Quality Assessment Review

Transcription

1 Quality Assessment Review Of Apalachicola National Forest Conducted by All Rec Solutions, LLC. May 8-10, 2010

2 Table of Contents 2 Recreation Area Page Introduction and Marketing 3 Camel Lake 5 Wright Lake 8 Hickory Landing 11 Leon Sinks Geological Area 12 Trout Pond 15 Silver Lake 17 Munson Hills 21 Final Summary 24

3 Introduction Introduction and Marketing 3 All Rec Solutions was contracted with National Forests of Florida (U.S Forest Service) to conduct Quality Assistance Reviews on the following six recreation areas: Camel Lake Recreation Area Wright Lake Recreation Area Silver Lake Recreation Area Leon Sinks Geological Site Trout Pond & GF& A Trail Munson Hills Bicycle Trail The purpose of a Quality Assistance Review (QAR) is to obtain a more objective assessment of a park, recreation and/or facility through a third party evaluation. The assessment is made as if the reviewer had never been to the facility and therefore recording perceptions that would be similar to that of a first time visitor. The QAR includes a narrative of the findings during the assessment of each site and concludes with final commendations and recommendations for each site. Obtaining Information The QAR begins with the search for specific information about each of the recreation areas in the same manner as a first time visitor. Obtaining information begins with searching the internet using a common search engine. A query was made to Apalachicola National Forest using Google as the search engine. The following are the top results on the query: It was noted that the U.S. Forest Service website, came up first in the query. The initial reaction to the website is that it is appears to be very organized and informative, and therefore should provide the information needed to learn more about each site, their location and driving instructions. The webpage is not organized by specific recreational sites and therefore requires the user to find the sites by going through the Recreational Activity menu on the left side of the webpage. For example, by clicking on Camping the next webpage brought up information on both Camel Lake and Wright Lake Recreational Areas. A click on Cycling brought up the Munson Hills Bicycle Trail, as well as other riding areas. In addition, under the Know As You Go banner on the bottom

4 of the webpage were two links, one for camping and the other for hiking that also guided the visitor to other pages with recreation sites. On this landing webpage the U.S. Forest Service gets kudos for having a colorful and informative link to all the national forests in Florida by clicking onto Get to Know Your National Forests In Florida. However, the option of clicking onto the Interactive Map at the bottom of the page was not very informative or easy to use. Basically, it brings up a map of Apalachicola National Forests with numerous markers that are nameless which requires a person to click onto each marker to find out the name of the recreation site. Specific Webpage Information on Each Site Camel Lake Recreation Area: Good information on location of recreation area, driving instructions, site amenities and fees. An additional link takes the user to another page of information under Recreation Areas. Wright Lake Recreation Area: Good information on location of recreation area, driving instructions, site amenities, fees, hours and seasons of operation. There was also an additional link to another webpage under Recreation Areas. Silver Lake Recreation Area: Good information was found on Silver Lake by clicking onto Recreation Areas. Information included description of the recreation area, directions to the site, fees, amenities and small map of the area. Leon Sinks Geological Area: General information on this site was found by clicking the Attraction button under Show Search banner. This offered information on location of the site, fees and amenities as well as some activities that are prohibited such as scuba diving. Trout Pond & GF&A Trailhead: Little information found on this website except a description of the GF&A Trail. There was a link to a map of the trail as well. There was mention of Trot Pond as a trailhead to the GF&A Trail with directions to the site. Trout Pond was listed under the Trailhead banner but the matrix was difficult to read because of the size of font. Munson Hills Off-Road Bicycle Trail: Information on this trail was found under the Cycle banner. While it gave a good description of what to see on the trail, it does not tell the visitor how to get to the trail or where to park. If you read the description for the St. Marks Trail there is some reference to where to park, but you would have to know the two trails are connected. Commendations: 4 National Forests of Florida is commended for the quantity of information and its organization on the website. The individual website for each of the national forests in Florida makes finding information simpler than having to go through the general website for the entire U.S. Forest Service. In addition the link to Get To Know Your National Forests in Florida is excellent with bright images and detailed information on all the forests in Florida.

