Punta Gorda Linear Park

The Punta Gorda Linear Park is a mile-long rail trail in Punta Gorda, Florida. It runs from Cross Street near Helen Avenue southeast though a residential neighborhood to Fishermen's Village. Despite its short length, it connects to the Harborwalk at Fishermen's Village, which runs an additional two and a half miles northeast along the Peace River. It also connects to Punta Gorda's Shared-Use Path along Shreve Street.

History

The Punta Gorda Linear Park runs along a former Florida Southern/Atlantic Coast Line Railroad right of way. First built in 1886, this railroad line was the Florida Southern's southernmost trackage. It was the terminus of the rail line until 1904 when it was extended to Fort Myers. The rail line provided service to the historic Long Dock in Charlotte Harbor from 1886 to 1897. Some of the line was reactivated in 1928 to serve the Maud Street City Dock up until the early 1970s.