San Carlos Park but also to the north , once BERT is connected to the John Yarbrough Trail . Imagine living in San Carlos Park and having a linear park that provides a safe transportation route to as far south as Bonita Springs or as far north as downtown Fort Myers . The opportunities for trail users to go further will grow dramatically as the larger regional and state trail networks continue to expand . For residents of San Carlos Park and other communities , this is the exciting future that the Bonita Estero Rail Trail offers .
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Conceptual rendering of a potential trailhead and trail crossing at Sanibel Blvd in San Carlos Park .