5 Recommendations: 5 To assist visitors who are looking for specific recreation sites and/or facilities the webpage should be set up to have a locator menu for sites that is similar to the one set up for Recreation Activities. The Interactive Map needs to be modified so the user can see the name of the site before clicking on the marker. Camel Lake Recreation Area The QAR began on Saturday, May 8, 2010 with a tour of Camel Lake Recreation Area. Directions gained from the U.S. Forest Service webpage were used to plan the trip. In Bristol, Florida it was noted that there were no directional signs on Highway 20 informing the public to turn south on Highway 12 to Camel Lake Recreation Area. However, approximately 11 miles south of Bristol on Highway 12 there were 2 large directional signs (1 from the North and 1 from the South) directing people where to turn for Came Lake. The directional signs at this intersection were clear, concise and apparently new. However, both signs had been vandalized with graffiti and bullet holes. Forest Road 105 (from Highway 12 to Camel Lake) was very well maintained. It is a hard surfaced non-paved road with a good crown and side ditches that allowed for drainage. It was noted that on the road there were several low lying areas (prone to flooding) that had been addressed by using rock material to create rock crossings in the road. Boat Launch Area After driving a couple of miles on FR 105 you come to what appears to be an undesignated recreation area. There was a grass access road to the right with signs denoting a hiking trail and boat launching site. There was a self-service fee station sign as well. The access road went a short distance before emptying into a small grass parking lot that was well maintained. The boat launching area was small but well maintained and had a sign noted that it was for non-motorized boat use. The boat launching area also had additional signs, one about stop aquatic hitchhiking and another about no hunting. The signs were informative but were faded to the point of needing replacement. There was also a rusted barrel sitting in the water that needed to be removed. The hiking trail at this site was confusing. The sign entering the parking area gave a perception that it was a trailhead but actually it was just a part of an existing trail which was blazed. There was an old sign found on a post that hinted that it might have been an interpretive trail at one time. Overall,

6 6 this site was well maintained with just a few minor renovations needed in terms of signs, removal of the old interpretive sign post, and rusted barrel. Entrance Area Driving a short distance from the boat launching area on FR 105 the visitor comes to the main entrance of Camel Lake Recreation Area. The short access road into the recreation area was very well maintained and once in the recreation area the access road terminates abruptly and a decision is made to go right to the day use area or left to the camping area. This area is clearly signed and easy to read. there were no information brochures in the kiosk. In taking a right into the day use area, the visitor is immediately greeted with a fee station with an information kiosk. The kiosk itself was in very good condition and well maintained, however the information inside the kiosk was beginning to show age and needed to be updated. In addition, Day Use Area From the pay station the visitor enters a large and well maintained parking lot. The parking lot appeared to have been recently paved, was clearly marked and was delineated with wood fencing. It was noted that there were two handicap accessibility parking spots. The handicap spots led directly to the restrooms and to a pavilion, both are ADA accessible including the picnic tables in the pavilion. The restrooms were very nice; a good simple design for day use visitors and they were equipped with ceiling fans which the reviewers believed must have been installed to help with mildew issues. Overall, the ADA accessibility to the facilities should be commended; however, accessibility to the lake needs to be addressed. The sidewalk ends at the outside parameters of the restroom and is grass from there to the lake. The percent gradient drop was about 7 to 8 %. The day use area included swimming, sunbathing, open grass area for general play and a segment of the hiking trail. The swimming area was properly marked with buoys and there was a lifesaving ring available. There were also numerous picnic tables, grills and benches (especially around the water). Other conveniences included an outdoor rinsing shower and water fountains that were both well maintained and are an added bonus to the recreation area. The one downside to the area is that

7 there is no real trailhead for the hiking trail, and it leads to some confusion on to where the trail begins and where it goes. Camping Area It was noted the circular loop system for the campground allowed for campers to easily back into camping spaces. Each of the campsites were equipped with updated amenities including a 30 amp electric box, fire ring, fire grill, lamp post and ADA accessible tables. It was also noted that there was fencing that delineated the back of the campsites from the hiking trail. As with the day use area, there were two ADA accessible parking places located next to restroom for campers. As with the day use restroom, the camper restrooms were very well maintained and had a separate shower room that was ADA accessible. It was noted the restrooms had ceiling fans and came equipped with baby changing stations. It was also noted that the camping area restrooms used energy star light bulbs. Overall the campground had a great layout with all the necessary amenities. Commendations: 7 The staff managing Camel Lake Recreation Area is commended for operating a very clean and user- friendly facility. This recreation area marked high on the WOW factor. Anyone who wants an off-the-beaten path experience with close-to-home amenities should visit this recreation site. The review staff was also very impressed with the design of the facilities, particularly the restrooms. They were a simple but very functional design. The added ceiling fans, baby changing tables and use of star energy light bulbs were impressive. Also kudos to the design of the recreation area itself by having two distinct areas, one camping and one day use, which helps to cut down on user conflict and confusion on the payment of fees. While the only downside on ADA accessibility was a lack of a better gradient trail to get people to the swimming area, the U.S. Forest Service is commended in the facility design and amenities

