Celebrating the Trails | Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida

Nearly $2,000 raised to restore historic clubhouse

Cyclists prepare to travel along the Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trial on Saturday as part of Celebrate Putnam Trails.
Cyclists gather Saturday in Florahome before heading out on the Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trial.
Celebrate Putnam Trails organizer and Florahome Parks and Heritage Assocation President Meri-lin Piantanida greets cyclists Saturday before the event kicks off.
Cyclists travel along the Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trial Saturday as part of Celebrate Putnam Trails.
Celebrate Putnam Trails organizer and Florahome Parks and Heritage Assocation President Meri-lin Piantanida takes a picture during Saturday’s event.
Positively Putnam FL

FLORAHOME – Cyclists pedaled Saturday with smiles on their faces and friendly waves to fellow bikers down either side of the Florahome trailhead.

They were there for Celebrate Putnam Trails with a ride through the county. The event was part of the national event, Celebrate Trails Day, which happens every fourth Saturday in April, according to trail advocate organization Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

Meri-lin Piantanida, who volunteered at Saturday’s event and is the president of Florahome Park & Heritage Association, said about 30 participants attended the West Putnam event. Organizers held Celebrate Putnam Trails to raise money for restoring the community’s historic clubhouse at Palmetto Park in Florahome.

Piantanida said the association raised $1,900 from Saturday and they had raised $90,000 before Saturday. She said she wants to make the trail day an annual event because participants gave positive feedback.

“I felt very good about (the event),” Piantanida said. “It was a great day. For a first event, it couldn’t have gone better.”

Cyclists from Fernandina Beach, Gainesville and Orange Park, and other places, supported Saturday’s event as they rode the Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trial. Piantanida also said a group of deaf cyclists came from St. Augustine to ride from the Florahome trailhead.

Kraig McLane, vice chairman of the Putnam Blueways & Trails Committee, co-hosted the event with the association. He also hoped to make Celebrate Putnam Trails an annual event.

“Next year, we’re looking at adding a couple gravel rides,” McLane said.

He also thought about bringing in a cycling bus tour where 32 passengers with their bikes can take a trip from Orlando to Putnam County to ride local trails. A monthly cookout and trail day could be another event possibility, he said.

But he thought Saturday’s event was impressive, given the pandemic, and attendees said they enjoyed the ride. Cyclists received Palmetto Park medals to commemorate their ride and could finish the day with a hot dog lunch that McLane helped cook.

“I thought it went well,” he said.