Dr. John M. DeGrove Community Steward Webinar Series...About 1000 Friends of Florida • Founded in 1986, 1000 Friends of Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization

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Dr. John M. DeGrove Community Steward Webinar Series

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Florida Greenways and Trails “Close the Gap” Campaign

• Wednesday, June 19, 2013, 12:00-1:30

• Approved for 1.5 AICP CM Credits – #e.23649

• Applied for CLE Credits by the Florida Bar

• This PowerPoint is available for downloading at www.1000friendsofflorida.org. Click on “Greenways Webinar” under “What’s New.”

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https://www.planning.org/cm/search/event.htm?EventID=23649

http://www.1000friendsofflorida.org/

About 1000 Friends of Florida

• Founded in 1986, 1000 Friends of Florida is a 501(c)(3)

nonprofit membership organization. • We work to save special places, fight sprawl and build better

communities. • We educate, advocate and negotiate to protect Florida’s high

quality of life. • Our bipartisan board of directors includes advocates and

experts from across the state.

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Dr. John M. DeGrove, 1924-2012

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Upcoming Webinars

• 1000 Friends’ webinar series will resume in September.

• To find out more, please visit our site in August: http://www.1000friendsofflorida.org/communications/webinars/

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Questions?

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1000 Friends and Florida’s Greenways and Trails

• Began in 1991 as a non-governmental project of 1000 Friends of Florida.

• Headed by Dr. Mark Benedict with funding from The Conservation Fund and The MacArthur Foundation.

• Governor Chiles issued an Executive Order in 1993 that formally created the Florida Greenways Commission.

• This Commission was co-chaired by Buddy MacKay and 1000 Friends Chairman Nathaniel P. Reed

• As a result of the Commission’s work , the 1995 Legislature passed the Florida Greenways and Trails Act in Chapter 260, F.S., formally making this a state agency program.

6/19/2013

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Presenters

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About Dale Allen

• President of the Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation.

• Previously, joined The Trust for Public Land in 1981, ultimately becoming Senior Vice President in 1999.

• Was responsible for TPL’s work in a nine-state area from the Carolinas south to Florida and west to Louisiana.

• A native Floridian.

• Graduate of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.

About Doug Alderson

• Worked with the Florida Office of Greenways and Trails for about 8 years.

• Currently OGT’s assistant bureau chief.

• Coordinated the state’s designated paddling trails, including the 1,515-mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail, as well as the Visit Florida Greenways and Trails website.

• An avid trail enthusiast during his free time.

• Authored several natural history and outdoor adventure books, primarily about Florida.

6/19/2013 Heart of Florida

Creating new trails in Central Florida and Coast-to-Coast

Close the Gaps

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In central Florida an opportunity exists to link a series of existing, but separate trails into a connected and continuous greenway loop through our State’s heartland. By CLOSING THE GAPS between the existing trails, Florida is poised to connect numerous smaller communities with the major cities of Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg and Jacksonville. This connection will create many new business opportunities and a scenic and safe bicycle and pedestrian experience in the “Heart of Florida”. Based upon current economic studies along existing trail segments in Orange County, (Thanks largely to existing local trails such as the West Orange Trail and Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail, the communities of Winter Garden and Dunedin are consistently reporting almost 100% occupancy in their core business districts.) Thanks to a lead grant from the Elizabeth Ordway Dunn Foundation, the Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation will lead the effort to CLOSE THE GAPS! Overlapping with the established “St. Johns River to Sea” loop, “Heart of Florida” loop, and the “Coast-to-Coast” trail, will create a series of major new citizen and tourist destinations in central Florida.

the completion of this loop trail could generate over $200 million of annual revenue for business in the counties and cities along this Greenway.

We welcome your interest, your support and your active participation.

6/19/2013 13

Florida: #1 Most Dangerous State in US for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Florida is the 3rd Most Populous State with an increasing urban population. Our roads are already crowded, and getting worse.

Florida is the world's Most Popular Tourist Destination — 87 million visitors in 2011. Additional pressure on our roads by visitors contributes to Florida's "Most Dangerous" reputation.

Tourism generates 23% of all revenue collected by the State of Florida. According to Florida's 2012 SCORP report, bicycling is a top 10 outdoor recreation activity for tourists, but only 14% of Florida tourists participate in bicycling.

Bicycling is the 3rd most popular outdoor recreation activity for residents. Imagine if Florida had a comprehensive off-road paved system of trails for our citizens.

200 miles of the proposed 275 miles Coast-to-Coast (C2C) Connector are already in place. A one-time investment of $50 million will complete this entire trail, and help communities realize the economic benefits of the existing trail segments.

