Dr. John M. DeGrove Community Steward Webinar Series

Transcription

1 Dr. John M. DeGrove Community Steward Webinar Series Audio Options TO USE YOUR COMPUTER'S AUDIO: When the Webinar begins, you will be connected to audio using your computer's microphone and speakers (VOIP). TO USE YOUR TELEPHONE: If you prefer to use your phone, select "Use Telephone" after joining the Webinar. 1

2 Florida Greenways and Trails Close the Gap Campaign Wednesday, June 19, 2013, 12:00-1:30 Approved for 1.5 AICP CM Credits #e Applied for CLE Credits by the Florida Bar This PowerPoint is available for downloading at Click on Greenways Webinar under What s New. 2

3 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. 3

4 4 Dr. John M. DeGrove,

5 Upcoming Webinars 1000 Friends webinar series will resume in September. To find out more, please visit our site in August: ebinars/ Visit to sign up for alerts! Follow 1000 Friends on Facebook and Twitter! 5

6 Questions? The control panel for this webinar includes a Questions box. Please type any questions in this box. Please refer to the slide number when you post your question. Staff will monitor the questions which will be asked of the presenters at the end of the webinar, as time permits. 6

7 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. 7 6/19/2013

8 8 Presenters

9 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 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.

10 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.

11 Creating new trails in Central Florida and Coast-to-Coast Close the Gaps 6/19/2013 Heart of Florida

12 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, the completion of this loop trail could generate over $200 million of annual revenue for business in the counties and cities along this Greenway. (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. We welcome your interest, your support and your active participation. 12

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 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. /19/

14 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! /19/

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19 Heart of Florida Loop and Coast-to-Coast Trail Overall Trail View 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. 6/19/

20 Cross Florida Greenway OCALA Heart of Florida Loop Withlachoochee State Trail State Trail West Orange Trail Spring-to-Spring Trail East Central Regional Regional Rail Trail Trail Cross Seminole Trail Seminole Trail Seminole Wekiva Trail Wekiva Trail Suncoast Trail Starkey Trail Good Neighbor Trail General James A. A. Van Fleet State Trail Trail South Lake Trail ORLANDO Coast-to-Coast Trail TAMPA Pinellas Trail Trail 6/19/

21 Coast-to-Coast Trail Starkey Gap Connecting the Starkey Gap will close the Pinellas Trail, to the Starkey Wilderness Trail, and the Suncoast Trail. 6/19/

22 Cross Florida Greenway OCALA Withlachoochee State Trail West Orange Trail Spring-to-Spring Trail Cross Seminole Trail Seminole Wekiva Trail East Central Regional Rail Trail Starkey Trail Suncoast Trail Good Neighbor Trail South Lake Trail General James A. Van Fleet State Trail ORLANDO Starkey Gap TAMPA Pinellas Trail 6/19/

23 Starkey Gap 6/19/

24 Coast-to-Coast Trail Good Neighbor Gap Closing the Good Neighbor Gap will complete the connection from the Suncoast Trail, to the Good Neighbor Trail, to the Withlacoochee State Trail. 6/19/

25 Cross Florida Greenway OCALA Spring-to-Spring Trail East Central Regional Rail Trail Good Neighbor Trail Withlachoochee State Trail West Orange Trail Cross Seminole Trail Seminole Wekiva Trail Suncoast Trail South Lake Trail ORLANDO Starkey Trail Good Neighbor Gap General James A. Van Fleet State Trail TAMPA Pinellas Trail 6/19/

26 Good Neighbor Gap 6/19/

27 Coast-to-Coast Trail Van Fleet State Trail 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. 6/19/

28 Cross Florida Greenway OCALA Spring-to-Spring Trail East Central Regional Rail Trail Good Neighbor Trail Withlachoochee State Trail West Orange Trail Cross Seminole Trail Seminole Wekiva Trail Suncoast Trail South Lake Trail ORLANDO Starkey Trail General James A. Van Fleet State Trail Van Fleet Gap TAMPA Pinellas Trail 6/19/

29 Van Fleet State Trail Gap 6/19/

30 Coast-to-Coast Trail Seminole Gap Closing the Seminole Gap would connect the West Orange Trail (WOT), Seminole-Wekiva Trail (SWT), and the East Central Regional Rail Trial. 6/19/

