Happy trails: Improved course brings big running events, windfall for county | Tallahassee Democrat | tallahassee.com

Apalachee Regional Park hosted last year's state cross country meet. Special to the Democrat

When he looks out across Apalachee Regional Park today before the start of this weekend’s FSU Invitational, Bob Braman likely will reflect upon the first time he saw this property.

“The weeds were taller than my head,” Braman, FSU’s men’s cross country coach, said this week with a laugh. “It really was, ‘Here’s your palette, your paint brush, and go.’”

Braman is quick to point out that he was far from the only person painting; this was a community endeavor — with heavy lifting from Leon County, FSU and the Gulf Winds Track Club. But the result is a newly renovated cross country course they all believe is a masterpiece that will bring in big dollars for the community and bigger events in the future.