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www.dep.state.fl.us
It’s Florida Hiking Trails Month
February is Florida Hiking Trails Month. If you have ever hiked, biked, skated or ridden a horse on any of the 1,625 miles of trails in Florida’s state parks and greenways, then you’ve already discovered the physical and mental benefits that they offer. However, Florida’s trails offer another benefit that is sometimes overlooked – the economic benefit trails bring to local communities.
The communities that surround our state parks, greenways and trails benefit greatly from those who love to spend time outdoors. Food, equipment, gas, tourism and hospitality revenue from non-local visitors, combined with park operations, averages more than $6 million annually per park (June 30, 2011, Florida State Parks). A number of Florida’s parks and trails are located in small, rural communities that depend on the flow of visitors to and from the park to help sustain their community. State parks also provide jobs for more than 19,000 Floridians statewide, and the revenue parks generate in the local community supports thousands more.
These economic benefits would not be possible without the many volunteers and donations that support Florida’s award-winning park system. Florida’s parks, greenways and trails depend on volunteers and community support organizations help to provide essential work force and additional funding to keep Florida’s parks and trails beautiful and affordable. An annual state park pass, which is good for unlimited visits to most state parks in Florida for a year, still costs only $60 for an individual and $120 for the whole family – a price not easily matched by other outdoor recreational venues. And as for the state-managed greenways and trails, there is no charge so you can to hike to your heart’s content.
Join your neighbors in celebrating Florida Hiking Trails Month with a visit to a nearby state park or trail. You’ll probably be hooked for the rest of the year, and lucky for you – Florida’s state parks are open 365 days a year, from sunup to sundown.
Upcoming February events include:
- 2/18 – Nature Hike at Fort George Island Cultural State Park; Coffee with the Birds at Silver River State Park; 12th Annual Scrub Jay 5K/10K at Oscar Scherer State Park; and Healthy Choice 5K at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
- 2/19 – Fort Lauderdale A1A Marathon at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
- 2/23 – Beginning Birding at Lovers Key State Park
- 2/25 – Guided Bird Walk at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park; What’s Up? at Gold Head Branch State Park; Sea Bean Beach Hike at Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreational Area at Flagler Beach; 25th Annual Real Florida 5K and 10K Cross Country Run and Fun Walk in the Park at Wekiwa Springs State Park; and Garden Walk at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
- 2/28 – Shoreline Exploration Walk at Lovers Key State Park
Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition Update
The expedition team made its way to the Calooshatchee River earlier this week and were fortunate to see signs that the Florida panther also travels in the area. More good news is that wildlife is obviously using the I-75 underpass leading to the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge.
“Numerous panther tracks, along with bear and coyote tracks were going in both directions under the underpass, said photojournalist and team member Carlton Ward Jr. “More underpasses under major roads would serve to protect both wildlife and people. And these underpasses also protect the flow-ways for natural water.”
The number one killer of panthers in Florida is collisions with vehicles; five panthers have already died this year in Collier County as a result of car crashes.
Follow the expedition team as they continue their trek through Florida’s wilderness in their 1,000 miles in 100 days journey
The Ribault Club Brings Past and Present Together
The history surrounding Fort George Island Cultural State Park was one topic of discussion when the National Park Service, the Timucuan Trail Parks Foundation and the Florida Park Service spearheaded the Timucuan Science Symposium last month. Representatives from the NPS, University of Florida, University of Central Florida, Jacksonville University and the Florida Public Archaeology Network were among the speakers.
The symposium connected area researchers and scientific research partners, and identified future research needed to protect the historic landmark and Timucuan heritage. Presenters also shared findings about the abundance of resources found on and around Fort George, which is where the Timucua lived for thousands of years off the bountiful fish and mollusks found in the estuary, and Spanish colonists founded the San Juan del Puerto mission in the late 1500s.
The meeting took place, fittingly, at the Ribault Club, originally built in 1928. The luxurious 16,000 square foot building with its 14-foot ceilings, cypress wood French doors and fluted pilasters was a recreational playground, where dignitaries and the affluent came to golf, fish, hunt and play tennis. The property was sold several times after the depression and fell into disrepair. The Ribault Club became a part of the state park in 1989, and in 2003, was restored to its former grandeur when NPS and FPS partnered to renovate the building. The Ribault Club now functions as a visitor center and meeting facility for special functions.
More than 6,600 Students Take the Recycling Pledge
On Tuesday, Secretary Vinyard presented Magnolia School administrative director Katy McGlynn with one of three statewide awards given to Florida schools in the America Recycles Day K-12 Pledge Card Contest. Students around the state pledged to help protect the environment by recycling and also to share its importance with others. Magnolia Schools received the highest number of pledges from students and received a refurbished computer for being one of the top winning schools. Cedar Key School in Levy County and Miami Palmetto High in Miami Dade County rounded out the top three schools.
“I encourage Florida’s students and residents statewide to help our state’s natural resources by practicing green habits, like recycling, as well as spending more time outdoors enjoying Florida’s one-of-a-kind environmental treasures,” said Secretary Vinyard.
A Geocaching Event to Remember
Jonathan Dickinson State Park hosted the sixth annual Cacheapalooza last month. The mega geocaching event was a mega success this year with more than 500 attendees, including many international participants from Germany, England and Hungary. More than 270 new geocaches were placed in the park for this year’s event.
The weekend event began on a Friday night, when participants divided into four teams to compete, Olympics-style, in several events including a cache relay and scavenger hunt. On Saturday, at the Kitching Creek pavilion, Cacheapalooza 6 continued with a raffle, trackable trading, geo-store, Treasure Coast Wildlife Hospital live bird display and live music. The 500 attendees dined on pizza and salad before the raffle kicked off, that lasted more than two hours and included cameras, GPS units, geo-coins, a Nook and camping supplies.
Sunday’s event began with coffee and donuts, followed by a Cache In, Trash Out event with more than 100 geocachers helping to clear out the invasive coin vines, also referred to as sea bean, and the coco plums located along the river behind the new outdoor amphitheater. At noon, the CP6 Flash Mob united along the walkway of the Hobe Mountain Tower.
Next year’s event is already in the works with an event planned for Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, Jan. 18-21, 2013. Mark your calendars and join the fun.
