Florida BRINGING THE OUTDOORS CLOSER TO HOME IN 2026 AND BEYOND
PHOTO BY ETHAN COYLE
Connecting Everyone to the Outdoors in Florida Access to nature isn’t a luxury; it’s essential. You make it possible for Trust for Public Land to protect and create community-centered outdoor spaces that improve health and wellness, increase climate resilience, and bolster social connections. With your support, TPL is delivering projects across Florida and driving system-wide change throughout the country. TPL has accomplished so much in Florida this year, and
I’m also an avid outdoorswoman—I lead outdoor adventure
I could not be more excited to join the team as State
travel for women, started an annual trail run to fund field
Director. In the last year, we have leveraged local
trips for underserved youth, and taught students scientific
partnerships and private philanthropy to protect land
SCUBA diving. My focus on engaging and providing outdoor
within the Florida Wildlife Corridor and create new
access to all people will guide my leadership and our work
trailheads along the Florida National Scenic Trail. In
in Florida. This year, we’ll pursue more ways to connect
Southwest Florida, we created key connections along the
lands and trails within the Florida Wildlife Corridor and
Florida Gulf Coast Trail, providing new, safe trails and
along the Florida Gulf Coast Trail, expand water access, and
greenways for people to travel and recreate. We are
create more urban green spaces.
supporting strategic ballot measures across the state to bolster these initiatives and create voter-authorized funding
While we have a lot to celebrate, there is more work to do.
for parks, land conservation, and trails. Our land protection
The need for equitable access to nature continues to grow,
team also realized a decades-long community effort in the
and so do the challenges and opportunities facing our
U.S. Virgin Islands to protect culturally and ecologically
health, climate, and communities. With your continued
significant land in Maroon Sanctuary. Each project reflects
support, we can rise to meet this moment.
our shared commitment to support both people and the places that matter most to them.
Thank you for joining us as we connect everyone to the outdoors.
As someone who believes that protecting land is ultimately about improving people’s lives, I have long admired TPL’s
With gratitude,
commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to the outdoors. For more than two decades, I’ve worked as an environmental scientist and conservation advocate in
Lindsay Cross
Florida, in public, private, and nonprofit organizations.
Florida State Director
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TRUST FOR PUBLIC L AND IN FLORIDA
Protecting Land with a Legacy The landscapes that define our communities sustain far more than scenic beauty. Conserved lands safeguard clean water, support wildlife habitat, strengthen local economies, and create opportunities for people to connect with nature. They help preserve the character of the places we love while ensuring future generations can enjoy their many benefits. TPL works with landowners, communities, public agencies, and local partners to ensure these beloved natural spaces remain healthy, accessible, and protected for years to come.
Maroon Sanctuary Territorial Park Our Florida team has been hard at work in the U.S. Virgin Islands protecting land that holds immense ecological, cultural, and historical significance. In the northwest corner of St. Croix, Maroon Sanctuary boasts crystalclear marine waters, miles of pristine natural shoreline, and 2,386 acres of contiguous forest and coastal land that make up nearly 4 percent of the island. This vital marine ecosystem enhances water quality, reduces stormwater runoff, and supports a thriving ecotourism industry that draws visitors from around the world. It has also long been a place of refuge and resilience, providing safe haven for Maroons—self-liberated people who escaped enslavement in the 19th century and found sanctuary along the densely forested coastline. Remnants of their communities remain to this day, and locally driven efforts to protect this historic site and
SHOAL RIVER HEADWATERS STATE PARK Florida’s 176th State Park opened to the public in January 2026! Shoal River Headwaters State Park features 2,480 acres of rolling hills and canopies of tall pines that provide important wildlife habitat and new recreation opportunities for residents and visitors. In 2025, TPL acquired the land then conveyed it to the State of Florida to become Florida’s newest State Park.
its enduring legacy have been underway for nearly half a century. Working with the Trust for Virgin Islands Lands (TVIL) and local partners, TPL protected the land last fall with the Division of Territorial Parks and Protected areas, purchasing the property for long-term management. Today, Maroon Sanctuary is the largest territorial park in the USVI and provides unparalleled public access to both natural and culturally significant spaces.
