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 Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Greenways & Trails
Connections Newsletter
Winter 2010 |
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Welcome to the First E-Newsletter Edition of Connections! |
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| February is Florida Hiking Trails Month...Time to Take a Hike!
 February is a great time of year to enjoy the state's natural beauty through a quiet walk or an invigorating hike. Join in celebrating Florida's more than 1,800 miles of dedicated hiking trails, as we salute the volunteers and public and private partners who make this extensive trail system possible. The Florida Trail Association (FTA) leads the way with a range of activities planned throughout the state.
Opportunities for outdoor fun continue with FTA's Annual Conference, "Pathway to the Future," scheduled for March 26-28, 2010 in Polk County near Haines City. The conference and the festivities planned for Florida Trail Days will take place on the shore of beautiful Lake Pierce. For more information, visit floridatrail.org. |
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A Little Goes a Long Way for the General James A. Van Fleet State Trail
750 feet = more than 6 miles and 4 curves
Thanks to a combination of state, local, public and private partnerships, OGT's recent paving of just 750 feet of trail has extended the 29-mile General James A. Van Fleet State Trail corridor by more than six miles, adding four curves (for a total of five!) and enhancing the Trail's regional connectivity. With the closing of this gap, the Van Fleet Trail corridor now extends to the City of Auburndale via Polk City.
The 5.5-mile Auburndale-TECO Trail, completed in 2007 and Polk City's .75-mile Van Fleet State Trail Extension, constructed this year, were developed by these cities in large part through a land use agreement with Tampa Electric Company (TECO). OGT's addition of a 750-foot segment at the Van Fleet's southern terminus completes the connection, improving regional access to the corridor and giving trail users several more miles plus a few interesting curves to enjoy along this popular rail-trail. For more on the General James A. Van Fleet State Trail, visit FloridaGreenwaysAndTrails.com.
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Get Fit and Get Smart!
 The Withlacoochee State Trail is not only a multi-use trail, it's also multi-purpose! Whether you prefer to walk, bike, skate or work out at the new fitness course near the Inverness Trailhead, this popular state trail is the perfect setting for fresh air exercise and camaraderie with other trail users. Now there's also a chance to learn something new along the way. Thanks to funding by the Rails to Trails of the Withlacoochee Citizens Support Organization and the tireless efforts of these volunteers, interpretive panels have recently been installed to highlight points of interest and natural resources along the trail. The panels feature a range of topics related to this historic rail-trail, such as the "great train wreck," the red caboose, wading birds and alligators, phosphate mining and the Seminole Indians.
For a great place to exercise both mind and body, check out the Withlacoochee State Trail at FloridaGreenwaysAndTrails.com.
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A Capital Vision in the Making...
See Florida's historic capital city and its beautiful Gulf coastline in one trip-by trail!
The development of long distance and regional loop trails as destination experiences is a trail tourism concept that is gaining popularity and momentum throughout the country and is supported by the DEP Office of Greenways & Trails here in Florida. A tri-county trail concept has recently been proposed that would link Florida's capital city with the Gulf Coast, offering the opportunity to explore some of the state's most significant historic, cultural and natural resources in one extended trip, using alternative methods of transportation. The proposed 120-mile "Capital City to the Sea Loop" would connect Wakulla, Leon and Franklin counties. When completed, the Loop will be a regional destination attraction and the only trail of its type to connect a state capital to the coast. For more information about the proposed "Capital City to the Sea Loop," contact Robin.Turner@dep.state.fl.us. |
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East Coast Greenway Alliance Meets with Amelia Island Trail Planners
East Coast Greenway (ECG) Alliance Executive Director, Dennis Markatos-Soriano, and Herb Hiller, ECG Florida Coordinator, recently visited Amelia Island to meet with the Amelia Island Trail (AIT) project team, which has developed a master plan for more than 50 miles of trails. The ECG leaders noted that the Florida-Georgia connection provided by Amelia River Cruises ferry service is significant for the AIT, forming a critical link in the ECG. For more on the AIT, see ameliaislandassociation.com.
The East Coast Greenway is a developing urban trail that runs from Maine to Key West. The 2,900-mile route is nearly 25% complete and, by Spring of 2010, 200 miles of the 600-mile Florida route will have been designated. The ECG plans a Jacksonville Trail Summit in 2010, featuring a two-week Bike Florida ride from Fernandina Beach to Key West. About the ECG...greenway.org. |
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Meet the Authors
Presentation and Book Signing
 Steven Noll, Senior Lecturer,
University of Florida Department of History
David Tegeder
Professor of History, Santa Fe College
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
5:30 p.m.
Florida's Historic Capitol
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100
(850) 487-1902
The history of the Cross Florida Barge Canal is a complex story of competing interests amid the changing political landscape of modern Florida. Noll and Tegeder trace the fascinating twists and turns of this historic corridor's transformation from one of Florida's biggest public works projects ever, to today's world class Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway.