31 Cross Florida Greenway OCALA Spring-to-Spring Trail East Central Regional Rail Trail Good Neighbor Trail Withlachoochee State Trail West Orange Trail Cross Seminole Trail Seminole Wekiva Trail Suncoast Trail South Lake Trail ORLANDO Starkey Trail General James A. Van Fleet State Trail Seminole Gap TAMPA Pinellas Trail 6/19/

32 Seminole Gap 6/19/

33 Coast-to-Coast Trail Space Coast Gap 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. 6/19/

34 Cross Florida Greenway OCALA Spring-to-Spring Trail East Central Regional Rail Trail Good Neighbor Trail Withlachoochee State Trail West Orange Trail Cross Seminole Trail Seminole Wekiva Trail Starkey Trail Suncoast Trail General James A. Van Fleet State Trail South Lake Trail ORLANDO Space Coast Gap TAMPA Pinellas Trail 6/19/

35 Space Coast Gap 6/19/

36 Coast-to-Coast Trail Coast-to-Coast Trail 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. 6/19/

37 OCALA Spring-to-Spring Trail East Central Regional Rail Trail West Orange Trail Cross Seminole Trail Seminole Wekiva Trail Starkey Trail Suncoast Trail Good Neighbor Trail General James A. Van Fleet State Trail South Lake Trail ORLANDO Coast-to-Coast Trail TAMPA Pinellas Trail 6/19/

38 Heart of Florida Loop to the Coast-to-Coast Trail Mount Dora Bikeway Gap Completing the Mount Dora Bikeway Gap will connect the Cross Florida Greenway to the Coast-to-Coast Trail. 6/19/

39 Cross Florida Greenway OCALA Heart of Florida Loop Mount Dora Withlachoochee Bikeway State Trail Gap West Orange Trail Spring-to-Spring Trail Seminole Wekiva Trail East Central Regional Rail Trail Cross Seminole Trail Starkey Trail Suncoast Trail Good Neighbor Trail General James A. Van Fleet State Trail South Lake Trail ORLANDO Coast-to-Coast Trail TAMPA Pinellas Trail 6/19/

40 Mount Dora Bike Way Gap 6/19/

41 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 nonconsumptive purposes. The Foundation is particularly mindful of the economic benefits that greenways and trails represent for businesses sponsorship. 41

42 Questions? The control panel for this webinar includes a Questions box. Please type any questions in this box. Please refer to the slide number when you post your question. Staff will monitor the questions which will be asked of the presenters at the end of the webinar, as time permits. 42

43 Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector March 11, 2013 Tallahassee, Florida Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

44 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 Van Fleet Trail 8. Conclusion Photo by John Moran Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

45 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 Pinellas Trail Pinellas Trail Photos by VisitFlorida Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

46 Coast-to-Coast Connector Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

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

48 Starkey Trail, Pasco County, FL

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

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

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

52 Coast-to-Coast Connector Clearwater Beach to Cape Canaveral Photos by VisitFlorida Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

53 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 (Source: VisitMyFlorida.com) Suncoast Trail Photos by VisitFlorida Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

54 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 Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

55 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 Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

56 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 Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

57 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 Coast-to-Coast Connector

58 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 Pinellas Trail Source: League of American Cyclists 2009 Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

59 Coast-to-Coast Connector Bicycle Tourism Reasonable tour ride is miles Coast-to-Coast Connector tours: 5 to 7 days Average expenditure per cyclists: $20/visit Projected annual use would exceed 1 million Photos by VisitFlorida Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

60 Economic Benefits of Trails The Pinellas Trail is an economic engine Bob Ironsmith, Dunedin Economic Development Director Pinellas Trail Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

61 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 Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

62 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 Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

63 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 Photos by VisitFlorida Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

64 Environmental Benefits Coast-to-Coast Connector will link trail users to numerous state forests, state and local parks Connector promotes human-powered, nonpolluting, tourism-based outdoor recreation Photos by VisitFlorida Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

65 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 Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

66 Questions/Comments Dale Allen, President Florida Greenways & Trails Foundation, Inc. Economic Benefits of Coast-to-Coast Connector

67 Questions? The control panel for this webinar includes a Questions box. Please type any questions in this box. Please refer to the slide number when you post your question. Staff will monitor the questions which will be asked of the presenters at the end of the webinar, as time permits. 67