OCALA, Fl (352today.com) – Ocala resident James Cook, a local proponent of the “Rails-to-Trails” push to repurpose decommissioned portions of old railway as multiuse outdoor areas for the public good, presented a proposal during the Ocala City Council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, during the public comments portion of the meeting.
The Florida Northern Railroad’s easement right-of-way is 28.2 miles, and they currently have 9.1 miles of inactive tracks along what is referred to as the north branch.
The short piece of railway is under consideration for being classified as abandoned, which means the Rails-to-Trails conversion process could conceivably begin in the near future.
“That would bring us to about on the south side to MLK,” said Cook. “From there through town, and down to just beyond, Brick City Park, on the south side would be our second phase. The third phase would be from Brick City Park down through the Cross Florida Parkway and down onto Candler.”
The advantage of the trail system is that it would connect a lot of different communities, said Cook.
“There is one rail that starts just in front of the animal shelter, and goes through and out to NW 27th, and that particular rail spur is inactive right now,” said Cook. “We’re currently getting all of the documentation for a presentation to go through CSX, probably in late November, and we’ll have all of our backup plans available and potential funding sources available for an immediate negotiation on the purchase of the right-of-way, and then we can return that to the City of Ocala.”
Cook said his group, which he assembled at city’s request, would propose to do the redevelopment of all of the retired line, and this would be accomplished through a 501(c)(3) five-year term and then return everything they have to the City of Ocala and to Marion County.
“Mr. Cook has been an asset to us,” said Pete Lee, City of Ocala city manager. “He’s passionate about [the project] for sure. We have some things that we have to work through. We know we have to talk to the county and continue to talk to the rail line. Mr. Cook has talked to (City of Ocala chief of staff) Chris Watt pretty regularly, over the last couple of weeks. There’s been a lot of communication.”
The City of Ocala will continue to have meetings. Watt has reached out to the FRA (Federal Railroad Administration), said Lee.
“Mr. Cook has done a particularly good job in documenting the things along the railway and on the railway,” said Lee. “He’s provided us all the pictures he’s taken. He’s done an excellent job.”
During Cook’s presentation, he provided images from the last derailment in July 2025, with the train cars still sitting on their side, as well as railroad tie track plates that were still stacked on the side of the railway as recently as earlier this month.
Derailments and chemical spills have served as an impetus for moving the project forward, as well as the hazards presented by old materials such as cross ties left stacked along the railway.