Outdoors
SUNNY TRAILS BY DAWN GRESKO
PHOTOS BY NICHOLAS A. TONELLI
A glimpse at the bright future of the Florida SUN Trail and how it will affect our own segment of the Florida Panhandle, leading with the Perdido Key Multiuse Trail. THERE ARE SUNNY TRAILS AHEAD FOR ESCAMBIA COUNTY, THANKS IN PART TO FUNDING FROM THE FLORIDA SHARED-USE NONMOTORIZED TRAIL NETWORK, BETTER KNOWN AS THE FLORIDA SUN TRAIL PROGRAM. THIS YEAR, THE PROGRAM AWARDED A TOTAL OF $44.4 MILLION TO 45 SEPARATE PROJECTS LOCATED ACROSS 21 COUNTIES THROUGHOUT FLORIDA, INCLUDING THE PERDIDO KEY MULTIUSE TRAIL IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY.
The SUN Trail is essentially a network of state-wide, paved multi-use trails for bicyclists and pedestrians that is physically separated from vehicular traffic. “Florida is proud to be an outdoors state, and our many incredible bicycle, pedestrian and multi-use trails are great activities for Floridians and visitors to enjoy,” Gov. Rick Scott said. “I am proud to join FDOT in celebrating this investment as we work to provide more safe recreational opportunities for families across our state.” The goal of SUN Trail is not only to provide safer routes for bicyclists and pedestrians to travel, but to increase connectedness across Florida communities as well as promote tourism. The SUN Trail has its own program, which serves as a funding source to implement this network of paved trails, as a component of the Florida Greenways and Trails System (FGTS). The FGTS plan is the responsibility of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Greenways and Trails (OGT). The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and OGT worked closely to develop the program and define eligibility for SUN Trail funding. “This initial SUN Trail funding will provide safer opportunities for bicyclists and pedestrians,” FDOT Secretary Jim Boxold said. “As well as advance the completion of the state trail system and enhance the state’s partnership with local communities throughout Florida.” The FDOT has a central office in Tallahassee, Fla., and the department is split into seven districts. District 3 is responsible for the entire Florida Panhandle, encompassing 16 counties from Escambia to Jefferson and every one in between.
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