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TALLAHASSEE - Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet
today approved the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s
(DEP) proposal to purchase a 9.33-mile corridor, known as the
Trenton-Newberry Rail Trail project. This corridor will ultimately
serve as an extension of the 31.7-mile Nature Coast State Trail (NCST)
that is managed by the DEP Office of Greenways & Trails (OGT).
Utilizing OGT’s Florida Forever acquisition funding, DEP’s Division
of State Lands (DSL) negotiated this purchase with The Trust for
Public Land, which had entered into a purchase option agreement with
CSX Transportation. The NCST is a component of Florida’s Statewide
Greenways and Trails System and was recently designated as a
National Recreation Trail by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
“Increasing the connectivity of this popular, multi-use state
trail, which already attracts more than 140,000 annual visitors,
will benefit the economy of this rural area,” said Jena Brooks,
Director of the DEP Office of Greenways & Trails. “This peaceful,
scenic route through the countryside is just the kind of
nature-based, ‘off the beaten path’ experience that increasingly
appeals to Sunshine State tourists.”
The extension will traverse a relatively undeveloped portion of
Gilchrist County, known as the Wacasassa Flats, to connect with
existing sections of the NCST in Dixie and Levy Counties. The
rail-trail project will begin in Trenton at the Trenton Depot
trailhead and terminate approximately three miles from the town of
Newberry. Thanks to the support of The Trust for Public Land, in
cooperation with other state and local agencies, this rail-trail
corridor has extended the reach of the NCST as a valuable
recreational resource for this rural area. "The Trust for Public
Land helps create healthy and vibrant communities by working with
the DEP Office of Greenways & Trails to turn former rail corridors
into linear parks and trails," said Greg Chelius, Florida State
Director for The Trust for Public Land. "This Trenton-Newberry Rail
Trail acquisition is a prime example of what can be accomplished
through a significant partnership with CSX Railroad and a major step
toward building healthy and sustainable communities throughout
Florida."
Florida has been named by American Trails as “Best Trails State
in America,” recognizing the efforts of DEP’s Office of Greenways &
Trails (OGT) and its many partners for their coordinated efforts to
establish Florida’s statewide system of trails. OGT provides
community assistance, trail acquisition and development funding, and
public outreach to expand the statewide system of greenways and
trails. OGT also manages eight state trails and the Marjorie Harris
Carr Cross Florida Greenway. The Greenway is Florida’s longest green
corridor stretching 110 miles from the St. Johns River near Palatka
to the Gulf of Mexico near Inglis. Of the eight state trails, six
are rail-trails, which are railroad corridors converted to
recreational trails for hiking, biking, skating, equestrian
activities and alternative transportation.
For more information about Florida’s trails, visit
www.FloridaGreenwaysAndTrails.com.
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2012 State of Florida