Manatee County leaders have embarked on a mission to enhance the outdoor experience for residents and visitors and expand green spaces in the county. Some upgrades have already happened at the Robinson Preserve which will eventually include miles of trails linking to area counties. At the 420-acre preserve located in North Bradenton, an ongoing 150-acre expansion and restoration process includes efforts to reestablish creeks along the lower Tampa Bay for marine life, especially fish hatcheries and recreational activities to thrive. "I'd like to try the canoe sometime I hear they have the canoe canoeing is going to be a wonderful experience," John Ozolins, a Manatee County resident, said. "I see a lot of birds and I see a lot of fish and I see a few people," Chris G. of Bradenton said. Upgraded from seven to 22 feet in width, the 1.6-mile fully aligned rubberized trail system has become a big attraction. "Just the rubber track. The rubber track here is really good on our bones and our whole bodies," Dianna Conrad, a Manatee County resident, said. "It's spongy and feels like you got a pair of Sketchers or something on and just additional padding," Conrad added. "I like the fact that it's soft on your feet and I refer to it as running the sponge," Chris echoed. MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/manateecounty/rubber-trail-robinson-preserve-manatee-county/67-37f1206e-c9b7-47f3-85f5-26d47a85adf2 ►Subscribe: https://on.wtsp.com/youtube ►Website: https://www.wtsp.com/ ►Facebook: https://facebook.com/10TampaBay ►X: https://twitter.com/10TampaBay