Office of Greenways and Trails

As you pass through a neighborhood, you may notice signs that say, “Slow Down—Children at Play.” This simple message reflects the deep value that many communities place on play. Outdoor and indoor play are essential for children’s well-being, whether at a local park, an indoor playground, or safely in their own neighborhoods. When children have the freedom to play in a safe environment, they develop critical physical, cognitive, and social skills that contribute to healthy growth.

However, in an age dominated by technology and artificial intelligence, opportunities for outdoor and active play have declined. According to a report from the Association of Play Industries, children’s discretionary screen time has increased by 50% in less than a decade. It’s more important than ever for families to recognize the many benefits of play, including improved mobility, brain development, and social engagement. State and local parks provide a variety of amenities that encourage children to be active, explore, and engage in meaningful play. Take advantage of these opportunities and inspire more playtime for children today!

If you haven’t already, request to receive a children’s activity book (with stickers included) designed by the Office of Greenways and Trails. OGT’s Mountain Bike Guide is also an informative and simple way to stay up to date with some of Florida’s exciting terrain made for your mountain biking experiences. Simply email your request and your mailing address to OfficeofGreenwaysandTrails@FloridaDEP.gov

And don’t forget to register for our upcoming webinar on May 14th, “Florida Wildlife Corridor: Our Playground” featuring Mason Gravely, Impact Campaigns Manager of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. Register today and don’t miss out on this informative session!

Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail Story Map Guide

The Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail (C2C) was conceived as an ambitious effort to create a continuous paved multi-use trail across the state of Florida from the Gulf of America to the Atlantic Ocean, the first state trail of its kind in the United States. It will span approximately 250 miles and is currently 88 percent complete. The trail will link communities between St. Petersburg and Titusville along its entire length, allowing residents and visitors to explore Central Florida by bicycle or foot. The trail is linking all or part of several existing multi-use trails and will be managed by a broad range of communities and agencies. The Coast-to-Coast Trail Alliance is coordinated by OGT. For more information, visit OGT's C2C Alliance webpage.

The Coast-to-Coast Story Map Guide is the culmination of efforts to create a practical, adaptable, accessible mode for communicating information about the trail including wayfinding, alternate routes for large gaps, amenities and local information.

Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail Mapping Update

The initial scouting and mapping of the 1,515-mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail (CT) was completed in 2007, but periodic updates are needed for a trail of this length and magnitude. For our latest map upgrade, we changed the appearance and scope of the 26 segment maps to make them clearer and more informative. For more information, visit OGT's CT segments webpage. We have also created a CT Story Map and a Suwannee River Wilderness State Trail Story Map.

Outdoor Florida Webinar Series

For more information, visit the Outdoor Florida Webinar Series webpage.

Trail Safety Video

With our sunny skies and active lifestyles, Florida’s residents and visitors enjoy exploring our numerous miles of trails. Trail safety is important, particularly where trails and roadways cross. We all need to do our part to protect one another and prevent accidents. Whether as a motorist or trail user, we have a shared responsibility to:

Look and listen.
Obey signs and markings.
Take responsibility for our own safety.

The Florida Department of Transportation and the DEP's Division of Recreation and Parks joined together to put the spotlight on this important topic by developing a Trail Safety Video.

Feel free to share or download the video along with the extra information found below ... and remember to Always Put Safety First.

More Trail Safety Information
Trail Safety Poster
Trail Safety at Crossings

For even more information on trail safety, please visit our Assistance and Resources webpage.

For more information on requesting a speaker, visit the Contact Us webpage.

Do you enjoy hiking, biking, paddling or horseback riding? OGT, within the Division of Recreation and Parks, provides statewide leadership and coordination to establish, expand and promote non-motorized trails that make up the Florida Greenways and Trails System, pursuant to the Florida Greenways and Trails Act (Chapter 260, Florida Statutes). More can be found in the OGT office overview and historical timeline.

"Florida's Growing Trail System" article in the March/April 2019 issue of Quality Cities Magazine provides an overview of Florida's trail system and Trail Town program.

To be included in OGT's online calendar, send regional and state event announcements to OGT's inbox.

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