• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices

Union Pacific

Trails putting Florida on the map

April 26, 2017 By Kathy Steele

Hillsborough County Commissioner Pat Kemp wants to get residents moving when it comes to supporting and building a network of trails and greenways.

The first-time county commissioner recently invited trail experts to give residents an overview of current and future projects in Hillsborough and the Tampa Bay region.

Regional trails coursing through Pasco County include the Coast to Coast Trail tying together east and west coasts; and, the Suncoast Trail, with trail heads in Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties

Dale Allen, executive director of the Florida Greenways & Trails Foundation, left, received an award given to the foundation by the Florida Bicycle Association. J. Steele Olmstead is the association’s president; Pat Kemp is Hillsborough County Commissioner.
(Kathy Steele)

Nearly 75 people attended the April 4 meeting at the Robert W. Saunders Sr. Public Library in Tampa. Speakers included Dale Allen, executive director of the Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation; Wade Reynolds of the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization; and Anthony Matonti of Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority, or TBARTA.

“Trails are just exploding,” said Kemp.

But, she came away disappointed when she attended a regional meeting on trials in Venice in February. At least seven counties made presentations.

“Pasco had a great demonstration, good programs,” Kemp said.

Hillsborough didn’t have as much going on, but that wasn’t always the case, she said.  “It seemed like something happened in Hillsborough because they went dormant.”

Kemp hopes that the April 4 meeting will spur efforts to follow through on trail projects in Hillsborough and regionally. An annual summit on trail development in Hillsborough also would keep momentum going, she said.

On April 5, Hillsborough County commissioners asked the county’s staff to prioritize a list of hiking and bicycling trails for future projects, and to make a biannual report on progress.

All across Florida, a trail system is taking shape.

It’s one that largely began with local projects, but now is emerging as a statewide network, Allen said.

The Coast to Coast trail, for instance, includes about 14 individual trails built by local governments. When the trail opens in 2020, it will connect Volusia County in the east with Pinellas County in the west. A portion of the 250-mile trail will cut through Pasco.

Kathryn Starkey is a Pasco County Commissioner.
(File)

People can ride bicycles from the Kennedy Space Center to the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Allen said.

“The economic impact of this is tremendous,” he said.

Florida’s trail system benefits from a number of factors, including year-round warm weather. But, Allen said the state has other assets as well, including its state parks.

Florida is the only state in the nation to win the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence three times for the maintenance of its parks.

The state also has thousands of miles of abandoned rights-of-way along railroad lines. Many trail systems around the country are being built on those old routes, including the Coeur d’Alene Trail in Idaho along 71 miles of the Union Pacific rail line, and the High Line in New York City on an abandoned, elevated rail road trestle.

Allen said the High Line is the second biggest tourist attraction in New York City.

In Pasco, a trail is proposed to follow the Orange Belt rail line. Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey often mentions the trail as an economic boon to Land O’ Lakes.

Dade City often is cited as a future hub for bicyclists traveling the trail network.

The Coast to Coast trail could benefit Dade City’s efforts, said Allen, in response to a question posed after his presentation. But, he added, “They’ve got to do it right. Putting lanes for bicycles along roadways won’t do it.”

The trails must be safe, scenic and lead to destinations people want to visit, Allen said.

In Florida, safety is a critical issue. The state consistently over the years ranks at or near the worst among states in annual pedestrian and bicycling fatalities.

Data shows that nine out of 10 Floridians own bicycles. But, Allen said one out of 10 owners don’t ride them. “The roads are too dangerous,” he said. “To go to best from worst, we have a lot of work to do.”

Published April 26, 2017

Primary Sidebar

A Conversation with Lutz Filmmaker, Alexis Yahre

Search

Sponsored Content

Avalon Applauds Kids Helping Kids Pasco County 

May 10, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Congratulations to Kids Helping Kids Pasco County for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. The nonprofit … [Read More...] about Avalon Applauds Kids Helping Kids Pasco County 

Dynamic Duo Transforms Wedding Events

May 3, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

From diverse family backgrounds rooted in Vietnam and Puerto Rico, Bich (pronounced Bic) Le and Sandy Baez run … [Read More...] about Dynamic Duo Transforms Wedding Events

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

05/17/2022 – Bees & butterflies

The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, will host “Bees & Butterflies” story times. Toddlers can attend on May 17 at 10:15 a.m., and preschoolers at 11 a.m. The stories will be repeated on May 18 and May 20, at the same times. Space is limited. Registration is required online at PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 05/17/2022 – Bees & butterflies

05/17/2022 – Make a mug cake

The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, will offer these mug cake-making classes: May 17 at 1 p.m., for young children; at 5 p.m., for teens; and at 6 p.m., for grades four to seven. Participants should bring their own mug. Ingredients will be provided. All attendees must be registered online at PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 05/17/2022 – Make a mug cake

05/18/2022 – Cribbage Club

A cribbage club will meet every Wednesday at 6 p.m., at the Wilderness Lake Preserve clubhouse, 21326 Wilderness Lake Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. Play is informal at this time, but by the summer, the club is hoping to play an organized nine games, and to join the American Cribbage Congress organization. For information and questions, contact Jim Correa at 732-322-7103 or . … [Read More...] about 05/18/2022 – Cribbage Club

05/18/2022 – Democratic Club

The Central Pasco Democratic Club will meet on May 18, via Zoom. Socializing will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by the meeting at 6:45 p.m. Email , for more information. … [Read More...] about 05/18/2022 – Democratic Club

05/18/2022 – Florida landscaping

The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host a UF/IFAS Extension seminar, “Florida Friendly Landscaping 101” on May 18 at 11 a.m. To register, visit EventBrite.com. … [Read More...] about 05/18/2022 – Florida landscaping

05/20/2022 – In-person service

Congregation Beth Chavarim will celebrate its first in-person service since the pandemic, with the Jewish religious holiday of Lag BaOmar, on May 20. For more information, email . … [Read More...] about 05/20/2022 – In-person service

More of What's Happening

Follow us on Twitter

The Laker/Lutz NewsFollow

Home for all your local news in Land O' Lakes, Lutz, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and Dade City.

The Laker/Lutz News
LakerLutzNewsThe Laker/Lutz News@LakerLutzNews·
21h

Need some summer-fun activities for the kids? The City of Zephyrhills will host free summer recreation programs for local youth, running from May 31 through July 7. https://buff.ly/3yDWdAB

Reply on Twitter 1526231280861470725Retweet on Twitter 15262312808614707251Like on Twitter 1526231280861470725Twitter 1526231280861470725
LakerLutzNewsThe Laker/Lutz News@LakerLutzNews·
23h

Showering teachers with tokens of appreciation!
.
.
.
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club has always prioritized education, and supports local teachers often. Check out what gifts they got them: https://buff.ly/3yy6pKJ

Reply on Twitter 1526200919343476737Retweet on Twitter 15262009193434767371Like on Twitter 15262009193434767371Twitter 1526200919343476737
LakerLutzNewsThe Laker/Lutz News@LakerLutzNews·
15 May

Soldiers returning from the Vietnam War often faced hostility and scorn. An event commemorating the 50th anniversary of that war had a much different tone. https://buff.ly/3l7S67C

Reply on Twitter 1525964240670040070Retweet on Twitter 15259642406700400701Like on Twitter 1525964240670040070Twitter 1525964240670040070
Load More...

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2022 Community News Publications Inc.

    Doc