Plus, paved trails are a proven community downtown re-vitalization amenity.

Go visit Winter Garden on the West Orange Trail, and Dunedin on the Pinellas Trail. Beautiful downtowns with 100% occupancy in the core.

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Hard to understand his actions. He actually called the Coast-to-Coast Connector a "worthwhile project" in his veto message. However, he also stated that it should be completed "incrementally" and "in phases“ — exactly as the Legislature intended in the proviso language of the appropriation.

And mistakenly, he referenced $56 million of funding that "already was included in the Department of Transportation's Work Plan". These already programmed Federal funds — if entirely received by Florida and invested in the C2C — still leave the $50 million "Gaps" that this appropriation was meant to "Close".

Governor Scott's veto message leaves this critical and vibrant project still incomplete.

Let's WORK TOGETHER in 2014 to change this situation!

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Overall Trail View

6/19/2013 19

Heart of Florida Loop and Coast-to-Coast Trail

Connecting the Heart of Florida Loop to the Coast-to-Coast Trail will ultimately connect Central Florida, and the West Coast to the East Coast.

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ORLANDO

OCALA

TAMPA

Cross Florida Greenway

Withlachoochee State Trail

Spring-to-Spring Trail

Heart of Florida Loop

General James A. Van Fleet State Trail

South Lake Trail

West Orange Trail

Seminole Wekiva Trail

Cross Seminole Trail

Suncoast Trail

Pinellas Trail


South Lake Trail



Starkey Trail

Coast-to-Coast Trail


Suncoast Trail

Pinellas Trail

Starkey Trail

East Central Regional Rail Trail


Good Neighbor

Trail

Good Neighbor

Trail

Starkey Gap

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Connecting the Starkey Gap will close the Pinellas Trail, to the Starkey Wilderness Trail, and the Suncoast Trail.

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ORLANDO

OCALA

TAMPA





South Lake Trail

West Orange Trail



Suncoast Trail

Pinellas Trail


Starkey Trail

Starkey Gap

Good Neighbor

Trail

Starkey Gap

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Good Neighbor Gap

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Closing the Good Neighbor Gap will complete the connection from the Suncoast Trail, to the Good Neighbor Trail, to the Withlacoochee State Trail.

Good Neighbor

Trail

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ORLANDO

OCALA

TAMPA





South Lake Trail

West Orange Trail



Suncoast Trail

Pinellas Trail


Starkey Trail Good Neighbor

Gap

Good Neighbor Gap

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Van Fleet State Trail

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Closing the Van Fleet Gap would connect the General James A. Van Fleet State Trail (VFST) to the Withlacoochee State Trail (WST). Due to the Van Fleet’s location adjacent to the Withlacoochee State Forest (WSF) and the Green Swamp, proposed connections would include crossing these public lands.

Good Neighbor

Trail

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ORLANDO

OCALA

TAMPA





South Lake Trail

West Orange Trail



Suncoast Trail

Pinellas Trail


Starkey Trail

Van Fleet Gap

Van Fleet State Trail Gap

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Seminole Gap

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Closing the Seminole Gap would connect the West Orange Trail (WOT), Seminole-Wekiva Trail (SWT), and the East Central Regional Rail Trial.

Good Neighbor

Trail

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ORLANDO

OCALA

TAMPA





South Lake Trail

West Orange Trail



Suncoast Trail

Pinellas Trail


Starkey Trail

SeminoleGap

Seminole Gap

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Space Coast Gap

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Connecting the Cross Seminole Trail and the East Central Regional Rail Trail all the way over to the Canaveral National Seashore will complete the Space Coast Gap.

Good Neighbor

Trail

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ORLANDO

OCALA

TAMPA





South Lake Trail

West Orange Trail



Suncoast Trail

Pinellas Trail


Starkey Trail

Space Coast Gap

Space Coast Gap

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Beginning the connection from the Pinellas Trail to the Space Coast Gap will ultimately connect the West Coast to the East Coast, calling it the Coast-to-Coast Trail.

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ORLANDO

OCALA

TAMPA



South Lake Trail

West Orange Trail



Suncoast Trail

Pinellas Trail

Starkey Trail



Good Neighbor

Trail

Mount Dora Bikeway Gap

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Heart of Florida Loop to the Coast-to-Coast Trail

Completing the Mount Dora Bikeway Gap will connect the Cross Florida Greenway to the Coast-to-Coast Trail.

