Trail Town Responses
A Trail Town is a vibrant destination where people come together. It is a place where trail users can venture off a hiking, biking, equestrian or paddling trail to enjoy the amenities and unique heritage of the community, benefiting the town economically and socially. Since the launch of the program, eleven communities across the state have been designated as Trail Towns. To learn more about these communities, check out the video below and then take a virtual tour with our story maps!
The following people were instrumental in their communities achieving this designation and continue to help grow the program today.
Patty Huff is on the Trail Town Committee for Everglades City
Describe the trails associated with your Trail Town
Paddling: 1) Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail a) Segment 13 Rookery Bay to Everglades City b) Segment 14 Everglades City to Flamingo 2) Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Wilderness Waterway Trail 99 miles to Flamingo 3) Halfway Creek Loop 4) Lefthand Turner River 5) Sandfly Island Loop 6) Fakahatchee Strand East River to Everglades City 7) Collier County Paradise Blueway from Goodland to Everglades City
Other nearby paddling trails: 1) National Wildlife Refuge 2) North / South Turner River Biking / Hiking Trails 1) Everglades City to Chokoloskee Causeway
Other nearby biking / hiking trails: 1) Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve a) Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk b) Janes Scenic Drive c) West Main Gate d) East Main Gate 2) Picayune Strand State Forest 3) Collier Seminole State Park 4) 10,000 Islands Marsh Trail 5) Florida Panther NWR Hiking Trail
How has your community benefited from being a designated Trail Town?
Everglades City is the central hub for seven national / state parks, hosting visitors from around the world. Hurricane Irma devastated the town on September 11, 2017. The designation of the Trail Town in 2019 provided an impetus for the community to enhance our efforts to provide the best possible experience for our visitors. A Trail Town Master Plan was developed, a new Visitor Information Center / Trail Town Headquarters was opened, a town map listing all businesses and amenities was updated (2 large format maps were installed in the city park and at the kiosk on CR29 coming into town), new town brochures were designed and printed, a Dero Bike Repair Station was installed in the city park as well as a "Dolphin" bike rack, eight new bike racks were distributed to businesses, a bike rental facility was added to a kayaking tour shop in town, a Bicycle / Pedestrian Committee was formed and recently a Bicycle / Pedestrian Master Plan was submitted to the City for adoption at the upcoming October 6, 2020, City Council Meeting. Several visitors have commented that they came to Everglades City because of the Trail Town designation.
Kathryn Deen works as Communications Director for the Trail Town of Clermont.
Describe the trails associated with your Trail Town?
The South Lake Trail
How has your community benefited from being a designated Trail Town?
Since becoming a Trail Town, we have been able to participate in conferences and webinars, as well as host a conference. Our Trail Town designation is also recognized in the City Manager's annual State of the City Address.
What does a visitor need to know before they can explore the trails in your town?
There are shopping, dining and lodging options along the trail. The waterfront trail area downtown with the Legacy Loop Trail Spur leads right up to our restaurants and breweries downtown. We have bike racks downtown, water fountains for dogs and people, shade, wide path, white sandy beach along Lake Minneola, playgrounds, parks along the trails. It all connects to the West Orange Trail too.
Robert Ironsmith works for the Community Redevelopment Agency for the Trail Town of Dunedin
Describe the trails associated with your Trail Town
The Pinellas Trail is a 45 mile greenway that runs through the heart of Downtown Dunedin. In conjunction with this great people mover that brings in locals and visitors to Downtown, the City has enhanced this segment of the Trail with bathrooms, a Gazebo, artistic benches, and landscaping.
How has your community benefited from being a designated Trail Town?
The designation as a Trail Town has brought added publicity to Dunedin and promoted the Trail in general. In addition the notoriety has strengthened the ability to continually enhance the Trail to make it a focal point for people in planning their walks and bike rides.
What does a visitor need to know before they can explore the trails in your town?
Visitors should review the various web sites available, Chamber of Commerce, City of Dunedin and Downtown Dunedin Merchants Association to learn about Dunedin's Downtown and the Causeway that goes to the popular Honeymoon Island.
Drew Thompson is the Chair of the Trails & Greenways Committee in the Trail Town of Malabar
Describe the trails associated with your Trail Town
Malabar trails offer an interesting diversity of terrain which is quite unusual for coastal Florida. Because much of the town is located along the coastal sand hill ridge, several trails involve changes in elevation and habitat. Malabar has many miles of trails created for a variety of user types and levels. Some trails, such as the Al Tuttle Trail, offer a multi-modal design which provides new uses with a non-intimidating opportunity to visit natural Florida unspoiled environments with a variety of flora and fauna to observe. The Al Tuttle Trail is great for young families wanting to introduce children to the Florida outdoors and is also a favorite of many seniors who seek a paved surface and trail head with a restroom and water fountain. Other trails of natural surfaces are more designed for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrian enthusiasts. These are more for different expertise levels and take users through woods, scrub, and open areas - past creeks, ponds and wetlands. One trail even has an elevated and covered wetland observation platform (CTS - Cameron Trail Shelter) built by the Trails & Greenways Committee and local volunteers. A great effort is ongoing in assuring that Malabar Trails are well-maintained with clear signage, and map files available through a website filled with local trail information and maps: https://www.malabartrails.org.