8 that were ADA accessible. What was really a nice touch was the campground restroom building that had the ADA accessible parking at the restroom itself. Kudos again! Recommendations: 8 Directional markers on Highway 20 to guide people Highway 12. Also on the website, let people know that it is about 11 miles from Bristol to turn onto the FR 105. Better designation of the small boat ramp parking area. Also if that is to be a trailhead for hiking then a kiosk should be placed in the parking area by the trail. In the general day use area, there needs to be a kiosk denoting the start of the hiking/nature trail. The hiking trail is a nice feature and needs to be highlighted. Look into having ADA accessibility from the day use restroom down to the swimming area. Wright Lake Recreation Area The second site visited was Wright Lake Recreation Area which is advertised on the Apalachicola National Forest webpage as being one of the five developed recreation areas on the forest. Wright Lake is located in the southwest corner of the forest off of Highway 65 in Franklin County. When approaching the entrance to Wright Lake Recreation Area from Highway 65, there are two Wright Lake Recreation Area directional signs - one for north flowing traffic and one from south flowing traffic. Their signs were very clean and easy to read. They inform the visitor that Wright Lake Recreation Area is located 1.5 miles from Hwy 65 on FR 101. Forest Road 101 is a well maintained unpaved road. The road crew should be commended for the maintenance of this road which had a good crown and drainage on each side of the road. Approximately half way to the recreation area there is a trail crossing. There is no designation of the trail; however, the trail is blazed in blue and very well maintained. The trail had recently been mowed, leaving an approximate four foot swath. Arrival to the Wright Lake Recreation Area found the facility closed with no expressed reason, only a sign attached to an existing sign. Nevertheless, the review team continued its assessment of the facilities. The entrance into the recreation was very well maintained with a self service fee station and information kiosk. The kiosk was in very good shape; however the information in the kiosk could be updated and redesigned to give a more welcoming look. The park

9 drive was very clean and appeared recently mowed. 9 The surface of the day use parking lot was primarily grass and rock and was very well maintained. There were wood bumpers to help delineate each park spot. There was one handicap spot marked near the entrance to the swimming area, however, the surface was mostly grass with no hardened surface for a wheel chair to easily move to the picnic or swimming areas. There was an information kiosk at the parking lot that was in good shape, but could use some updated information and some general cleaning. The swimming area was small but well marked with buoys. There was a small information kiosk at the swimming area with a small amount of graffiti. The lifesaving ring was missing. The rest of the day use area was very well maintained with the grass mowed and all tree limbs and debris picked up. The day use area had several ADA designed tables and grills. Tucked off to the side from the swimming area was a very large and well constructed kiosk. The kiosk had amble information on Wright Lake as well as the layout of the facilities and nature trail. The kiosk would be of greater assistance to the visitors if it was located out in the open were it could be more visible. In addition, the kiosk needed a major cleaning as large amount of insect carcasses were trapped in a corner of the kiosk between the Plexiglas and backboard. The trailhead at this site was well maintained with evidence of a mower recently cutting and redefining the trail. It was noted that in several instances the blazes on the trees were beginning to peel or fade to a point that following the trail was difficult. The boardwalk on the white blazed trail was in fair shape but did need to have some boards replaced. In addition, access to and from the boardwalk could be made easier for visitors who may have some mobility impairment by extending a boardwalk ramp from each side. The rest of the white blazed trail was easy to follow and had a clear tread to walk. The only real problem with the trail is that it abruptly ends at the edge of the campground with no directions on how to get back to the day use area. Overall, the white trail is very well maintained and with a few modifications it could easily be transformed into an interpretive trail and perhaps an ADA accessibility trail.

10 Camping Area Though there was no one camping in the campgrounds, including a vacant campground host site, the facilities looked to have been recently maintained for occupancy. The campground road followed a simple loop system with each campsite clearly marked. While the informational signs in the campground were clean and easily readable, the campsites markers could be updated or replaced. Like Camel Lake Recreation Area, there were many amenities in each campsite which included: an ADA designed picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, and grill. It was also noted that most of the sites were level. The restrooms at the camp grounds were very clean and very well maintained. The designed use of painted cinderblock for the interior walls helps to reduce mildew buildup and makes cleaning the restrooms easier. The restroom showers and toilets were all ADA accessible, however unlike Camel Lake, there did not appear to be an ADA accessible parking spot for campers to use while utilizing the restroom. Finally, it was noted that the recreation area did have what appeared to be a functioning dumping site with clear instructions for its use. 10 Commendations: Staff is commended for the high level cleanliness of this recreation area. Though the review team has no idea how long it has been since the site was open, it is apparent that this site has a good routine maintenance program and that someone has been following it. Kudos for the road crews at both Wright Lake and Camel Lake. The forest roads to both of these recreation sites were very well maintained and smooth to ride on which is probably greatly appreciated by anyone hauling a camper.

11 A really great job by the person who mowed the hiking trail. 11 Recommendations: Find out why the recreation area was closed and how it was being communicated to the public. It wasn t found on the website that it was closed and probably would have upset some people if they hauled their camping trailer all the way out there to find it closed. The small trail around the lake (white blazed trail) needs to be assessed as a possible ADA accessible trail. In addition, the bridge needs to be repaired immediately and painted hash marks re-blazed. The trail needs to be re-designed as a loop and the kiosk needs to be updated and cleaned. Look into installing the same concrete slab or harden service that was used at Camel Lake to create an ADA accessible parking spot at the camper s restrooms for disabled campers. Need to have the lifesaving ring replaced at the swimming area. Hickory Landing On the way out of accessing Wright Lake Recreation Area the review team decided to do a quick assessment of Hickory Landing which is listed in the Apalachicola National Forest as a hunt camp and boat ramp. Hickory Landing has a partial asphalt road that loops near a small boat launch area. There are numerous well defined campsites that had fewer amenities than Camel Lake and Wright Lake, but did contain a picnic table, grill and fire ring at each site. The recreation area also included a very clean and well maintained vault toilet, as well. The site was very well maintained and the only possible downside to this area was a large pilot boat docked near the boat ramp, where there was also a very, very foul smell. Commendations: This site was very impressive especially seeing the number of people who were using the facility to launch canoes and kayaks and the number of people camping. The area was very well maintained. Recommendations: Find out where that smell was coming from.

12 Leon Sinks Geological Area 12 Approaching Leon Sinks Geological Area from both north and south on Highway 65, there are well maintained and easy to read signs about ½ mile out alerting the visitor of the entrance to the geological area. The access road from Highway 65 into the geological area is paved and well maintained. There are two informational signs which appear new and are easy to read. One of the signs states the operating hours of the site and the other is an entrance sign which is accompanied by the address of the geological area. Speed bumps have been installed on the road in both directions. Before entering into the main part of the parking area there is a self service fee station. The fee station was extremely well maintained and had plenty of good information (including maps). There were simple instructions on how to pay the fee and it was observed that visitors were paying their fees. One of the reasons that this site may have a good compliance rate on fee payment is the location of the campground host site right across the street from the pay station. It was noted that the campground host had a very impressive logo on a sign in front of the host site. The road though the parking lot was designed for one way traffic and there were numerous parking spaces that were clearly delineated. There were two very clearly marked parking spots designated for visitors with disabilities. Inside the middle of the parking loop there s a nice little picnic area with picnic tables that were also ADA accessible. The walkway from the parking lot to the information kiosk and restroom was very impressive. The pavers used from the parking lot to the beginning of the trail were unique in appearance and were very well maintained. The large information kiosk to the left actually looked more like an outdoor exhibit, kudos to staff for the extraordinary way that this kiosk was maintained and the information and brochures that were readily accessible to the visitors. In addition to the large kiosk like exhibit, there was a smaller information sign interpreting facts about the Apalachicola National Forest, newly painted benches, and a clean operating water fountain. The restrooms at this site were also very impressive. The building, both inside and out, was very well maintained. It was noted that the design of the restroom building kept the inside cool even on this warm day.

13 13 Leaving the trailhead area and entering the trail there were a couple superficial areas of concern. First, for having such an elegant entrance to the trail the visitor is suddenly bombarded with a plethora of signs. The signs seemed to be repetitive of information at the kiosk. In addition there seemed to be a mixture of wood monuments with routed information and metal signs attached to post. In some cases metal signs were attached to wooden monument (one metal sign was too big for the wooden monument and hung off the sides). This short connector trail eventually terminates at the beginning of the hiking trails. There is a wood routed sign at this location that gives brief information, such as the name, directions, length and color blazes of the trails. It was noted that this sign could be modified to better assist visitors by having the actual color of the trail as a small dot next to its name. This would be of assistance when hiking a trail that splits into two separate trails. a safety concern is someone fell. In most cases the trails were easy to follow with color blazes found on trees. However, the blazes at the time did have a sloppy appearance with dripping paint from the colored hash marks. The over abundance of trail marks on trees in some areas also could be distracting. In certain areas of the trails, the spring growth has begun to creep onto the trail thus reducing the tread width for hikers. In a few areas there were some severe erosion problems that need to be addressed. In a couple of areas the old water bar steps have eroded exposing metal rebar which could be In general, the trails at this site are fairly well maintained with a good number of visitors seen hiking the trails on the day of the assessment. There are a few cases were there should be staircases and other types of maintenance done in order to help improve the hiking experience. In a couple of spots there were serious maintenance issues, like on the board walks. In several instances the boardwalk needs new railing, however, the boardwalk and bridge at Tinker Sink, should probably be removed and relocated to higher ground. All the trails at Leon Sinks Geological Area had been evaluated last winter by this

14 company using the Universal Trail Accessibility Process, referencing that report would give additional alerts that should be addressed on these trails. 14 Commendations: U.S. Forest Service is commended for a very well planned entrance to the Leon Sinks Geological Area. The entrance sign, parking area, restrooms, information kiosk were all superbly designed. This should be a model for other entrance areas for small sites with light to medium attendance. Great use of the campground host at this site, particularly the location which gives a presence of staff being nearby. The location of the campground host probably assists with the compliance rate of people paying fees. It was also noted that the campground host site was very clean and well maintained. This site could be used as a standard for other campground host sites. Kudos also to the staff who maintain these facilities. The trailhead, restrooms, kiosks and stone courtyard were all very well maintained. Recommendations: As stated in the body of this report, the directional sign at the beginning of the trail could be upgraded to better assist visitors by having the actual color of the trail as a small dot next to its name so people would know what trail they want to follow, especially when a trail split into two separate trails. Using the UTAP report conducted on this site last winter, staff should review the alerts that were written about the trails, such as the exposed rebar, and develop an action item list of repairs that are needed to be made. While it is known that some of the boardwalks are having repairs, staff should also evaluate some of the other areas of the trails, such as Tinker Sink, to see if this boardwalk should be removed and the trail rerouted with an overlook built. The number of people seen utilizing these trails in both the winter and late spring months and with the close proximity to Tallahassee, Leon Sink Geological Area needs to stay vigil on the condition of their trails. This site is a good perception maker!

15 Trout Pond Recreation Area 15 Trout Pond was the fourth recreation area visited and though it is located just south of Tallahassee, it was the most difficult to find. The directions from the website stated that the site was located 6 miles south of Tallahassee on SR 373; however the signs on the road reference CR The review team used local maps brought up on an IPod to locate the entrance to Trout Pond and Trailhead to GF& A. The agency directional sign on CR3315 marking the entrance to the recreational facilities was very well maintained and appeared brand new. The entrance road into the recreational facilities was paved and also very well maintained. However, there were several piles of dirt being stored on each side of the road leading into the gated area. The gate at the entrance area was very impressive and appeared to be the same sturdy design used for the gate at Wright Lake Recreation Area. The parking area for both Trout Pond and the GF&A Trailhead was very large, well maintained and had plenty of parking spaces. However, it was noted that there were only 2 handicap parking spots and those were located near the GF&A Trail. This would pose a problem to anyone needing parking assistance anywhere on the Trout Pond portion of the parking lot. The GF&A Trailhead was very impressive with the new paved trail system, restrooms, signs and information kiosk. The trail begins at the parking lot with a colorful bollard placed in the middle of the trail to prevent any motorized use on the trail except for staff. The restroom building was very well maintained and equally impressive was the design. Both the male and female sides of the restroom building were ADA accessible and the outside construction of the building was made of Hardy Board like material (concrete siding that looks like wood). It was noted that this restroom model should be considered for other trailheads. To compliment the trailhead was a colorful, brand new kiosk with maps and information about the trail. However, the bear trash receptacle located right next to the kiosk

16 was a little distracting. The review team was impressed with the functioning water fountain and its cleanliness. 16 The rest of this review deals with Trout Pond Recreation Area. On the webpage there was no mention of this site except for its location. In talking to a campground host at this site, it was understood by the reviewers that this was once a recreation area designed for people with disabilities back in the 1980 s but is no longer used for that purpose. However, the site remains open for people to visit. Connecting to the parking lot, at several locations, was a system of asphalt trails that randomly connected to picnic pavilions and observation/fishing decks. These trails have become overrun by grass, roots and usual weathering. For a former ADA based recreation area, the trail system has almost lost all of its accessibility because of roots and grass encroachments. In addition to the pavement issues, the trail system is extremely confusing and doesn t follow any logical pattern. While there are serious issues with the existing asphalt trail system, there are several new ADA accessible pavilions that are well maintained. In addition to the pavilions there is also an impressive fishing dock that was constructed for ADA accessibility and for use by visitor with disabilities. The design of this facility allows for a person in wheelchair to fish from the dock by having railing lower in certain spots. Also, the roof of the facility did not cover the entire deck which allowed for people to sit and overhead cast. The review team was very impressed with this design. At the other end of the pond there was another dock facility that appeared to have been built primarily for observation. Though access to this dock was a little confusing, the dock was well maintained. Overall, Trout Pond is a recreation area that has the potential to provide additional outdoor recreational opportunities to the public. Outside the current condition of the asphalt trails, the site has been well maintained. The site needs to be revitalized by addressing a new purpose for the area. The lack of an information kiosk on Trout Pond Recreation Area, no brochures or maps of the facilities and the overall depreciating condition of the asphalt trail system keeps this park from reaching its full potential.

17 Commendations: 17 The gate designed for use here and at Lake Wright was very impressive sturdy and apparently gets the job done. The design of the GF&A Trailhead and restroom building should be models for use in other areas needing these type facilities. Recommendations: Need to assess the parking to assure that there are adequate ADA parking spaces for both the GF& A Trailhead and Trout Pond Recreation Area. The maize of asphalt trails need, to be resurfaced or removed. The entire trail system needs to be inventoried, GPS and UTAP in order to identify the excessive and difficult areas in the trails. This data would allow for the trail system to be redesigned with maximum efficiency and effectiveness. Silver Lake Recreation Area Using the directions from the Apalachicola National Forest webpage, Silver Lake Recreation Area was easy to locate. However, when driving on Highway 20 approaching the road to turn onto to the recreation area, there were no Apalachicola National Forest affiliation signs, only a sign directing the driver to Silver Lake and OHV area. When approaching the actual entrance to the recreation area, there is a three way intersection with a very nice Silver Lake Recreation sign. However, the directional arrow was so small that it was nearly impossible to see which direction to go. The paved entrance road was well maintained and litter free. Speed bumps have been incorporated in the road to help regulate the speed of traffic. Entrance The gatehouse at the entrance area was well maintained, but unattended. The signs at the gatehouse and the wood gate itself were in good shape but were beginning to show some signs of wear and rusting. Though there were fee envelopes in the fee station, there was no information about Silver Lake Recreation Area. Located to the right of the gatehouse was a Fee Station Stop Sign that was positioned on an old

18 road barrier and looked out of place. Also next to the gate house was one handicap parking spot and parking spot marked reserved. It was noted that there was little room for someone to maneuver a wheel chair on the passenger side of the car. 18 OHV Area Once past the gatehouse there is an OHV sign that directs traffic into the OHV parking lot. Overall the area looked well maintained. However, there were a few things that could be improved. First, there was a very small directional sign to lead people to the second fee station which was for OHV riders. In addition, the fee station and kiosk didn t stand out and could be easily overlooked resulting in fees not being paid. The OHV area should have a fee station that is equal to the main entrance or at the very least more prominent exposure that a fee is needed to be paid for use of the OHV trails. It was noted that the parking lot and OHV area was well separated from the rest of the recreation area by delineated fencing. It was also noted that that there could be a better design for OHV traffic merging onto the one trail that leaves the parking lot area. Currently, there are multiple entrances from the parking area onto the main trail. One of the big issues we saw with the OHV area was the lack of ADA accessibility. There was no designated area for handicap parking. In addition there is no ADA access to the picnic tables at the OHV teaching area. Day Use Areas Located next to the OHV area is a small part of the day use area. The area included a few grills and picnic tables, and a trail that led to an old amphitheater. The trail to the old amphitheater was originally asphalt but much of the trail is overrun with roots and grass, and needs to be repaved if its to be functional for ADA accessibility. Overall, this is a nicely maintained day use is with the exception of a few small maintenance issues.

