Durante Park

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

longboatkey.org/town-govern…

The trail is nearly perfectly flat, and covered with crushed shells, with a few hundred feet of twisty boardwalks that can get a bit slippery. For those cruising up the paved path that travels the length of the island, it's a nice shady addition. Shortcuts and alternate "lines" can make riding several laps more interesting.

Joan M. Durante Park, is a 32-acre site located on Sarasota Bay two miles from the north end of Longboat Key. The site had previously been developed with cabins, these had been demolished and invasive exotic vegetation had taken over the site by the time the Town acquired it in the late eighties.

The wetland and coastal dune forest restoration represents a major public/private success story, with participation from local, State and Federal governmental agencies and a private donor. The park has also won a number of awards, including the "1998 Outstanding Ecosystem Restoration Award" from the Florida Urban Forestry Council, the "Public Landscape Award" from the Keep Manatee Beautiful organization, and the "Image Manatee Beautification Award" from the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce.