FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 12, 2012
FLORIDA GREENWAYS AND TRAILS COUNCIL APPROVES FIVE-YEAR PLAN AND MAPS
~From hiking to
paddling, horseback riding to biking, Florida’s land and water trails provide
excellent year-round outdoor recreation opportunities~
TALLAHASSEE –The Florida Greenways and Trails
Council today approved the priority trails map, a major component of the Florida
Greenways and Trails System five-year
plan.
The priority trails map encompasses the most important corridor
connections that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Division
of Recreation and Parks will direct future resources
toward an effort to complete the Florida Greenways and Trails System. The opportunity
land and paddling
trail maps, which represent the existing, planned and conceptual non-motorized and
water trails network, were approved by the Council in October.
“We are pleased that the members
of the Florida Greenways and Trails Council have approved the new vision for
our state’s land and water trails,” said Jim Wood, Chief of the Office of
Greenways and Trails in the Department’s Division of Recreation and Parks.
“With this new plan, we can tie together all greenways and trails plans of
communities, and organizations throughout Florida. This will better serve
residents and visitors and give them unparalleled multi-modal transportation
and recreational opportunities.”
In early fall, the Division of Recreation and Parks
launched a new plan for the Florida Greenways and Trails System. The new plan
and opportunity and priority maps were developed to establish priorities and
define the role of the system in advancing Florida’s economy, tourism, health,
alternative transportation, recreation, conservation and quality of life. This
is the first new plan since adoption of the original in 1999 by the Florida
Legislature.
Throughout September and October, the Department held six public meetings to receive
public input on a new vision for the Florida Greenways and Trails System Plan. The
public comment period for the plan concluded on Oct. 5. View the summary
of public comments.
Established in Florida Statute,
the Council serves to advise the Department on greenway and trail related
issues, promote intergovernmental cooperation and private partnerships for
developing the greenways and trails system, recommend priorities for critical
links in the system and provide funding recommendations for developing and
managing the system. The Council comprises 20 individuals representing
public and private organizations.
| 