19 19 The main day use area was a mix of both positive and negatives features. First, the parking lot was large enough to accommodate a large number of people. While the overall maintenance of the parking lot was good, it did have some minor issues such as roots buckling the asphalt and some of the individual parking areas need to be repainted. Unlike the OHV area, there were plenty of handicap parking spots and there was ADA access to the restrooms and pavilions. One very exciting feature was the use of a recycling bin, which was located near the bathrooms. Kudos for the recycling! When walking in the general day use area it was noted that there were no information kiosks explaining anything about Silver Lake Recreation Area which could benefit the first time visitor to this site. The restroom building at this site was older than some of the others we had seen, but was still in pretty good shape. The restrooms were ADA accessible and had ADA accessible showers and toilets. It was noted that overall the restrooms needed a thorough cleaning inside and out to remove spider and other insect nests. In the main day use area there are several picnic pavilions, most of which are very well maintained, and all ADA accessible. However, the layout of the tables in the pavilion would make it nearly impossible for a wheelchair to get around. Between the pavilions an information kiosk was located. The kiosk structure was in good shape but it had random information on it and nothing really specific about Silver Lakes and looked outdated. Continuing down from the restroom towards the swimming area, there was an asphalt pathway that could be difficult to walk due to the presence of roots and grass. This could be even more of a problem for someone in a wheelchair to make it down the pathway towards the water. Furthermore, the pathway stops a good 20 feet short of where the benches are located which may restrict someone in a wheelchair from sitting with the rest of their party. The swimming area was well maintained and buoyed. There was a No Lifeguard on Duty sign present and a life saving ring located at the site. In addition to the swimming area the Restored Monument in Time pavilion is in good shape as well. However, there is not paved or hard surface access to the pavilion for ADA accessibility.

20 20 Hiking Trail On the Apalachicola National Forest webpage it was advertised that there was a hiking trail at Silver Lake Recreation Area. However, the trail was very difficult to find as there was no information that could be found that told of its location. If it had not been for our prior knowledge of the recreation we probably would not have found it. A very impressive sign identified the beginning of the trail but there were no information kiosk or brochures available. The trail just sort of started in the middle of nowhere. For the first 100 yards the trail blazers were confusing and at times hard to find. The amount of debris on the trail also made it difficult to find the trail path. Several paths and roadbeds were found including one that led to a boat ramp. However, after about a quarter of a mile, the trail becomes clearer and some interpretive plaques were found, and it actually became an enjoyable hike around the lake. The trail eventually leads the hiker to the old amphitheater located next to the OHV area with no directions back to the day use area. Commendations: Commendation for the use of wood fencing and individual parking lots to keep different use areas separate, particularly with the OHV area. Kudos for having recycling bins located at the restroom in the main day use area. Public parks and recreation areas need to take a leading role in conservation efforts. It is hoped that more green ideas can be incorporated at this recreation area as well as others in Apalachicola National Forest. Recommendations: Make an action item to update the information in every kiosk in the recreation area. Use some of the kiosk to explain the history of Silver Lake and the rest of the Apalachicola National Forest. Develop a general kiosk that shows all the recreation activities and their location in the recreation area. Address the approach to the entrance area by making sure that all signs are needed and are placed in a logical and non-cluttering manner. The approach to the OHV area needs to be addressed to be sure that visitors are aware that there is an additional fee for riding OHVs in the forest. Make an action item to look at ADA accessibility at both the OHV riding and swimming areas.

21 Develop an actual trailhead for the hiking trail to showcase the trail and re-design it as a loop interpretive trail system. Munson Hills The trailhead to Munson Hills Bicycle Trail is not readily accessible from Highway 312 (Woodville Highway). The US Forest Service Webpage has a good write up on the trail; however, it does not readily tell the potential user that they need to use the existing St. Marks Trailhead for parking. However, this information was gathered by doing a search of St. Marks Trail on the internet and finding the information under the Office of Greenways and Trails website. 21 Parking and access to the St. Marks Trail was easy to locate even with the amount of construction being done on Woodville Highway. The Office of Greenways and Trails maintains both the parking lot and the trailhead of the St. Marks Trial. There is a flush system restroom at this site and is very well maintained. However, there were no informational brochures about the Munson Hills Bicycle Trail at this trailhead. There was a map in an information kiosk that shows the Munson Hills Bicycle Trail as it relates to the rest of the St. Marks Trail. A leisure 1.3 mile ride was conducted on a mountain bike south on the St. Marks Trail. An overhanging sign on the St. Marks Trail denoted the Munson Hills Bicycle Trail. The sign showed some weathering but was informative. A small spur trail from the St. Marks Trail led to a small trailhead to the Munson Hills Bicycle Trail. At this trailhead there was a small wood fence delineating the trailhead along with a few benches and a water fountain that did not work. There was not an information kiosk at this location; however, there was an informative sign at the site disclosing the trail work that was currently being conducted on the Munson Hill Bicycle Trail. It had the contact person for the project as Jim Schmid. A short ride from this trailhead led to another larger trailhead with a large three panel kiosk. The kiosk had minimal information about the trail but did have a large map that showed the Munson Hills Bicycle Trail, the Eastern Connector Trail and the Twilight Trail. The back portion of the kiosk had some basic information about the animal and plant life that surround the trails. There were no trail maps or brochures at the kiosk.

22 22 At this site there was a concrete path that led from the kiosk to a vault toilet. The vault toilet looked worn and had some damage to the structure including one of the plastic windows knocked out which would cut down on the privacy of anyone using it. The cleanliness of the inside of the vault toilet was fair and the vault system appeared to be functional (no odor detected). Starting from the trail at the large kiosk was a little confusing since we didn t have a handheld map. However there were enough Carsonite posts with trail information that it could be figured out with a trip back to the map on the kiosk. Once it was determined how the trail was marked, blue hashes vs. white hashes, a trip on the Eastern Connector was made to the Twilight Trailhead. The condition of the trail was excellent. It had a good width with many tight turns and some light sandy spots to give a quality off-road biking experience for both new and experience riders (it was noted that due to the tightness of the trail and close proximity of the trails to trees that trail safety needs to be encouraged for all riders). The trail was very well marked with both colored hashes on the trees as well as information icons on Carsonite posts. The trail traveled through some very picturesque parts of the forests. with nothing more than split rail fencing to delineate the trail. The area had the same trail repair sign that was at the Munson Hill Trailhead and used the Carsonite post with trail information. There was no parking lot but the trail did terminate onto a road behind Lewis Hall County Park. The trail was clearly marked in locating the Twilight Trailhead. The Twilight trailhead was surprisingly small The Lewis Hall County Park has access to the St. Marks Trail approximately 1 mile from the location of the Munson Hill Trailhead. The county park appears to be fairly new with features such as a flush system restroom, playground equipment and sports fields. There was considerable parking, however no sign directing bicyclist to the Twilight Trailhead. Commendations: The US Forest Service is commended for the use of an existing trail system (St. Marks Trail) to provide the support, such as parking and restrooms, so these facilities do not have to be duplicated.

23 23 The portion of the trail that was ridden as part of this review gave a good insight as to the quality of ride that is being offered to the public whether they are a first time or experience offroad bicyclists. The use of the Carsonite post on the trail to help give directions to trailheads and sections of the trails, however not sure how well they will hold up in a prescribed burn. Recommendations: The Apalachicola National Forest website needs to better explain that Munson Hills Bicycle Trail and how it can be accessed by going to the St. Marks Trail parking lot or by Lewis Hall County Park. Install a small kiosk at the smaller Munson Hills trailhead (immediately off the St. Marks Trail) in order to give new and potential rider s better information about the trail system. Develop a plan to readdress the larger Munson Hills trail head. The large kiosk is severely underutilized. In addition, the vault system has to be addressed by replacing or removing. There are two nice restroom complexes within a mile in either direction on the St. Marks Trail. Coordinate with Lewis Hall County Park to provide information for accessing Twilight Trail from their parking lot.

24 24 Final Summary of Findings: The purpose of this QAR was to give a superficial objective look at the recreation areas and facilities in Apalachicola National Forest through the eyes of a first time forest visitor. Basically all of the recreation sites visited were found to be well maintained, some more than others. The team was impressed that from the maintenance of roads, the cleanliness of restrooms and the attention to ADA standards at many of the sites that staff at these sites must be working very well together in order to keep these sites up and running at this level. While there are a number of items that could improve both the recreational experience of the visitor as well as positive image of the agency, these items were in most part simple operational tasks that an action item task list could complete in the minimal amount of time. The more technical recommendations, would allow US Forest Service planning personnel an opportunity to work with field staff to develop viable solutions to these recommendations. May 22, 2010