Maroon Ridge. PHOTO BY TPL STAFF TOP PHOTO BY JEFF TALBERT
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TRUST FOR PUBLIC L AND IN FLORIDA
Florida Lands and Trails: Partnerships for Preservation protect drinking water sources, reduce flooding, and showcase the natural beauty of the state, but large sections remain unprotected and vulnerable to development.
Florida Wildlife Corridor sign unveiling. PHOTO BY ETHAN COYLE
From pine rocklands to freshwater springs to mangrove estuaries teeming with life, Florida’s trails and public lands connect people to some of the most unique and diverse ecosystems in the country. These outdoor spaces provide opportunities for exploration, support healthier lifestyles, bolster a thriving recreation economy, and connect neighborhoods to schools, businesses, parks, and public lands. TPL has completed over 430 projects—including many complex trail projects—on 185,195 acres of land in Florida since 1972. Our success in the Sunshine State is the result of strong partnerships with public agencies, local governments, nonprofits, and people like you who share a commitment to thoughtful growth and permanent conservation. This collaborative approach positions TPL to protect land at the pace and scale that Florida’s future demands. This summer, we launched a new partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, Florida Trail Association (FTA), and Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation (FWCF) to expand public access and close critical gaps within the Florida Wildlife Corridor and along the Florida National Scenic Trail. The Florida Wildlife Corridor is a vast network of forests, lakes, rivers, prairies, and working lands that spans 18 million acres and provides critical habitat to endemic species like the Florida panther. Nestled within the Corridor, the Florida National Scenic Trail extends 1,500 miles from the Everglades to the Panhandle, with opportunities for day hikes or months-long journeys. These expansive landscapes sustain diverse ecosystems,
Momentum is growing behind our efforts to enhance and protect these critical corridors. This year, we celebrated a major connectivity milestone, breaking ground on the Tosohatchee Trailhead to expand access to 11 miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail. Through the generosity of Disney Conservation Fund, TPL, FTA, and FWCF are also introducing a Wildlife Corridors Access Improvement Grant program to create new trailheads, public entry points, and other capital improvements that expand access along the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
This partnership is about creating more ways for families, hikers, and everyday Floridians to actually get out there, explore, and build a connection with nature. Once people experience the Corridor and the Florida National Scenic Trail firsthand, protecting it becomes personal.” — Sean Amidon, Florida Trail Association Executive Director
OUR WORK AT THE BALLOT BOX In Florida, TPL has helped raised nearly $22 billion in voter-approved ballot measures for conservation, parks, and trails. These initiatives provide local governments with the capacity to leverage public funding with state, federal, and philanthropic investment, so organizations like TPL can complete more projects across the state. This year, we are working in seven Florida counties to support eight ballot measures that will deliver lasting benefits for communities across the state. Get the latest at tpl.org/2026-ballot-measures TRUST FOR PUBLIC L AND IN FLORIDA
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Florida Gulf Coast Trail In Southwest Florida, TPL is spearheading a generational vision for an expansive coastal trail system. The Florida Gulf Coast Trail (FGCT) will be one of the longest continuous trails in Florida, spanning more than 400 miles from Tampa to Naples. Once complete, the FGCT will connect over 2.2 million residents who live within half a mile with nature preserves, historic sites, parks, downtown districts, and stunning terrain throughout seven coastal communities. With nearly half the trail complete, we are actively mobilizing community partners to close existing gaps and permanently protect vulnerable segments. The FGCT will deliver key physical, social, and economic benefits to meet local and regional needs. Southwest Florida is experiencing some of the highest population growth in the state. As growth accelerates, familiar landscapes are giving way to development, fragmenting the coastal ecosystems that provide buffers to communities. Increasingly congested roads have also made this region one of the deadliest in the country for pedestrians and cyclists. Trail corridors allow for the creation of resiliency projects to protect against severe weather and flooding while providing safe recreational opportunities.
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TRUST FOR PUBLIC L AND IN FLORIDA
CALL TO ACTION Support the FGCT. Your investment ensures communities throughout Florida have access to the natural systems that sustain them: clean water, resilient ecosystems, and places where people can step outside and feel connected to something larger than themselves.