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ORLANDO

OCALA

TAMPA




Heart of Florida Loop


South Lake Trail

West Orange Trail



Suncoast Trail

Pinellas Trail

Starkey Trail



Good Neighbor

Trail

Mount Dora Bikeway Gap

Mount Dora Bike Way Gap

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The Florida Greenways & Trails Foundation is Florida's chief advocacy organization for non-motorized trails. The Foundation supports greater use of trails for recreation, for fitness and health, for reducing carbon emissions, for attracting leisure travelers, for building community, for beautification, and for a larger role in evolving multi-modal transportation policy. We support greenways in particular for their value in connecting land and water bodies in public ownership and in private conservation for sustaining wildlife, for wildlife viewing, and for other non-consumptive purposes. The Foundation is particularly mindful of the economic benefits that greenways and trails represent for businesses sponsorship.

Questions?





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Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector


March 11, 2013 | Tallahassee, Florida


Presentation Outline

1. Overview

2. Florida Tourism

3. Cross State Trails

4. Bicycle Tourism

5. Benefits of Trails

6. Health and Wellness

7. Environmental Benefits

8. Conclusion Photo by John Moran

Van Fleet Trail


Coast-to-Coast Connector

Coast-to-Coast

Connector is a 275

mile trail that will

link the Gulf Coast

to the Atlantic

Ocean, through

Central Florida

Photos by VisitFlorida

Pinellas Trail

Pinellas Trail



Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector Pinellas Trail, Pinellas County, FL

Starkey Trail, Pasco County, FL

Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector Suncoast Trail, Hernando County, FL

Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector West Orange Trail, Orange County, FL

Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector Seminole-Wekiva Trail, Seminole County, FL



• Clearwater

Beach to

Cape

Canaveral



Tourism in Florida

• Tourism generated $67 billion in economic impact in Florida, roughly 10% of total GDP.

• Florida is the top tourism destination IN THE WORLD with 87 million visitors in 2011. (Source: VisitMyFlorida.com)


Suncoast Trail


Tourism in Florida

• Tourism in Florida employs more than 1 million people

• Tourism generates 23% of all revenue collected by the state

• Primary reason for coming to Florida – leisure (88% of all visitors) (Source: VisitMyFlorida.com)

West Orange Trail

West Orange Trail


Tourism in Florida

• 73% of Florida’s 87 million visitors include nature based activities in their travel.

• 65% of Florida visitors say that outdoor recreation is very important.

Withlachoochee Trail


Other Cross-State Trails

• Cross State Trails

create jobs, boost

economies of rural

and urban areas,

attract tourists and

support small

businesses Photo by VisitFlorida


Other Cross State Trails

• NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail

• SC Palmetto Trail

• GA Coastal Georgia Greenway

• PA Susquehanna River Greenway

• NY Erie Canalway Trail

• MI Belle Isle to Wisconsin Trail


Economic Benefits of Cycling

• Bicycling industry contributes $133 billion a year to the U.S. Economy

• Supports 1.1 million jobs

• Generates $17.7 billion in federal, state and local taxes

• Bicycle tourists spend $47 billion on meals, transportation and lodging

Source: League of

American Cyclists

2009

Pinellas Trail



Bicycle Tourism

• Reasonable tour ride is 25-50 miles

• Coast-to-Coast Connector tours: 5 to 7 days

• Average expenditure per cyclists: $20/visit

• Projected annual use would exceed 1 million



Economic Benefits of Trails

• “The Pinellas

Trail is an

economic

engine”

Bob Ironsmith, Dunedin

Economic Development

Director

Pinellas Trail


Economic Benefits of Trails

• Trails:

– Reduce cost of public services

– Improve health and wellness

– Attract tourists, boost local economy

– Improve real estate values

– Make communities more liveable

– Attract business and industry


Health and Wellness Benefits

• Florida spends $119 billion on health care

• Obesity is an epidemic

• CDC and Surgeon General encourage communities and states to build more trails

• Create active living communities

Withlachoochee Trail


Environmental Benefits

• Florida can conserve

and protect our

environment and

native biodiversity by

linking residents to a

network of conserved

and protected lands,

from coast-to-coast



Environmental Benefits

• Coast-to-Coast Connector will link trail users to numerous state forests, state and local parks

• Connector promotes human-powered, non-polluting, tourism-based outdoor recreation



Conclusion

• Coast-to-Coast Connector:

– Will generate $120 million in annual return from a one-time investment of $42 million

– Improve economy of Central Florida

– Create jobs and support business growth

– Foster better health and wellness through active living

– Help to steward Central Florida’s ecology and environment


Dale Allen, President

Florida Greenways & Trails Foundation, Inc.

Questions/Comments

Questions?





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Documents

Dr. John M. DeGrove Community Steward Webinar Series...About 1000 Friends of Florida • Founded in 1986, 1000 Friends of Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization