Greenways may come to airport

By ED BIERSCHENK ed.bierschenk@scripps.com February 12, 2007
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 10-mile path along the perimeter of the Vero Beach Municipal Airport for use by pedestrians and bicyclists could be among the first projects designed as part of a Central Indian River County Greenways Plan. The trail could run along 43rd Avenue, 41st Street, the railroad corridor east of the airport, Aviation Boulevard and the Main Relief Canal. A system of trails also could be located in a proposed Mountain Bike Park, in some land northwest of the Airport Industrial Park.
The county is recommending that design work begin on this project, which is one of several included in the greenways plan being done by the county by Alta Planning + Design, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y, and Fort Lauderdale-based Kimley-Horn and Associates.
The loop trail has been discussed in the past and part of it is expected to be built in conjunction with the widening of Aviation Boulevard, west of U.S. 1, in the summer of 2008. Vero Beach Recreation Director Rob Slezak said previously that he will be seeking additional state money to complete the airport loop. The total cost of the loop could exceed $3 million.
The county's Metropolitan Planning Organization will discuss the plan at its Wednesday meeting. Other projects that could be done over the next one to five years include some improvements to a "two bridges loop," which is already a popular route for runners and others.
The loop basically runs from State Road A1A, west along Beachland Boulevard and the Barber Bridge to Indian River Boulevard, south to the 17th Street Causeway, east along 17th Street to S.R. A1A and back to Beachland Boulevard.
Some of the proposed improvements could include adding designated bike lanes to S.R. A1A between the bridges and improving the bike lanes along the 17th Street bridge, which could include using colored asphalt. Longer term, there may be consideration given to shifting the barrier along the Barber Bridge to create a wider pedestrian walkway.
The public will have a chance to comment on the final draft of a Central Indian River County Greenways Plan between 2 and 3 p.m. Tuesday at a meeting in conference room A of the Indian River County Administration building, 1840 25th St.