Beyond protecting critical habitats and supporting a robust recreation economy, accessible green spaces like the FGCT are powerful public health strategies for improving physical, mental, and social well-being. Existing trail segments like the Legacy Trail in Sarasota County serve as community hubs and connective threads between neighborhoods, reducing isolation and encouraging active means of transportation.
Bikers along a segment of the Florida Gulf Coast Trail. PHOTO BY MELODY TIMOTHEE
Realizing the Florida Gulf Coast Trail: One Section at a Time The Florida Gulf Coast Trail is a multi-generational project that will take decades to accomplish, and we are up for the task. TPL is the most prolific trail organization in the country, advancing over 3,100 miles of rural, suburban, and urban trails to connect communities in 46 states. TPL is well positioned to realize this ambitious coastal trail system, offering decades of experience navigating complex land acquisitions, convening public-private partnerships, securing vital funding, and providing a community-centric approach that ensures the spaces we create reflect the needs of the people who live there. We are excited to share some of our progress on the FGCT over the last year.
• June 2026: Groundbreaking on Rye Preserve Trail Connection (6.5 miles, Manatee County) • July 2026: Acquisition of the Booker Creek Trail connecting St. Peterburg’s EDGE district to the Florida Gulf Coast and Pinellas Trails (1 mile, Pinellas County)
Coming Soon: Forgotten Rails to Future Trails Across Florida, TPL is helping communities transform forgotten rail lines, congested streets, and underused corridors into vibrant trails and greenways that bring people together, improve public health, and reconnect residents with the outdoors. This summer, more than 68% of Bonita Springs residents voted yes on a ballot measure to acquire and construct a 5.8-mile trail, part of the 11.4-mile Bonita Estero Rail Trail (BERT). A key connection in the FGCT, BERT will serve more than 70,000 residents living within half a mile of the trail.
Beneva Road Ribbon Cutting with Friends of Legacy Trail and Gulf Coast Community Foundation. PHOTO BY SUNNY SIDE UP VISUALS / GABBY SANTOS
Recent Milestones: • July 2025: Opening of a pedestrian bridge spanning over Clark Road (SR 72) and Bee Ridge Road (SR 758) on the Legacy Trail (0.5 mile, Sarasota County) • March 2026: Beneva Road Trail Extension, built by TPL, opened to the public, connecting the Legacy Trail to Nathan Benderson Park (0.5 mile, Sarasota County) • June 2026: Shared-use path along Howard Frankland Bridge opened, connecting Tampa to St. Petersburg (7 miles, Hillsborough County)
We also went under contract on Wekiva Trail (Lake County) and Newberry High Springs Corridor (Alachua County), which will connect 12,000 and 2,000 residents, respectively, within a 10-minute walk. The trails will connect users with historic downtowns, provide safe and convenient transportation in areas known for pedestrian injuries, and serve as investments in community redevelopment and local economies.
Supporting the FGCT is about more than building pathways. It’s about creating safe, accessible spaces that connect people to nature, expand economic opportunity, and help local residents thrive.” — Jon Thaxton, Senior Vice President for Community Investment at Gulf Coast Community Foundation TRUST FOR PUBLIC L AND IN FLORIDA
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THANK YOU for helping create parks, protect special places, and connect more people to the outdoors in Florida and beyond.
1834 Hermitage Blvd., Suite 100 Tallahassee, FL, 32308 850.222.7911
Join us Your gift ensures everyone has access to the outdoors. Every park we create, schoolyard we transform, trail we extend, and landscape we protect is thanks to supporters like you.
Lindsay Cross Florida State Director lindsay.cross@tpl.org Elizabeth Giguere Florida Director of Philanthropy elizabeth.giguere@tpl.org
tpl.org/donate
COVER, L ARGE: © MELISSA HILL / TPL STAFF; TOP TO BOTTOM: © ETHAN COYLE; © KRIST YN MILLER; © ETHAN COYLE; THIS PAGE: © MELODY TIMOTHEE