For more information, (850) 487-1902, or Steven Noll: nolls@ufl.edu ; David Tegeder: david.tegeder@sfcollege.edu.
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Printed Circumnavigational Trail Guide Now Available
 The first printed trail guide for the 1,515-mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail (text only) is now available on Amazon.com. The 276-page guide includes information on launches, campsites, campgrounds, motels, points of interest, and the many public lands along the route, as well as a trail data book, equipment list, trip tips and planning instructions. Color maps to accompany the book can be downloaded from the DEP Office of Greenways & Trails (OGT) Web site: FloridaGreenwaysAndTrails.com. OGT developed this printed guide as a service for paddlers who would otherwise have to download and print a substantial amount of information from the OGT Web site. The guide is only available through Amazon, since the use of a print-on-demand Amazon company allows for periodic updates to the trail data. Proceeds from the sale of the guide are transferred directly to the non-profit Florida Paddling Trails Association to help support its stewardship of this and other paddling trails statewide. |
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From the North to the South, Florida's Scenic Routes are Nationally Recognized ...The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail celebrates the news!
Florida's scenic highways took the national spotlight in October when the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration announced the 2009 National Scenic Byway designations. Newly named to America's Byway program were the 220-mile Big Bend Scenic Byway in Florida's capital region, and U.S. Highway 1 in the Florida Keys, which achieved the elite status of "All-American Road." According to Mariano Berrios, Florida Scenic Highways Program Administrator, [one of the] "...benefits of obtaining national designation is that the byways will be marketed nationally and internationally as part of the America's Byways collection as America's best. This, in turn, can create an increase in tourism and opportunities for economic development."
Maps and information on the Big Bend Scenic Byway are available at: byways.org/explore/byways/2599/.
For more about the All-American Road designation for U.S. 1 and the exciting development projects taking place on OGT's Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail...Trail Talk Newsletter. |
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Seminole-Wekiva Trail Wins Award!
 Congratulations to Seminole County on receiving Florida Monthly's 2009 "Best Greenway and Trail" Award for the Seminole-Wekiva Trail.
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Volunteer Spotlight
 In addition to her year 'round support, Cross Florida Greenway volunteer Michelle Shearer is one of the ever-faithful volunteers who participate with the DEP Office of Greenways & Trails in the Marion County Christmas parade. More than 70,000 spectators from throughout the area gather for this annual event, held last year on December 5, 2009. OGT is always well represented by its volunteers and their "best friends!"
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It was the 18th year of the "Big O Hike"...
Eighteen hardy hikers made it to the finish line!
On November 29, 2009, 18 people proudly completed the nine-day, 110-mile "Big O Hike" around the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. (l to r) Wes Albright (Lake Mary), Bill Detzner (Miami), Charles Auer (Tennessee), Paul Cummings (Lake Worth), Larry Myers (St. Cloud), Mike Thompson (Boynton Beach), Lynn Thompson (Boynton Beach), Gordon Johnson (The Villages), Ginny Young (Indiana), John Dancz (Naples), Brenda Nagel (Boca Raton), Sandra Schmid (Tallahassee), Robin Alpert (Boca Raton), Robert Dowdy (West Palm Beach), Clyde Hopkins (Ft. Pierce), Mary H. Miller (Boca Raton), Gene Finkler (Arcadia), Ann Crawford (Zephyrhills). | |
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Calendar Highlights
4th Annual Ride-Roll-Run Relay
January 30, 2010
Land Bridge Trailhead/ Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway
Ocala
In this relay race and fundraiser for the Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation, three different trail users form each team-- runner (3.5 miles), mountain biker (10 miles) and equestrian (7 miles). For details, see riderollrunrelay.com or call (352) 236-7143.
10th Annual Horses for Hospice Trail Ride
February 20, 2010
Florida Horse Park/Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway
Ocala
A 2-3 hour trail ride sponsored by Hospice of Marion County, Inc. The minimum donation to ride is $25; non-riders may purchase a $10 ticket to also participate in a barbecue lunch, live entertainment and door prizes. For more information or to register, call (352) 854-5218.
"Tour of Boca" Bicycle Rides
February 14, March 14, 2010
Boca Raton
Family-friendly bike rides for ages 10+ with a nominal fee of $2 per person. Children ages 10-14 must be accompanied by an adult; all riders MUST wear a helmet. For additional information, call (561) 391-6109, or see bocabikeclub.org.
Spring Break Fat Tire Festival
March 19-21, 2010
Santos Trailhead/Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway
Ocala
A weekend of mountain biking featuring new trails in the Santos "epic ride" experience, live music, food, demonstration and test rides! For registration fees and more information, visit omba.org.
Florida Trail Association Annual Conference/ Florida Trail DaysMarch 26-28, 2010 Haines City On the shore of beautiful Lake Pierce, the event will feature speakers, workshops and guided hikes, along with Trail Days exhibits, demonstrations and entertainment. For registration fees and information, see floridatrail.org. |
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