Nassau County opened a 3.4-mile paved trail along Amelia Island Parkway on Wednesday, Aug. 26, completing a four-phase project that links the island's south end to South Eighth Street.

The ribbon-cutting at the corner of Amelia Island Parkway and Airport Road marked the final piece of what is now a continuous 12-mile off-road trail system. The trail is open now. District 2 Commissioner A.M. "Hupp" Huppmann welcomed the crowd.

"We're opening a new connection between neighborhoods, parks, businesses, schools, and the natural beauty that makes Amelia Island such a special place," Huppmann said, according to the County Insider.

Four Segments Now Connect Two Older Trail Networks

The 10-foot-wide trail runs along the west side of Amelia Island Parkway in four segments: South Fletcher Avenue to Via Del Rey, Via Del Rey to South 14th Street, South 14th Street to Bailey Road, and Bailey Road to South Eighth Street. It connects two earlier trails: a path from the island's south end to Peters Point Beachfront Park, finished in 2011, and the Amelia River-to-Sea Trail from Crane Island to Simmons Road Beach Access, completed in 2019.

Federal Grants Funded Nearly the Entire Project

Federal transportation dollars covered nearly the entire cost. Segment 1 received $998,607 through the Florida Department of Transportation's Local Agency Program (LAP), with an $88,971 county contribution. Segments 2 through 4 were funded entirely by federal LAP grants totaling $6,114,494, according to the Friends of the Amelia Island Trail.

The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners awarded the construction contract for Segments 2, 3 and 4 to CGC Inc. in February and March 2025. Construction on those segments began in April 2025. A new roundabout at Amelia Island Parkway and Buccaneer Trail, costing $1,824,936, served as the final link connecting Segments 1 and 2.

Nonprofit Partner Helped Secure Funding, Plans More Amenities

Mike Pikula, president of Friends of the Amelia Island Trail, thanked the planners, designers and contractors at Wednesday's ceremony. The Fernandina Beach nonprofit has partnered with Nassau County on trail development and helped the county secure federal funding.

Friends of the Amelia Island Trail plans to add benches as rest stops along the new parkway trail, as it has done for existing island trails.

County Already Planning Phase 5 and a New River-to-Sea Extension

Nassau County is already planning a Phase 5 extension north of State Road 200/Eighth Street to Bonnieview and Clinch Drive. A request for proposals is forthcoming, according to the county's five-year capital plan. Separately, design plans for a new 3-mile segment extending the Amelia River-to-Sea Trail on Simmons Road are expected to reach 60% completion in October 2026.

The trail network is part of the East Coast Greenway, a multistate trail system running along the Atlantic seaboard.

Upcoming Trail Dates

• October 2026: Simmons Road trail extension design plans expected at 60% completion.
• TBD: Phase 5 request for proposals (Bonnieview/Clinch Drive extension) to be released by Nassau County.