How has your community benefited from being a designated Trail Town?
The Town of Malabar has always been proud of its desire to stay rural residential. Through ecotourism, being a Trail Town allows Malabar to celebrate and share its considerable areas of greenways with its sophisticated trail system while helping to protect wildlife and the natural Florida environment.
What does a visitor need to know before they can explore the trails in your town?
Malabar has many nearby amenities for those seeking to enjoy Florida's natural places during the day and desiring great places to eat and stay after the trail while visiting the area. Malabar is easy to access in south Brevard County - near Melbourne, West Melbourne and Palm Bay. This means that Orlando-Melbourne International Airport is close, as are beaches, the Kennedy Space Center, and the Brevard Zoo. Malabar is easy to find on I-95 - just go east at exit 173 - Malabar Road (FL-514). The main (Sand Hill Trailhead) is just a couples of miles at 1400 Marie St. Be sure to visit the Town Hall (at 2725 Malabar Road) and pick-up a VTP (Virtual Trail Pass) - it has a QR Code for you to smartphone access high resolution maps of Malabar areas trails - to help you plan your next Malabar Trail adventure!
Jerry Mayes works for the Economic Development & Ecological Tourism Sustainability Office at the Trail Town of Deltona
Describe the trails associated with your Trail Town
The City developed the Department of Economic Development & Ecological Tourism Sustainability to enhance the nature and ecological experiences of our residents and visitors. This includes pedestrian and bicycle trails, nature trails, nature viewing locations, blueways trails, heritage trails, and the Lakeshore EcoVillage Trail Head (designated by OG&T).
Which is your favorite greenway or trail?
Coast-to-Coast Regional Connector
What does a visitor need to know before they can explore this trail?
Accessible by various means, the City hosts the State's Coast to Coast Trail, the St Johns River to Sea Loop Regional Connector, and the East Coast Greenway. More locally, we are included in the Volusia County Spring to Spring Trail. The Lakeshore EcoVillage Trail Head adjoins the State trails at two locations. Our seven current EcoParks feature nature trails and water features. We have the Butler Chain of Lakes Blueways Trail with three landings and 10+ miles of canoe/kayak/paddleboard trails (another 10+ miles is in development). We also have four additional EcoParks in development or planning.
John Finnerty is a Transportation Planning Intern for the Trail Town of Gainesville-Depot Park
What is your preferred mode of recreation?
Bicycle
Describe the trails associated with your Trail Town
The Gainesville/Hawthorne multi-use trail runs from the nearby town of Hawthorne to the center of Gainesville at Depot Park. From there, several trails branch out and extend through Gainesville. I love the variety of landscapes and nature that it offers, including prairies, wetlands, and hammocks.
What does a visitor need to know before they can explore this trail?
Keep an eye out for the many side-trails that connect to the Gainesville-Hawthorne trail. There is plenty of opportunity to further explore the surrounding nature. The trail is 16 miles one-way, so be prepared with plenty of water and snacks.
How has your community benefited from being a designated Trail Town?
We're a brand new trail town, having officially received our designation during the previous FGT council meeting in August. We hope that our trail town designation will generate more interest in Gainesville as a trail destination, and showcase Gainesville's accessibility to businesses and destinations by bicycle.
What does a visitor need to know before they can explore the trails in your town?
Before visiting our trail town, visitors can benefit from looking into all the amenities Gainesville has to offer for trail users. Within easy biking distance, we have nature trails, parks, museums, and restaurants. Gainesville's multi-use trails also connect to a wider network of bicycle facilities such as bike boulevards, low-stress routes, and bike lanes, making it easy and safe to explore the town.
Kraig McLane works for a volunteer organization promoting the Trail Town of Palatka
Describe your organization
We are a volunteer committee working to help downtown (trail town) Palatka. The goal to help trail users find our trail town and aid trail users in finding resources and amenities.
Which is your favorite greenway or trail?
Lake City to St. Augustine Rail Trail (Palatka-to-Lake Butler and Palatka-to-St. Augustine state trails) because this developing trail is the spine that connects Palatka and Putnam County to the state's trail network - including the growing St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop.
What does a visitor need to know before they can explore the trails in your town?
If you like Southern Hospitality - this is the trail and Palatka Trail Town is the place to stay and dine. A visitor can enjoy the paved trail within Palatka and 28 miles west of town and 22 miles east of town. Also, while in the trail town - enjoy our historic and heritage sites, include Ravine Gardens State Park and the Bartram Trail (on foot, pedal, or paddle). Also, nice lodging can be found in town and throughout the county.
Liz Fernley is the Director for the Inverness Event & Visitor Bureau
Describe the trails associated with your Trail Town
The Withlacoochee State Trail
How has your community benefited from being a designated Trail Town?
We estimate there has been increased interest from being listed as a Trail Town.
What does a visitor need to know before they can explore the trails in your town?
The Withlacoochee Trail in Inverness is along Lake Henderson, our Depot District and minutes from downtown.
For more information on our Trail Town Program, watch the video below.
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