Trust for Public Land Acquires Booker Creek Rail Corridor
The approximately 0.86-mile former railroad property runs diagonally through downtown St. Petersburg and will be converted into a public trail.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Hiking
Live Poll
Would you support more trails in your area to help residents get around?
The Trust for Public Land acquired the approximately 0.86-mile Booker Creek rail corridor in August, following more than two decades of efforts to preserve the former CSX property for public use. The city paid $7 million for the property, with Ferguson contributing $6 million through two 99-year ground lease agreements approved by City Council in July.
Why it matters
The corridor has been underutilized, and city officials have pursued it since it appeared in local trail plans in 2003. The project could bring additional pedestrian and bicycle traffic to the EDGE District and encourage redevelopment along the corridor.
The corridor measures about 0.86 miles and the city's $7 million purchase price did not cover trail construction. Ferguson's $6 million contribution is tied to two 99-year ground lease agreements, and the trail's construction cost has not been stated.
The players
Trust for Public Land
A national nonprofit land conservation organization that acquires properties and transfers them to public ownership for parks and trails.
Ferguson
The company that contributed $6 million toward the city's purchase of the corridor through two 99-year ground lease agreements.
Cheryl Stacks
St. Petersburg's city transportation manager, who estimated the trail could take three to five years to complete.
The details
The city will be responsible for designing and constructing the trail, which would run between Fifth Avenue N. and First Avenue S. City transportation manager Cheryl Stacks estimated the trail could take three to five years to complete, and a grant request has been submitted to Forward Pinellas.
Timeline
2003: The corridor appeared in local trail plans.
July: City Council approved two 99-year ground lease agreements.
August: The Trust for Public Land announced the acquisition of the corridor.
Sunday, Nov. 8: The Trust for Public Land celebrated the acquisition with a bicycle tour.
Season Trajectory
The Booker Creek corridor would extend the Pinellas Trail network into downtown St. Petersburg, connecting it to the regional trail system. The project follows years of local trail planning that began with the corridor's inclusion in plans dating to 2003.
The trail is expected to take three to five years to complete, so residents and visitors should not expect a finished route in the near term. Walkers and cyclists in downtown St. Petersburg can watch for updates as the city moves forward with design and construction.
The takeaway
Public trail projects can take years to move from land acquisition to completion, and this corridor's path depends on design, construction funding, and a pending grant request. Local residents who want to follow the project can track city transportation updates as the timeline develops.
Further reading
For related trail coverage, see Hiking in St. Petersburg.
Source note: This article includes information reported by St Pete Catalyst.
Live Poll
Would you support more trails in your area to help residents get around?
