ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It was once a railroad corridor. Since 1990, it’s been a walking and biking path — the Pinellas Trail Loop.

What You Need To Know

  • The Pinellas Trail Loop is 75 miles between Tarpon Springs and St. Petersburg

  • Cities crossed: Largo, Bellair, Clearwater, Dunedin, Ozona, Palm Harbor and Pinellas Park

  • Take MAR — "More Action for Regeneration" — started as an idea between two nature/community lovers

  • So far, the group has planted about 250 trees along the trail, with help from neighbors like St. Pete Distillery

It has grown from a linear trail to a 75-mile loop between Tarpon Springs and St. Pete.

Now, there’s a new nonprofit group working to make it a complete “greenway.” Dr. Michelle Ellena is watering her way down the Pinellas Trail — one new baby tree at a time.

“So, Slash Pines get two and a half gallons each,” Ellena said, pouring water from an orange bucket onto the waist high tree.

Ellena is the Executive Director of the new Take MAR, “More Action for Regeneration.”

The group is planting and maintaining trees along the trail. So far they’ve planted almost 250 trees.

The trees are all Florida natives, like the Slash Pine, Cocoplums, Florida Privet, Mulberry trees and Live Oaks.

Ellena says Take MAR started as an idea between friends. The nature lovers started by planting trees on bare parts of the Pinellas trail to make it more inviting.

And they’ve gained the support of nearby business owners in the process, like the St. Pete Distillery.

The distillery gives the group water from their well and a shipping container to store their planting equipment.

“It’s community buy-in,” said Ellena. “It’s not just any business. It’s just what are the businesses being impacted by the work that we are doing here, and how they can all help.”

The group aims to improve the trail as a gift to the future community.

The group will plant at least 50 trees along this area of the trail in 2024.